This intimate and acoustically-superb 318 soft-seat venue offers a varied season of theatre, music, dance, family performances and theatre classes. In short, something for everyone! Whatever the occasion, whatever the situation, whatever the presentation, every experience in Horizon Stage is Up Close and Personal.
Monday, September 30, 2013
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
Serious Spiritual Sounds will ‘Shake the Rafters’ at Horizon Stage
Juno Nominated Gospel
Trio, The Sojourners, to perform in Spruce Grove on October 12.
Vancouver based gospel group, The Sojourners, summon a power and passion at their performances that rises up and shakes the rafters. Recognized for their strength and spirit, this trio spices up cool vocal harmonies with flourishes of doo-wop, R&B, country, and blues, to create a stirring sound that celebrates the soul. Horizon Stage is thrilled to be presenting these incredible artists on Saturday, October 12 at 7:30 p.m.When Canadian blues icon Jim Byrnes called Marcus Mosely in 2006, and asked him to round up a couple of friends to record back-up vocals for House of Refuge, no one could have guessed what would happen next. From the moment Mosely and his pals stepped up to the microphone and began to sing, they realized that they had found something very special. When Byrnes dubbed the trio The Sojourners the name stuck and – as they say – the rest is history.
Hot on the tail of their session with Byrnes, the Sojourners went into the studio with roots music whiz Steve Dawson and recorded Hold On in 2007. The song ‘Eyes on the Prize’ from that CD was then included on Let Freedom Sing, a Time-Life compilation box set honouring the music of the American civil rights era. The Sojourners recorded their self-titled sophomore CD in 2010, which promptly earned them a Canadian Folk Music Award nomination for Traditional Album of the Year and a Juno nomination for Blues Album of the Year. Their third CD, Sing and Never Get Tired, is scheduled for release on October 15 and they are looking forward to performing selections from it at their Spruce Grove concert.
After spending their formative years singing in their hometown churches, The Sojourners have an authentic sound with an edge that only comes from experience. Their gospel is real gospel - blessed with a soul that can’t be faked. Mosely, Will Sanders, and newest trio member Khari McClelland’s, songs reflect on the world that we all live in. They don't sing about some removed perfect place or distant plains of glory. Their music expresses the old adage that God does his best work on the streets and in the gutters, not in the houses of power or the mansions of the rich. According to Mosely, "[Our new] album is grittier and has more of an edge than anything we've done before. These new songs have a groove to them. We're doing dance music, and if you come to see us, you should come ready to have a good time."
The Sojourners raise their collective voices to offer new hope for people living in desperate times. Their songs of faith, struggle, and the promise of redemption, have the power to soothe the hurts brought by modern life. Theirs is a gospel that can take a punch and remain standing, and the guys feel just as at home in a roadhouse bar as they do in a revival tent. They have also performed at numerous folk music festivals, including Edmonton’s. The Sojourners are rock solid; proof positive that faith can move mountains. But that shouldn’t scare anyone away. Sinner or saved, true believer or lover of great roots music, wherever you stand on your own personal journey you should see The Sojourners perform. You’ll feel better for it.
Let The Sojourners soothe your soul and shake-up your Saturday night. Tickets to see them Up Close and Personal at Horizon Stage on October 12 are $35 for adults and $30 for students and seniors. Tickets may be purchased at the City Hall Ticket Centre (315 Jespersen Ave), by phone at 780-962-8995, or online at Ticketpro.
Monday, September 16, 2013
Monday, September 09, 2013
Thursday, September 05, 2013
American Rock and Country Legend Coming to Horizon Stage
Chris Hillman and Herb
Pedersen Will Revisit Their Contributions to Music History on September 19.
Horizon
Stage is excited to start its 2013/2014 season with an American musical legend.
Chris Hillman is a Rock n’ Roll Hall
of Fame inductee, a 4-time Grammy Award nominee, and a pioneer of the
country-rock genre. Joined onstage by legendary vocalist and all-star
multi-instrumentalist Herb Pedersen,
Hillman will take his audience on a tour through 50 years of music history in a
single evening—history that he helped make!
Country and rock music fans are invited to get Up Close and Personal with Chris Hillman and Herb Pedersen at Horizon
Stage Performing Arts Centre in Spruce Grove on Thursday, September 19, at 7:30
p.m.
Herb
Pedersen was the number one session singer and instrumentalist in the Los
Angeles area for decades, performing on many notable artists’ albums and collaborating
with the likes of Emmylou Harris, Linda Ronstadt, John Prine, John Denver, and
Kris Kristofferson. He is the front man for The Laurel Canyon Ramblers and has worked on soundtracks or television
(The Rockford Files, The Simpsons) and motion pictures (Smokey and The Bandit, Maverick)
since the 1970s.
Chris
and Herb’s musical friendship has spanned over forty five years since their
initial meeting in Los Angeles during the early folk and bluegrass movement. In 1980s they joined with John Jorgenson to
form the critically acclaimed DesertRose Band. That group enjoyed numerous number one country singles including
“One Step Forward”, “Summer Wind”, and “He’s Back and I’m Blue”. By the
mid-nineties, Hillman and Pedersen began performing as an acoustic duo and have
since recorded several successful albums together. Their latest release, “At
Edward’s Barn,” continues their long-running love for the music they embraced
so passionately years ago.
Chris
Hillman and Herb Pedersen’s concert playlist shines with the strength of Chris’
writing, bluegrass, roots, country and, of course, some classic rock ‘n’ roll. Tickets to see
them perform live at Horizon Stage on Thursday, September 19 are $40 for
adults, and $35 for students and seniors. Tickets may be purchased at the City
Hall Ticket Centre (315 Jespersen Ave), by phone at 780-962-8995, or online at www.ticketpro.ca.
Thursday, August 08, 2013
Country Music Star George Canyon to Perform Twice in Spruce Grove
After Selling Out his September
28 Concert Horizon Stage Adds a Second Show on September 29
It only took two
weeks for all 300 seats at George Canyon’s Horizon Stage concert on Saturday,
September 28 to sell. Now the theatre is pleased to announce that the popular
and personable country music singer has agreed to add a second show for eager
fans. Tickets are now on sale for his Spruce Grove concert on Sunday, September
29 at 7:30 p.m.
With a voice as rich and robust as a strong cup of
coffee, George Canyon is a Canadian country music treasure. Though he can melt
hearts with just a tip of his hat, Canyon sings with the kind of integrity and
dedication that makes him a hero to his fans on and off the stage. So much so,
that he was recognized for his philanthropic work in support of the Canadian
troops in 2008 by being appointed Honorary Colonel for the Canadian Air Force
at 14 Wing Greenwood in Nova Scotia. He is also a tireless advocate for
juvenile diabetes awareness and research and
most recently he has been working hard both on the ground in High River,
and on stage, cleaning up and raising funds for southern Alberta flood relief.
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
Horizon Stage 2013/2014 Season Artists
Chris Hillman & Herb Pedersen - Thurs, Sept 19 - www.chrishillman.com & www.herbpedersen.com
George Canyon - Sat, Sept. 28 - www.georgecanyon.com
The Sojourners - Sat, Oct. 12 – www.thesojourners.ca
Woody Holler & his Western Swing Orchestra - Sun, Oct. 27 @ 2pm - www.woodyholler.ca
PEAR - Sat, Nov 2 – www.pearband.com
DuffleBag Theatre: Cinderella - Sat, Nov. 16 @ 2 pm - www.dufflebag.com
The Bills - Sun, Nov. 17 - thebills.ca
Chris Gibbs: Like Father, Like Son? Sorry - Fri, Nov. 22 - www.chrisgibbs.ca
Jimmy Rankin - Sat, Dec. 14 - jimmyrankin.com
The McDades - Sat, Dec 21 – themcdades.com
Hotel California: The Original Eagles Tribute Band - Thurs, Jan. 9 – www.hotelcalifornia.ca
Ian Tyson - Fri, Jan. 17 & Sat, Jan. 18 - www.iantyson.com
BAM! Percussion - Sat, Jan. 25@ 4 p.m. - www.bampercussion.com
Munchkin Matinee: Artist TBD - Tues, Jan. 28 @ 11 a.m.
The Rodeo Riders - Wed, Jan. 29 @ 2 p.m. - www.therodeoriders.ca
Sarah Hagen: Classical Piano - Thurs, Jan 30 @10:30 a.m. - www.sarahhagen.com
Joe Sealy: Africville Stories - Sat. Feb 8 - www.joesealy.com
Feelin’ Groovy – Starring Jim Witter - Fri, March 7- 7:30 p.m. - thepianomen.net
The Long and Winding Road – Staring Jim Witter - Sat, March 8 – thepianomen.net
Evalyn Parry’s SPIN - Sun, March 9 – www.evalynparry.com
Norman Foote - Sat, March 15@ 2 p.m. - www.normanfoote.com
Good Lovelies w/Beth Portman - Sat, April 26 – www.goodlovelies.com & bethportman.com
* Performances are the 7:30 pm unless otherwise marked.
George Canyon - Sat, Sept. 28 - www.georgecanyon.com
The Sojourners - Sat, Oct. 12 – www.thesojourners.ca
Woody Holler & his Western Swing Orchestra - Sun, Oct. 27 @ 2pm - www.woodyholler.ca
PEAR - Sat, Nov 2 – www.pearband.com
DuffleBag Theatre: Cinderella - Sat, Nov. 16 @ 2 pm - www.dufflebag.com
The Bills - Sun, Nov. 17 - thebills.ca
Chris Gibbs: Like Father, Like Son? Sorry - Fri, Nov. 22 - www.chrisgibbs.ca
Jimmy Rankin - Sat, Dec. 14 - jimmyrankin.com
The McDades - Sat, Dec 21 – themcdades.com
Hotel California: The Original Eagles Tribute Band - Thurs, Jan. 9 – www.hotelcalifornia.ca
Ian Tyson - Fri, Jan. 17 & Sat, Jan. 18 - www.iantyson.com
BAM! Percussion - Sat, Jan. 25@ 4 p.m. - www.bampercussion.com
Munchkin Matinee: Artist TBD - Tues, Jan. 28 @ 11 a.m.
The Rodeo Riders - Wed, Jan. 29 @ 2 p.m. - www.therodeoriders.ca
Sarah Hagen: Classical Piano - Thurs, Jan 30 @10:30 a.m. - www.sarahhagen.com
Joe Sealy: Africville Stories - Sat. Feb 8 - www.joesealy.com
Feelin’ Groovy – Starring Jim Witter - Fri, March 7- 7:30 p.m. - thepianomen.net
The Long and Winding Road – Staring Jim Witter - Sat, March 8 – thepianomen.net
Evalyn Parry’s SPIN - Sun, March 9 – www.evalynparry.com
Norman Foote - Sat, March 15@ 2 p.m. - www.normanfoote.com
Good Lovelies w/Beth Portman - Sat, April 26 – www.goodlovelies.com & bethportman.com
* Performances are the 7:30 pm unless otherwise marked.
Monday, June 03, 2013
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Experience an Entertaining, Out of the Ordinary, Musical Adventure with Sagapool!
Are you looking to discover something new and fun in the world of
music? Search no further than the Sagapool concert at Horizon Stage on Friday,
April 5 at 7:30 p.m. The winners of a 2012 Canadian Folk Music Award for
‘Pushing the Boundaries’ this Francophone/Gypsy klezmer band mixes good-natured
shenanigans with striking musical skill for a concert-going experience that is
truly one-of-a-kind.
With members who origins can
be traced to Hungary and Italy and links to Quebec’s remote, stunning Magdalen
Islands and the culturally vibrant northern reaches of the St. Lawrence River,
Sagapool knows exactly how to capture the sparse outlines and rich textures of
frost-bound places and people. Each of their songs has evolved into a little
story of its own. Their wild and
swirling songs tell tales from the cosmopolitan hub of Montreal to the outer
edges of northeastern Canada, while their calmer, gentler pieces reflect on
Quebec’s remote and windswept reaches and quiet winter mornings.
Sagapool’s main instrument
lineup consists of an accordion, clarinet, piano, violin, acoustic guitar, bass
and drums, but they also use banjo, alto sax, mandolin, electric piano,
sandpaper, and more. Their musical style is obviously influenced by the gypsy
genre but they also touch on classical, jazz and various folk styles. The band
has recorded four CDs and won both a Canadian Folk Music Award and a Felix (Association
québécoise de l'industrie du disque, du spectacle et de la vidéo) for Best Instrumental Album. Band members Guillaume Bourque, Zoé Dumais,
Luzio Altobelli, Alexis Dumais, Marton Madersparch and Dany Nicolas call
Montreal their home. They are a gang of good friends, and relatives, sharing
long, winding stories, but with stunning musical chops.
Sagapool are bringing their
tales of raucous romps and wintry meditations to life during their North
American tour this March and April. Their only stop in Alberta will be at
Horizon Stage in Spruce Grove on April 5. Tickets are $30 for adults, $25 for
students and seniors, and $5 for high school students through the eyeGO
program. Tickets may be purchased at the City Hall Ticket Centre (315 Jespersen
Ave), by phone at 780-962-8995, or online at www.ticketmaster.ca. Don’t miss the opportunity to experience an
energetic live performance by Sagapool and let your musical taste buds be
seasoned by stately, skipping klezmer lines, zesty tomfoolery,
deliciously-quirky humour and bittersweet grooves.
Monday, March 18, 2013
Monday, March 04, 2013
Take Your Family on an Enchanting Tour of a Magical Artist’s Studio with Bouge de là at Horizon Stage
Onstage
is an artist’s studio, a space for invention and creativity that is full of
surprises. Watch, and allow yourself to be charmed, as four dancers treat this
fantastical space as a magical treasure chest, playing with everything they
find: fabric, frames, paintings and props of all sorts. Inventive and curious,
the dancers alter, reshape and transform the objects at hand in a game where
there is only one rule – to have fun!
Even the paintings spring to life, becoming enchanting dances that ebb
and flow, driven by the whims of the performers. Revealing the creative spirit
that lies in each of us, Bouge de là’s The Studio explores colour, line and
movement to take audience members on a magical voyage into their own
imaginations. Join Bouge de là on an amazing journey as they delight dance and
visual arts lovers alike, at Horizon Stage on Saturday, March 16, at 2 p.m.
Bouge de là is one of the rare professional dance
companies in Canada that is entirely dedicated to creating work for children
and their families. Founded in 2000, this contemporary dance company
choreographs performances that draw upon a variety of elements, including video,
theatre, and shadow play, to produce varied and playful performances that
appeal to children’s curiosity and emotions, and stimulate their imaginations. The company’s
newest touring production, The Studio, is a
flamboyant encounter between the visual and performing arts. It features four
energetic, curious dancers who plunge feet first into the act of creating art. As
they play onstage their bodies move like painters brushes on canvas. Each
movement is a line, a dab of paint, a shape, a colour and then presto, a painting
takes shape before our eyes, cheerfully leading us down paths where art is accessible
to one and all.
Conceived
as an artistic “blind date”, choreographer Hélène Langevin envisioned The Studio as a dialogue between two
forms of artistic expression - engaging their differences and similarities. Sensitive
to the lines, rhythm and space in painting and sculpture, she plunged into the
art of the 20th century, its major themes, and the leading artists of the time.
She was attracted to the work of Jean Dubuffet, Sonia Delaunay, Jackson Pollock
and René Magritte, as well as Expressionism and Pop Art, and all served as a
point of departure for the choreography and sets that were created for this production.
The Studio is the third show
in Horizon Stage’s 2013 Family Matinee Series. Horizon Stage is pleased to
bring back this innovative and inspiring Canadian dance company after
presenting their adventurous production, Like the 5 fingers on your hand, in 2008. Bring your children,
grandchildren, nieces and nephews to see Bouge de là at Horizon Stage and let
them discover new ideas, let their imaginations soar, their creativity be
stimulated, and their appreciation for the world of art and all that it holds
blossom.
Friday, February 22, 2013
Two-Time Canadian Country Music Award ‘Group of the Year’ Hey Romeo Coming to Horizon Stage
Since forming in 2002, and cutting their teeth in Alberta’s
highly competitive country music scene, Edmonton band Hey Romeo has grown from a hard-touring regional success to a
national sensation whose popularity continues to skyrocket. Their energetic blend of modern and
traditional country, vintage folk, and rock and roll has been called a “soundtrack
for day-to-day life” and has earned them a wide and diversified fan base. Now, after ten years in the industry together
and multiple CCMA (Canadian Country Music Award) wins, band members Stacie
Roper, Rob Shapiro, and Darren Gusnowsky remain as tight on stage as they do
off. Their deep personal connection and friendship is evident in their recorded
music and when they perform together live. Horizon Stage is excited to present Hey
Romeo, Alberta’s fastest rising country music act, Up Close and Personal on Saturday, March 2nd at 7:30
p.m.


Lead vocalist Stacie Roper is a woman who sings from the
heart and shoots from the hip. Stacie draws her inspiration from the harmonies
of the Statler Brothers, the feel of The Mavericks, the vocals of Alison
Krauss, and the strength of Martina McBride while also taking cues from eighties
ladies like Cyndi Lauper and Debbie Harry when making a connection with her
audience.
2012 CCMA keyboard player of the year, Rob Shapiro, has
one foot in neo-traditional country music and the other in really good rock and
roll. Anyone who has had the opportunity
to converse with Rob, a graduate of Grant MacEwan College’s jazz program, understands
that this piano-playing singer-songwriter adheres to the Duke Ellington
philosophy that “there are only two kinds of music, good and bad.”
Another musician who is in it “for the long run”, guitarist,
singer, and tunesmith Darren Gusnowsky loves the country-honk of the Exile On Mainstreet-era Rolling Stones,
and the seamless harmonies of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young in their prime.
But it was his mother turning him on to Ricky Skaggs that convinced him he
should pay more attention to hardcore country sounds.
No strangers to crossing the CCMA stage, Hey Romeo’s 2008
self-titled debut CD garnered them a Top New Talent of the Year – Group or Duo
award. Their follow-up, 2010′s That’s
What I Am, yielded five singles and a 2011 CCMA for Group or Duo of the
Year. Demonstrating the drive and determination that’s been a hallmark of their
career from day one, Hey Romeo immediately went back into the studio and recorded
their third album, Twist of Fate,
which landed the band their second CCMA for Group of the Year in 2012.
Over time, Hey Romeo has shared the stage with big name
artists such as The Kentucky Headhunters, Marty Stuart, Sugarland, Darius
Rucker, Gord Bamford and Johnny Reid. They have become regular fixtures on
stage at Las Vegas’ annual National Finals Rodeo and are currently sailing
through the Western Caribbean, performing for fans aboard the Norwegian Star
Cruise ship. Together they have earned a reputation as not just Canada’s
hardest working country act, but as one of the hardest working bands in the
country, period.
Characterized by tight harmonies, the signature interplay
between Rob’s keyboards, Darren’s guitar, and Stacie’s powerhouse vocals, Hey
Romeo’s sound is a mixture of classic country phrasing and slick, upbeat, urban
bounce. Catch them in Spruce Grove at Horizon Stage on Saturday,
March 2nd at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $35 for adults, $30 for students
and seniors, and $5 for high school students through the eyeGO program. Tickets
may be purchased at the City Hall Ticket Centre (315 Jespersen Ave), by phone
at 780-962-8995, or online at www.ticketmaster.ca.
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Monday, February 11, 2013
Tuesday, February 05, 2013
A Remarkable Blend of Classical and Jazz That Fans of Both Genres Will Love!
See the Wolak-Donnelly
Duo at Horizon Stage on Saturday, February 16
Armed with a
clarinet, a piano, and their personable stage presence, Kornel Wolak and ChrisDonnelly present a remarkable blend of classical and jazz music rarely
heard in live performance. From revered classical pieces such as Mozart’s
Clarinet Concerto in A Major, to Gershwin’s famous Rhapsody in Blue, and Oscar
Peterson’s classic Hymn to Freedom, Chris and Kornel captivate audiences with
virtuosity, familiar melodies and a profound passion for music and performing. Horizon
Stage is excited to present the The
Wolak-Donnelly Duo on Saturday, February 16th at 7:30 p.m.
Chris Donnelly represents a new generation of jazz
pianists, composers and improvisers dedicated to creating programs that are
engaging, entertaining and educating. He is continually praised for his
virtuosic performances, musicality, versatility and ability to captivate
audiences. In
2008, Chris released his Juno-nominated, debut album Solo, which featured a blend of original material and jazz standard
arrangements. Solo also earned him 2009
National Jazz Awards nominations for Best Recording of the Year and Best
Keyboardist of the Year. In March 2011, Chris released an album of original
music inspired by the works of graphic artist M.C. Escher entitled Metamorphosis. Chris Donnelly holds
Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from the University of Toronto and he is currently
a working as professor at his alma mater.
Armed with a
clarinet, a piano, and their personable stage presence, Kornel Wolak and ChrisDonnelly present a remarkable blend of classical and jazz music rarely
heard in live performance. From revered classical pieces such as Mozart’s
Clarinet Concerto in A Major, to Gershwin’s famous Rhapsody in Blue, and Oscar
Peterson’s classic Hymn to Freedom, Chris and Kornel captivate audiences with
virtuosity, familiar melodies and a profound passion for music and performing. Horizon
Stage is excited to present the The
Wolak-Donnelly Duo on Saturday, February 16th at 7:30 p.m.
Born
in Bialystok, Poland, clarinetist Kornel Wolak earned a Master of Music degree from
Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music. Highly praised on not just one but
two continents for his glorious tone, precise technical control and musical
imagination, he is well on his
way to a major career as a soloist and chamber musician in both classical and
cross-over repertoire. As a member of the renowned Quartetto Gelato from 2007
to 2009 Kornel performed on their 2009 recording, Musica Latina. As a soloist he has performed with the Quebec
Symphony Orchestra, Toronto Sinfonietta, Poland’s Poznan Philharmonic Orchestra,
the Polish Radio Chamber Orchestra, and Charleston (North Carolina) Symphony
Orchestra and, as a chamber musician, he has appeared with the Wieniawski
String Quartet, the Glenn Gould String Quartet, the Tokai Quartet and the Lodos
Wind Quintet.
The Wolak-Donnelly Duo is touring western Canada
this winter and you can catch them at Horizon Stage in Spruce Grove on Saturday,
February 16th. Tickets are $30 for adults, $25 for students and
seniors, and $5 for high school students through the eyeGO program. Curtain is at 7:30
p.m. Tickets may be purchased at the City Hall Ticket
Centre (315 Jespersen Ave), by phone at 780-962-8995, or online at Ticketmaster. Whether you’re a
classical music fan or jazz enthusiast you’ll be sure to enjoy this unique and
highly entertaining concert event!
“Control and a smooth, elegant expressivity
are what make Wolak shine.” - The Toronto Star
“…this guy [Chris Donnelly] sure knows his
way around the piano. And his virtuoso playing blows the mind…
In a
way he resembles a young Duke Ellington…” - World Music Centre
“It’s
a pleasure to hear an impressive new artist [Chris Donnelly] creating something
fresh
and different, very accessible and entertaining.” – Roger Levesque,
Edmonton Journal
Friday, February 01, 2013
Monday, January 28, 2013
Ragtime and Mountain Music That Will Take You Back To a Simpler Time
Enjoy Sheesham &
Lotus’ Family Matinee at Horizon Stage on Saturday, February 9
What if you only
had one fiddle or mouth organ for a whole family or party? You would make do
with what you had -- hands, feet, voices, spoons, sticks, washboards, old
string or wire, whatever you could rustle up around the place! In that
tradition, Sheesham & Lotus
(Teilhard Frost and Sam Allison) play “olde-tyme” music from the Appalachian
Mountain-region. Looking like they just stepped off Huckleberry Finn’s raft,
Sheesham & Lotus play jaw harps, ham-bone percussion and home-made bass
harmonicas in the ragtime and mountain style. Let them take you back to a time
when families entertained themselves with dance, song, and music created fresh
each day. See Sheesham & Lotus in
Spruce Grove on Saturday, February 9th at 2 p.m. as the second
performance in Horizon Stage’s 2013 Family Matinee Series.
Sheesham & Lotus came together in 1998 playing as the rhythm section in a fiddle band called Flapjack. Together for the next seven years they were on the road throughout Canada and the United States playing dances, concerts and workshops. It was during this time that they took a keen interest in the folk traditions of North America, particularly the American South. Both became enthusiastic historians of old-time fiddle and banjo music, learning from the old masters across the regions south of the Mason-Dixon line. Through personal instruction, perseverance and osmosis they learned harmonica, jaw-harp, flatfoot, and song.
Sheesham & Lotus play fiddle and banjo respectively, with an additional array of home-made curiosities of noise-makery. Sheesham makes gourd banjos and fiddles, and Lotus plays an invention called the contra-bass harmoniphoneum, which is a self-contained bass-harmonica and euphonium horn that can be used while plucking a banjo. Sheesham & Lotus use horns for singing, harmonicas, jaw-harps and more. Their sound can be described as American roots music but they also love to play fiddle tunes, hokum blues songs and ragtime string music. “The sounds of the south are near and dear to our hearts,” says Lotus, “from the old fiddlers to the Memphis jug-bands... there is so much to hear and learn.”
Let Sheesham & Lotus take you, and your family, back to simpler time when music was made orally, physically, with the cutlery or anything else that could be found. Tickets are just $18 for adults, $15 for children and seniors. Curtain is at 2 p.m. and there are free craft and colouring pre-show activities in the lobby for kids starting at 1 p.m. Tickets may be purchased at the City Hall Ticket Centre (315 Jespersen Ave), by phone at 780-962-8995, or online at www.ticketmaster.ca. Electronically you can visit www.sheeshamandlotus.com or like and follow them on facebook.
What if you only
had one fiddle or mouth organ for a whole family or party? You would make do
with what you had -- hands, feet, voices, spoons, sticks, washboards, old
string or wire, whatever you could rustle up around the place! In that
tradition, Sheesham & Lotus
(Teilhard Frost and Sam Allison) play “olde-tyme” music from the Appalachian
Mountain-region. Looking like they just stepped off Huckleberry Finn’s raft,
Sheesham & Lotus play jaw harps, ham-bone percussion and home-made bass
harmonicas in the ragtime and mountain style. Let them take you back to a time
when families entertained themselves with dance, song, and music created fresh
each day. See Sheesham & Lotus in
Spruce Grove on Saturday, February 9th at 2 p.m. as the second
performance in Horizon Stage’s 2013 Family Matinee Series. Sheesham & Lotus came together in 1998 playing as the rhythm section in a fiddle band called Flapjack. Together for the next seven years they were on the road throughout Canada and the United States playing dances, concerts and workshops. It was during this time that they took a keen interest in the folk traditions of North America, particularly the American South. Both became enthusiastic historians of old-time fiddle and banjo music, learning from the old masters across the regions south of the Mason-Dixon line. Through personal instruction, perseverance and osmosis they learned harmonica, jaw-harp, flatfoot, and song.
Sheesham & Lotus play fiddle and banjo respectively, with an additional array of home-made curiosities of noise-makery. Sheesham makes gourd banjos and fiddles, and Lotus plays an invention called the contra-bass harmoniphoneum, which is a self-contained bass-harmonica and euphonium horn that can be used while plucking a banjo. Sheesham & Lotus use horns for singing, harmonicas, jaw-harps and more. Their sound can be described as American roots music but they also love to play fiddle tunes, hokum blues songs and ragtime string music. “The sounds of the south are near and dear to our hearts,” says Lotus, “from the old fiddlers to the Memphis jug-bands... there is so much to hear and learn.”
Let Sheesham & Lotus take you, and your family, back to simpler time when music was made orally, physically, with the cutlery or anything else that could be found. Tickets are just $18 for adults, $15 for children and seniors. Curtain is at 2 p.m. and there are free craft and colouring pre-show activities in the lobby for kids starting at 1 p.m. Tickets may be purchased at the City Hall Ticket Centre (315 Jespersen Ave), by phone at 780-962-8995, or online at www.ticketmaster.ca. Electronically you can visit www.sheeshamandlotus.com or like and follow them on facebook.
“Sam Allison and Teilhard Frost
performing as Sheesham and Lotus (are) a real shot of joy… they perform old
time music as if born into it… These guys are so in love with old time
stringband music that the excitement jumps in the room… You have no choice, ya have to dance.” Penguin Eggs Magazine
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