Fans of Gritty, Hard-Edged Rock and Roots Music Will Fall in Love

Spend the Night with Terra Lightfoot at Horizon Stage on October 14 at 7:30 p.m.

Called a cross between Joan Jett and Bob Seger, Terra Lightfoot is a Canadian rock goddess on the rise. Her original music fuses hard-edged rock with roots, blues, soul, and jazz. From slow-burning ballads to gritty rock numbers, Terra’s songs tap into raw emotions: love, lust, loneliness, and temptation and her husky voice and stellar guitar skills will blow your mind! Don’t miss the chance to see Terra Lightfoot Up Close and Personal when she makes a stop at Horizon Stage on Friday, October 14 at 7:30 p.m.

On stages in France, Germany, the UK, the US, and across Canada, Terra Lightfoot has been wowing audiences for years.  She has performed alongside the likes of Emmylou Harris, Gordon Lightfoot, Ron Sexsmith, Grace Potter, Betty LaVette, Randy Bachman, The Sadies, and Daniel Lanois. Edmonton audiences couldn’t get enough of her when she opened for Blue Rodeo at the Jubilee Auditorium last January.

When writing and recording her 2015 album, Every Time My Mind Runs Wild, Lightfoot set out to push her limits as a performer and challenge herself creatively. Where her 2011 self-titled debut album had slower, softer songs and a subdued vibe, her new album crackles with immediacy and demands attention. While holed up with headphones and a stack of vintage pop and rock albums, she pulled apart songwriting mechanics, mastered tonic chords and middle-eights, and learned to craft memorably sticky choruses. She spent weeks honing her new songs - working and reworking them until they were taut and lean. And the results have her fans, and many in the Canadian music industry, standing up and taking notice.

Lightfoot’s musical and song-writing influences include roots groundbreakers Maybelle Carter and Sister Rosetta Tharpe, blues legends Leadbelly and Lightnin’ Hopkins, soul greats Sam Cooke and Otis Redding, and jazz titans Nina Simone and Billie Holiday. And she magically melds their sounds together to create her own unique, remarkable results.

Rock ‘n’ Roll the night away with Terra Lightfoot at Horizon Stage on October 14. Tickets are $35 for adults and $30 for students and seniors and may be purchased at the City Hall Ticket Centre (315 Jespersen Ave), by phone at 780-962-8995 or 1-888-655-9090, and online through Ticketpro.ca.

A Paul Simon Tribute Concert Experience Like No Other

Hang onto your seats because we’re Going to Graceland on September 17

Graceland is American musician Paul Simon’s most successful studio album. It has been praised by critics and public alike, won the 1987 Grammy Award for Album of the Year, and sold over sixteen million copies world-wide. The recording features an eclectic mixture of musical styles, including pop, rock, a cappella, zydeco, isicathamiya, and mbaqanga. It includes collaborations with many South African musicians and groups, particularly Ladysmith Black Mambazo, as well as prominent North American artists Linda Ronstadt and Los Lobos. Tracks include such popular songs as “Graceland”, “Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes” and “You Can Call Me Al”.  Now, Edmonton-area Paul Simon fans can experience Going to Graceland, a pivotal concert experience that includes covers of all eleven album tracks along with some of Simon’s other hit singles, at Horizon Stage on Saturday, September 17 at 7:30 p.m.

Released in August 1986, Graceland transcended racial and cultural barriers. It was a bridge between cultures, genres and continents, and a global launching pad for the musicians whose popularity been suppressed under South Africa’s white-run apartheid rule. Rolling Stone Magazine called it "lovely, daring and accomplished” and The Village Voice said that it was "a tremendously engaging and inspired piece of work”.  In the past 30 years it has continued to influence, and be covered by, a wide variety of singers and bands, and in 2012 it placed 71st on Rolling Stone’s list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.

In Going to Graceland a nine-piece group of Edmonton-based musicians have deconstructed and recreated Simon’s genius-level compositions to make them their own. Starting as an idea for a New Year’s show, this amazing tribute concert has been selling out venues around the province. It has allowed band members to connect with audiences of many ages and share the album that they all grew up hearing their parents play for the first time in 1986.

The current Going to Graceland ensemble consists of Neil MacDonald (lead vocals and guitar), Jason Kodie (accordion, keyboards, and vocals), Nathan Carroll (guitar and vocals), Thom Golub (bass), Lindsey Walker (vocals and keyboard), Chris Budnarchuk (drums and vocals), Ben McNab (percussion), Brock Tyler (trumpet and vocals), and Laura Craig (saxophone).

Spend a Saturday night experiencing and enjoying some of the best music of the 1980s at Horizon Stage on September 17. Tickets for Going to Graceland are $40 for adults and $35 for students and seniors and may be purchased at the City Hall Ticket Centre (315 Jespersen Ave), by phone at 780-962-8995 or 1-888-655-9090, and online at Ticketpro.ca.

Our 2016/17 Season!

September

17           Going to Graceland

24           Six Guitars

October

14           Terra Lightfoot

15           The Paperboys

28/29     Dancing with Our Stars: Fright Night

November

4             Washboard Union

5             Booming Tree Taiko

15           Joe Trio

18           Jake’s Gift

19           Séan McCann

27           The Eastern Belles

December

10           Ken Lavigne Christmas Radio Road Show

17           Ballet Victoria: Nutcracker

January

13           God is a Scottish Drag Queen

22           Axis Theatre Company: Hamelin. A New Fable

23           Munchkin Matinee: Singing with Sylvia

February

3             The Piano Men 2: Starring Jim Witter

9             The Wardens

11           OUTERBRIDGE: Clockwork Mysteries “Grand Masters of Illusion”

22           Ivan Coyote: Kraft Singles for Everyone

24           Ellen Doty

March

4/5         An Evening with Johnny Cash with David James and Big River

11           Wayne Lee

April

11           Duo Milot & Bareil

7             Gary Comeau and the Voodoo Allstars

9             Everything Fitz

28           Horizon Stage on the Road: Union Duke

29           Mr. Fish’s Super Circus Stuff

From Folk, to Jazz, to Pop, to Soul David Myles Does It All

Contemporary East Coast Musician Brings His Eclectic “Style” to Horizon Stage on April 15

Hovering somewhere between James Taylor and Justin Timberlake, David Myles has built his own path, embracing pop, folk, roots, and soul music. He is a songwriter who transcends genres, going from jazz to Latin, and passing through country, folk, doo-wop and bluegrass. However, if there are two things that have never changed during his eclectic career it is his love of music and his exceptional ability to entertain. Touring Alberta this April, he will be making his only stop in the Edmonton-area at Horizon Stage on Friday, April 15 at 7:30 p.m.

David grew up in Fredericton, New Brunswick. As the youngest of four brothers, everyone in his family played an instrument and David learned trumpet and piano. After getting a political science degree and going briefly into politics, David deviated from his plans to go to law school. During his third year of college, while he was studying in China, he spotted a red and green plywood guitar for sale and $30 later he was writing songs.

More than a decade later David has had a steadily growing career as a successful musician, hosting The East Coast Music Hour on CBC Radio, touring his home country, and winning numerous accolades and honors - including multiple Music Nova Scotia and East Coast Music Awards. He has released nine albums that have included hits like "So Blind", "How'd I Ever Think I Loved You", and "Simple Pleasures".

In 2013 David worked with rapper-producer Classified on “Inner Ninja”, an anti-bullying song featuring kids in the chorus. The song become a giant hit, going quadruple platinum, and making it the biggest selling hip hop single in Canada. It even netted them a Juno Award for Rap Recording of the Year.

David’s song “Need A Break” just won first place in the Folk/Roots/Americana category at the International Acoustic Music Awards this past February and the video for his song “Santa Never Brings Me a Banjo” has been nominated for two 2016 East Coast Music Awards.

Inspired by the essence of the music of his favorite pop icons - Sade, Smokey Robinson, OutKast, and many others, David continues to shape an artistic vision of its own. His new CD, Here Now, (release date April 8), explores new territory with an irresistible energy and musical integrity that are unique. It is a sophisticated pop album that aligns perfectly with the “David Myles style", coordinating intuitively catchy melodies and rhythms and including another collaboration with Classified.

Spend an evening Up Close and Personal with David Myles at Horizon Stage on Friday, April 15 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are just $35 for adults and $30 for students and seniors and may be purchased at the City Hall Ticket Centre (315 Jespersen Ave), by phone at 780-962-8995 or 1-888-655-9090, and online at ticketpro.ca.

A Diverse Evening of Early Folk and Bluegrass Music

Jayme Stone brings his 2016 Juno-Nominated Lomax Project to Horizon Stage

Two-time Juno-winning banjoist and composer Jayme Stone makes music inspired by sounds from around the world. His award-winning albums both defy, and honor, the banjo’s long and historical role in the world of music. Stone is the consummate collaborator, unearthing musical artifacts and enticing other talented artists to work with him. And now, with the help of some of North America’s most distinctive and creative musicians, he is opening the archives of folklorist and field recording pioneer Alan Lomax. Focusing on Lomax’s extensive collection this project revives, recycles, and re-imagines traditional folk and bluegrass music, Bahamian sea chanties, African-American a cappella music, ancient Appalachian ballads, and energetic fiddle tunes.  Nominated for a 2016 Juno Award - Jayme Stone’s Lomax Project is touring North America, stopping in the Edmonton area at Horizon Stage on Sunday, March 20, at 7:30 p.m.

The Lomax Project started with a community of like-minded musicians who were brought together by Jayme Stone to dust off old songs and renew them. They wanted to tap into a musical tree, harness the chemistry of collaboration, and make music that was influenced by tradition but not bound by it. Through the project’s outreach and educational programming audiences have been inspired by the depth, diversity, humanity, and history in musical traditions. They have experienced first-hand how music can build bridges to other cultures and make inroads to their own. Concerts, like the one in Spruce Grove, feature their historical touring repertoire and songs that highlight all the artists involved. The current touring ensemble consists of Jayme Stone, singer and composer Moira Smiley, fiddler Sumaia Jackson, and double bassist Joe Phillips.

Alan Lomax was a folklorist, archivist, writer, scholar, political activist, oral historian, and film-maker. He is most famous for his work in the penitentiaries, plantations, and farms of the Mississippi Delta, between 1933 and 1985 where he listened, observed, and recorded night after night, year after year. He visited hundreds of places in the U.S., the Caribbean, Europe, and North Africa recording both famous and obscure musical geniuses including Jelly Roll Morton, Woody Guthrie, Lead Belly, Muddy Waters, and the Reverend Gary Davis. He also collected songs from everyday people: sea captains, cowhands, fishermen, homemakers, prisoners and farmers. It was Lomax’s goal to revisit, and renew, the forgotten springs of human creativity. And Jayme Stone and his fellow musician are continuing that legacy.

Experience a groundbreaking piece of work and enjoy a truly inventive spin on some very old tunes with Jayme Stone’s Lomax Project at Horizon Stage. Tickets are just $35 for adults and $30 for students and seniors and may be purchased at the City Hall Ticket Centre (315 Jespersen Ave), by phone at 780-962-8995 or 1-888-655-9090, and online at Ticketpro.ca.

"This project is not about the collector — it's about the songs and the way Stone and his musical team take them to new, often harmonious, heights."
- CBC Music

A Hilarious Comedy about the Highs and Lows of Motherhood

Anne Marie Scheffler performs Suddenly Mommy at Horizon Stage on Saturday, March 12

Suddenly Mommy is a hilarious one-woman show that carries its audience through the ups and downs of being a mom. Actress and comedienne Anne Marie Scheffler has jumped into a new world of funny… having kids. Sure, she thought that’s what she always wanted, but they’re so much work! It looked so easy in the brochure. Motherhood was supposed to be glamorous but Scheffler exposes the truth in an authentic and amusing way that makes you feel good about your own parenting skills.Running for one night only in the Edmonton-area don’t miss Suddenly Mommy at Horizon Stage, on Saturday, March 12. 

Experience the good times, the bad advice, and the difficulty of trying to do it all. From hot dates to play dates, ride the rollicking rollercoaster of motherhood. Suddenly Mommy is a touching and very funny performance the hits the nail on the head about what it means to be a parent.

Anne Marie Scheffler grew up in Orangeville, Ontario, studied acting at George Brown Theatre School and Pochinko Clowning at The Theare Resource Centre. She was a member of The Second City National Tour Co and an understudy to Second City Mainstage. Anne Marie has created and toured eight one woman shows:, Leaving Norma, Dating Myself, Not Getting It, Got it Good, Suddenly Mommy and MILF Life Crisis. She has performed them all across North America to sold-out crowds and received rave reviews. Her fifth show, Not Getting It, was produced as a one hour Comedy Now special for CTV /The Comedy Network. She also works in film, television and radio, and has over 50 commercials credits. She’s a voice artist, actress, stand-up comedian and writer. Recently, Anne Marie co-wrote and co-starred in a 50 Shades of Grey parody called Spank! But most importantly, Anne Marie is a mom. And of that she’s very proud.

So find a babysitter and take your wife, or schedule a girls-night-out, to see Suddenly Mommy at Horizon Stage in Spruce Grove on Saturday, March 12. Doors  open at 7:15 and the show starts at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are just $35 for adults and $30 for students and seniors and may be purchased at the City Hall Ticket Centre (315 Jespersen Ave), by phone at 780-962-8995 or 1-888-655-9090, and online through ticketpro.ca.  Warning, this show may contain mature content.

"She thought she could be the sexy show biz mom with a baby in one arm, and a movie script in the other.  Her jarring realization otherwise makes for a humourous and entertaining show!" - CBC Radio

Death Meets His Match in Grim and Fischer

Don’t miss the battle of a lifetime at Horizon Stage on Friday, February 12 at 7:30 p.m. Death will meet his match in Mrs. Fischer, a stubborn senior whose will to live is a force to be reckoned with. Equal parts hilarious and touching, Grim and Fischer by WONDERHEADS is the story of a tenacious granny who comes face to face with the Grim Reaper himself and puts up the fight of her life to escape his grasp. Called “intriguing, flawless, and utterly brilliant” this award-winning physical comedy won “Best of the Fest” at the Edmonton, Victoria, Vancouver, and Calgary Fringe Festivals in 2011, and Patrons’ Pick in Winnipeg in 2013. A profoundly fun blend of wit and pathos, Grim and Fischer confronts the inevitable question: what is it to know your end is nigh?

The WONDERHEADS are a multi-award winning physical theatre company based in Portland, Oregon, that specialize in full-face mask, a rare and whimsical form of theatre. They love nothing more than mashing comedy, beauty, irreverence, and a splash of sorrow together to create shows like no one has ever seen before. Co-Heads Kate Braidwood and Andrew Phoenix mix European larval mask traditions with character mask styles, resulting in a theatrical style rarely seen on North American stages. Audiences have described the experience as watching a living cartoon – the whimsy and imagination of Pixar or Warner Bros in live-theatre format. With a distinctive approach that blends silent storytelling, rich soundscapes, fantastical puppetry, timeless slapstick, and deft physical performance, The WONDERHEADS make it their business to step beyond words and ignite the hearts and imaginations of every audience member. Their other two productions, Loon, and The Middle of Everywhere, have also received stellar reviews and similar accolades.

Don’t miss Grim and Fischer by WONDERHEADS, an utterly unique and enchanting dramatic comedy, on Friday, February 12. Doors  open at 7:15 and the performance starts at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are just $35 for adults and $30 for students and seniors and may be purchased at the City Hall Ticket Centre (315 Jespersen Ave), by phone at 780-962-8995 or 1-888-655-9090, and online through Ticketpro.ca. 

“Grim and Fischer is utter magic.”

– CBC

“It’s all wonderful, original, beautiful fun to watch unfold onstage.”

– Calgary Herald

“Anyone who has lost someone they loved should expect to be deeply moved by this imaginative encounter with the Grim Reaper …You will laugh, you will cry, you will stand in awe that two mimes in masks can evoke such powerful feelings.”

– Edmonton Sun

Spend the Afternoon with Four Charming 1940s Inspired Songstresses

Enjoy Rosie and the Riveters’ Spirited Matinee at Horizon Stage on Thursday, February 4

Since the Second World War, Rosie the Riveter has been immortalized as a symbol of the strength and power inside every woman; and it is that force that drives and inspires the fiercely talented members of Rosie and the Riveters. These ladies’ compelling performances combine seductive vocal arrangements with body percussion, acoustic instrumentation with scintillating dance moves, and inviting humor with a lot of charm! Attend their 2 p.m. matinee at Horizon Stage on Thursday, February 4 and you’ll be treated to traditional African American spirituals, beautiful bluegrass numbers, contemporary folk songs, lovely a cappella, and original material. This ain’t your wailin’ and weapin’ gospel hour! Rosie and the Riveters revisit the spirit of folk infused with the magic of the 1940s.

Alexis Normand, Allyson Reigh, Melissa Nygren, and Farideh Olsen are the four classy dames from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan who make up Rosie and the Riveters.  All professional musicians with impressive credentials and projects outside the band, it’s the uplifting, vintage-inspired music that they sing together that will charm your socks off. With whoops, hollers, and mile-wide smiles, they create a feel-good concert experience that’s lighthearted and captivating for all music lovers.

Rosie and the Riveters’ debut album, Good Clean Fun!, is high-energy and versatile. It combines The Andrews Sisters vintage vocal treatment with Mahalia Jackson soul and the sweetness of the Good Lovelies. Sealed with Rosie and the Riveters’ signature vocal harmonies and humour, it features songs about everything from their deep love of thrift store shopping (“Red Dress”) to post-apocalyptic visions of the melting of the ice caps (“Watching the Water Rise”) to dancing angels (“Dancing ‘cause of my Joy”).  It is the perfect example of the group’s overarching values of love, harmony, and gratitude, with a little sass and a touch of ooh-la-la tossed into the mix.

Spend the afternoon with Rosie and the Riveters at Horizon Stage on Thursday, February 4. Doors open at 1:45 and the concert starts at 2 p.m. Tickets are $25 for all ages, and may be purchased at the City Hall Ticket Centre (315 Jespersen Ave), by phone at 780-962-8995 or 1-888-655-9090, and online at Ticketpro.ca.

Celtic-Rock-Out with the Derina Harvey Band

Limited Seats Still Available for Their Concert on Saturday, January 30

Led by a fearless front-woman, Derina Harvey Band is a five-piece Celtic-rock group whose original jigs and reels and fresh takes on traditional tunes make them a crowd-pleaser wherever they go. With an infectious rhythmic undertow that’s layered with rock guitar, dizzying fiddle motifs, and Derina’s powerful voice, their high-energy shows have earned them an enthusiastic, loyal, and growing fan-base. Boisterous and fun to dance to, they leave their audiences out-of-breath and hollering for more! Don’t miss the chance to party with the Derina Harvey Band at Horizon Stage on Saturday, January 30.

Though now based in Alberta, 2015 saw these transplanted east-coasters travel across the country to entertain crowds at theatres, festivals, and pubs. With three tours to Newfoundland under their belts, Derina Harvey Band have performed twice at the George Street Festival in St. John's, opened  for Shanneyganock, and shared stages with Jimmy Rankin, The Irish Descendents, Pogey, The Trews, Kim Mitchell, and Trooper. They also play regularly in clubs and bars in Edmonton, Fort McMurray, and across the province.

This band continues to build their fan base by promoting their shows and their 2013 self-titled debut album. The record has garnered airplay on many radio stations including CKUA in Edmonton, K-Rock and Radio Newfoundland in St. John's, and Canada-wide on CBC. They are currently working on their second album, Rove and Go, which is due out in March 2016.

There are just 20 seats left for Derina Harvey Band’s concert on Saturday, January 30. Doors  open at 7:15 and the concert starts at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are just $35 for adults and $30 for students and seniors and may be purchased at the City Hall Ticket Centre (315 Jespersen Ave), by phone at 780-962-8995 or 1-888-655-9090, and online at ticketpro.ca.  Get yours soon before they’re gone!

Spend an Intimate Evening with Kira Isabella at Horizon Stage

Get Up Close and Personal with One of Country Music’s Hottest Young Stars on Friday, January 22

Ottawa-born Kira Isabella is one of Canada’s brightest young country music stars. She has had multiple hit singles, toured with Carrie Underwood and Terri Clark, and won two Canadian Country Music Awards. This month she is bringing a three piece band to Horizon Stage for an intimate concert that will showcase her pop and rock-tinged country hits and her heart-wrenching ballads.  Edmonton area fans will have the opportunity to get Up Close and Personal with Kira Isabella at Horizon Stage in Spruce Grove on Friday, January 22 at 7:30 p.m.

Kira Isabella has been passionate about singing and songwriting since she was very young. She began playing the guitar and entering vocal competitions at age seven and started writing poetry and lyrics in grade four. She listened to and drew inspiration from everything – alternative rock, pop, hip-hop – but it was the tradition of country music storytelling that had the greatest impact on her work. Encouraged by her family, and her success at competitions, her drive and her undeniable talent landed her a deal with Sony Music Entertainment Canada in 2009.

Kira’s 2011 debut album, Love Me Like That, delivered four hit singles including its title song and the smash hit “A Little More Work”. Her second album, Caffeine & Big Dreams, was released in 2014 and highlighted both her personal and professional growth. Caffeine & Big Dreams demonstrated a new-found maturity with the bold and powerful track “Quarterback” while still and showcasing Kira’s signature sassy style in “Gone Enough” and her most recent release, "Shake It If Ya Got It".

In the past five years Kira has received multiple music awards and more positive recognition nationally. After being named 2012’s ‘Rising Star’ at the Canadian County Music Awards she received a 2013 Juno nomination for ‘Breakthrough Artist of the Year’. She was crowned ‘Female Artist of the Year’ at the 2013 CCMAs and more ‘Female Artist of the Year’ nominations followed in 2014 and 2015. Caffeine & Big Dreams was nominated for a Juno in 2015 and CBC Music listed her as one of Canada’s best musicians under the age of 25 in November. 

Opening for Kira Isabella will be Livy Jeanne. This 2013 Edmonton Music Awards ‘Rising Star’ winner brilliantly balances country twang with pop polish and an honest, organic approach. Livy launched her career in 2012 with her debut single ‘Invisible’. In 2013 her song ‘Any Other Way’ peaked at number 42 on the Billboard Canada Country chart and in 2014, ‘Wrong Side of the Dirt’ hit number 35 on the same charts. Livy released her most recent album, Dashboard Renegade, in July 2015.

Spend an intimate and interactive evening with Kira Isabella and Livy Jeanne at Horizon Stage on Friday, January 22. Doors  open at 7:15 and the concert starts at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are just $40 for adults and $35 for students and seniors and may be purchased at the City Hall Ticket Centre (315 Jespersen Ave), by phone at 780-962-8995 or 1-888-655-9090, and online.  

HAPPY NEW YEAR !

Dynamite, Soul Shaking, and Passionate Blues and Roots Music

The Kirby Sewell Band Will Rock Horizon Stage on Friday, November 20

Kirby Sewell was born to sing.  The big Blues shouter, who stands 6 foot 6, belts out his tunes like the great gospel soul singers of the past. Called “dynamic”, “soul shaking”, and a “whiskey gargled power-crooner”, he commands the stage, shares nuances from his own life, and gives an unforgettable performance. Hailing from Calgary, and recently enjoyed by enthusiastic audiences at the Beaumont Blues Festival last summer, Kirby Sewell Band are heading back to the Edmonton area for a concert at Horizon Stage on Friday, November 20 at 7:30 p.m.

Reaching out with modern interpretations, Kirby Sewell Band’s R & B arrangements are amped up and invigorating.  Their songs, “Devil’s in the Details” and “Till the River Starts to Overflow”, both charted at number one on Canada’s Roots Music Report, and their music is played regularly on SiriusXM, CBC and the CKUA and Galaxy networks. Touring steadily since the release of their CD Girl With a New Tattoo in 2014, they recently received two 2015 Maple Blues Award nominations for Male Vocalist of the Year and New Artist or Group of the Year.

Bandmates Neil Gunhold (producer/guitarist), Morgan Turk (lead guitar), Jim Johnston (drums) and Jae Cho (bass) have cooked up a genre bending, sonic union, colored by  rock, country, and blues overtones that dynamically underpin Sewell’s deeply textured, powerhouse lead vocals. Their melodic heart-pulling stories come from the depths of old souls who have obviously spent personal time living the Blues.

It is this true-Blues magic, and the band’s zealous live concerts, that have been their ticket to perform at major events across North America including the San Jose Jazz Festival, Ontario’s Blues and Jazz Festival, and the Salmon Arm Roots and Blues Festival. While on the road they have shared stages with Colin James, Trombone Shorty, Burton Cummings, Coco Montoya, Blue Rodeo, the Downchild Blues Band, Edgar Winter and Savoy Brown.

Join fellow music lovers for an electrifying Canadian Blues Rock experience. Spend an evening with the Kirby Sewell Band at Horizon Stage on Friday, November 20 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are just $35 for adults and $30 for students and seniors and may be purchased at the City Hall Ticket Centre (315 Jespersen Ave) or by phone at 780-962-8995 or 1-888-655-9090, and online through Ticketpro.ca.

“Sewell’s powerful vocals and unflinching front man presence are magic

as he belts the songs out like an R&B bat out of hell.”

Mike Bell - Calgary Herald

Energetic and Exhilarating Gypsy Jazz Will Invigorate Spruce Grove’s Music Scene

Horizon Stage Presents Christine Tassan et les Imposteures on Saturday, November 14

Christine Tassan et les Imposteures play everything from standard gypsy jazz favourites to original compositions. Pioneers in a genre dominated by men, this all-female quartet reinvents timeless music by integrating new ideas and influences with originality and flair. Together since 2003, they have performed at the Montreal International Jazz Festival, Festival Django à Liberchies in Belgium, and the famed Django Reinhardt Festival in Samois-sur-Seine, France, where the legendary manouche guitarist lived. Currently on the road in Western Canada, they are looking forward to performing in Alberta’s capital region on Saturday, November 14 at 7:30 p.m. at Horizon Stage.

Christine Tassan et les Imposteures are all extremely talented musicians who improvise together with ease and blend their voices together in perfect harmony. But Christine (lead guitar), Blanche Baillargeon (double bass), Martine Gaumond (violin), and Lise-Anne Ross (rhythm guitar) have a personal bond as well - they are, first and foremost, four friends harnessing their love of a musical genre. Their friendship shines through at their concerts as they interact between pieces and readily engage the audience, often venturing into the crowd while playing. Their shows are full of spirit, humour, and camaraderie making for a very down to earth yet uplifting musical experience.

The groups’ first two albums, De bon matin (2007) and Pas manouche, c’est louche (2010), achieved rapid critical acclaim. Only a few weeks after it was released, De bon matin went to the top of Radio-Canada’s Coup de Coeur hit list and reached number one on the Radio Couleur Jazz. In turn, Pas manouche, c’est louche was nominated for Best Jazz Album at the Québec Association for the Recording, Concert and Video Industries awards.

Their third album, C’est l’heure de l’apéro (It’s Happy Hour), released in 2012, follows in the same lively spirit. Like its predecessors it is a clever mix of original music and standards, songs and instrumentals. Brimming with a ripe confidence it clearly reveals the evolution of the group, marking the beginning of a new chapter for Christine Tassan et les Imposteures.

Enjoy a friendly, engaging, upbeat, and flavorful concert by Christine Tassan et les Imposteures at Horizon Stage on Saturday, November 14 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are just $35 for adults and $30 for students and seniors and may be purchased at the City Hall Ticket Centre (315 Jespersen Ave) or by phone at 780-962-8995 or 1-888-655-9090, and online through Tickpro.ca.

A World of Discovery, Emotion, Imagination, and Transformation

Bouge de là’s Bedtime! will expand young audience’s minds at Horizon Stage on November 7

Renowned for being highly contemporary, Montreal dance troupe Bouge de là combines movement with theatrics and multimedia effects to create memorable performances for young audiences. Their newest production, Bedtime!, is an energetic piece that centers around the concept of a child’s bed as a place for discovery, emotion, imagination, and transformation. They can be cozy places to dream or platforms for bouncing and playing on. With a transforming bed at the very center of the stage, the troupe explores four stages of childhood, from infancy to adolescence. Dream, discover, and explore with Bouge de là’s Bedtime! - the first show in Horizon Stage’s 2015/16 Family Matinee Series - on Saturday, November 7.

In tableau one, a young child grows and develops in their crib. It is a private, snug, and cozy place where the baby can push with their hands, roll over, crawl, and eventually walk upright. The child discovers their environment through touch, sound, and sight. The dancers delve into their inner-infants, explore, re-learn, and discover the world anew. 

In the second tableau, a 4-year-old is sent to her room where her anger explodes and she damages a favourite toy. After the storm she discovers how to calm her emotions and regain her equilibrium. Onstage she is surrounded by three dancers who echo her emotions and amplify her movements.

Alone in his bedroom a bored 8-year-old boy dreams of superheroes. His bed becomes his camp, a territory to be defended, and a battle ground. This surrealist tableau pays veiled tribute to comic books and the dancers act out the incredible situations imagined by the boy – being kidnapped, escaping, fighting evildoers, facing danger, and turning into a Transformer.

The teenage years are full of noise, disorder, change, contradiction, and rebellion against the established order. The bed becomes a place for jumping, pillow fights and partying until it’s time to leave childhood and the family home behind. The dance in this tableau is more rock ‘n roll. The structure of the bed unfolds and is dismantled, becoming a percussion instrument and a ladder leading to the adult world.

Eagerly drawing upon a variety of artistic disciplines - including dance, theater, multimedia, visual art, children’s literature, and shadow theatre - choreographer and artistic director Hélène Langevin has created a multidisciplinary experience that is unforgettable and unique. Previous performances by Hélène and Bouge de là at Horizon Stage include Like the 5 Fingers on your Hand (2003) and The Studio (2011). 

So wear your pajamas, cuddle up in your theatre seat, and get ready for Bedtime! Tickets may be purchased at the City Hall Ticket Centre (315 Jespersen Ave) or by phone at 780-962-8995 or 1-888-655-9090, and online through ticketpro.ca.

Horizon Stage’s 2015/16 Family Matinee Series consists of three shows - Bouge de là: Bedtime! (Nov. 7), Fred Penner (Jan. 16) and DuffleBag Theatre: Snow White (April 9). Recommended for children aged 4 - 12, these 2 p.m. performances are approximately one hour long and include an hour of free pre-show activities in the lobby. In an effort to make family programming more affordable, Three-Show Packages (one ticket to each matinee) have been reduced in price to $30 - and single tickets are now just $12, regardless of age.

Watch Bedtime! Promo Video

Photo Credits: Suzane O'Neill

Edmonton Musicians Bring Beautiful Classical Music to Horizon Stage

Strathcona String Quartet to perform works by Brahms, Beethoven, and Avison 

Strathcona String Quartet is Edmonton’s most outstanding and versatile professional chamber ensemble. Performing together since 1987, they play everywhere from Alberta’s large concert and recital stages to weddings, conventions, and garden parties.  The group has released two highly praised CDs that are frequently played on radio stations across North America including locally on CBC, CKUA, and CJSR. They are now looking forward to performing in Spruce Grove as part of Horizon Stage’s 15/16 Season on Friday, October 30.

Born and raised in Edmonton, violinist Jennifer Bustin began her music studies at the age of three, completed postgraduate studies at the University of Alberta, and was concertmaster of the Academy Strings and University Symphony Orchestra. As one of Edmonton's most active freelance performers, Jennifer also works with Edmonton Opera, Opera Nuova, the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, the Citadel Orchestra, and the Red Deer
Symphony Orchestra.

Shannon Johnson has won classical violin and fiddling awards at national and international levels. She began performing professionally at the age of eight, wowing music fans and critics with her strong, pure playing and exceptional improvisational skills. Shannon also performs with Edmonton’s Juno award-winning Celtic ensemble The McDades and popular local Celtic/folk/rock band, Captain Tractor.

A versatile musician, Josephine van Lier has garnered world-wide critical acclaim for her 4-disc recording of the Bach cello suites. Founding member, president and artistic director of Early Music Alberta, Josephine is a strong advocate for the historically informed performance practice of early music. A passionate and very active performer, soloist and chamber musician, she is always looking for challenging and exciting projects.

Sarah Wilbur-Woodman began her studies on viola at 10 years old.  She has played as an orchestral and chamber musician from coast to coast and performs frequently with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra and many local chamber groups. Sarah maintains a busy private studio and conducts two student orchestras at Grant MacEwan Alberta College Conservatory.

The world of music, past and present, is populated by innovators, iconoclasts, and eccentrics.  The Strathcona String Quartet has chosen three of the most eccentric composers of Baroque, Classical, and Romantic music for their 2015 fall season; Beethoven’s Opus 18, No.4, Brahms’ String Quartet Opus 51, in A Minor, and Avison’s Concerto V in D minor.

Beethoven’s Opus 18, No.4, is one of his early quartets in which he demonstrates his precocious mastery of the classical form, beating Haydn and Mozart at their own game, and already beginning to show his impatience for something wilder. Brahms’ String Quartet Opus 51, in A Minor, is one of the three string quartets he published in his lifetime. This quartet was his first - excluding the 20 that he wrote previously and destroyed because he didn’t think they were good enough. Charles Avison’s Concerto V in D minor is a driving, energetic piece, full of excitement and forward motion.

Enjoy a night of stimulating and exhilarating music performed by Strathcona String Quartet at Horizon Stage on October 30. Concert start-time is 7:30 p.m. Tickets are just $35 for adults and $30 for students and seniors and may be purchased at the City Hall Ticket Centre (315 Jespersen Ave) or by phone at 780-962-8995 or 1-888-655-9090, and online by visiting www.horizonstage.com and clicking on the ‘Tickets’ link.

Six Guitars - Show Cancellation

Have you ever noticed that the best laid plans sometimes go astray? You make plans, you tell people about the plans, and then… stuff happens.

That’s what Horizon Stage experienced recently. We got an unexpected phone call from a very apologetic agent who explained that the spring tour for Six Guitars has to be cancelled. That was disappointing, considering the show on February 13 was selling very well. In fact, no one on staff was happy – we’ve all been looking forward to seeing this show ourselves.

Then we thought we had it worked out with a new date, and we started the process of change. Unfortunately, there was another hiccup, and now the show has been cancelled.

So what does this mean to you?

If you have tickets for Six Guitars, you can expect a phone call, encouraging you to exchange your ticket to another show in the 15-16 season. We are recommending The WONDERHEADS’ Grim and Fischer if you are looking for a theatre show (that happens to be on the night before the Six Guitars date), or either Jayme Stone’s Lomax Project or David Myles if you are looking for a concert with great guitar music. Of course, you are free to choose any show that has tickets available. Alternately, refunds will be given, up until October 19. We really hope that you will be able to find a show you’d like to see so your night out at Horizon Stage isn’t lost – and it might even be a good opportunity to try something you overlooked earlier. Give us a call at 780-962-8995 and we can chat about your options.

Wry and Witty Pop and Folk Musician Tours to Horizon Stage

Two-Time Juno Nominee Jeremy Fisher Performs with Ariana Gillis in Spruce Grove on October 3

After developing a devoted fan base through five folk-influenced releases, Jeremy Fisher boldly ventured in a new, more pop-influenced direction with his 2014 album The Lemon Squeeze. Known for his witty lyrics and distinctive videos, this two-time Juno nominee has toured with Said the Whale, Hannah Georgas, Sarah Slean and Xavier Rudd, opened for the Proclaimers and Great Big Sea, and recorded with Hawksley Workman and Serena Ryder. Now touring in B.C. and Alberta with young singer-songwriter Ariana Gillis, the pair will make a stop in Spruce Grove on Saturday, October 3, at 7:30 p.m.

Jeremy Fisher is currently based out of Ottawa, but has previously made his home in Montreal, Seattle, Washington, and on Vancouver Island. Never one to travel down the most obvious – or easiest – paths, Jeremy spent six months touring across Canada to Halifax by bicycle. The tour, dubbed “One Less Tourbus”, in support of his 2001 independent album, Back Porch Spirituals, travelled 7500 kilometres, and included 30 performances. His videos are quirky and animated: 2007’s “Cigarette” was hugely popular on YouTube, 2014’s “Uh-Oh”, which pokes fun at politicians,  and the puppet-themed “The Bride is Dead” have been gaining similar momentum.

The decision to make The Lemon Squeeze a pure pop record was solidified after a discussion with producers Gus Van Go and Werner F. “When we first sat down, we batted around the idea of a pop record that would stay true to my typical, acoustic guitar-driven solo show. But when I started to write, the songs just weren’t coming on guitar.” says Jeremy. The end result was everything from Randy Newman-inspired piano ballads with strings, to Queen-esque guitar licks, to Billy-Joel-styled pop. Opening track, “I Love You...So”, is a tight pop tune owing more to Ben Folds than to any folk artist and “Uh-Oh”, featuring vocals by Canadian pop/folk favourite Serena Ryder, is cheeky and catchy.

Chosen as Young Performer of the Year at the 2009 Canadian Folk Music Awards, 22-year-old Ariana Gillis is fulfilling the promise many saw in her when she released her first EP at the age of 17. Hailing from St. Catharines, Ontario, Ariana launched her second CD with a live appearance on the US satellite station Sirius XM. When host Dave March played the track, “John and the Monster”, they got a call from an enthusiastic listener who wanted to know more about the unusual song and singer. That caller was Elton John’s lyricist and songwriting partner, Bernie Taupin. Later, Bernie told Ariana’s father, musician and producer David Gillis: “I’m staggered by how good she is. There is not much that impresses me these days but after hearing her available tracks I can honestly say she’s the single most exciting thing I’ve heard in a very long time.” Now that’s a ringing endorsement!

Don’t miss what is sure to be fun, funky, and unpredictable concert - Jeremy Fisher with Ariana Gillis at Horizon Stage on October 3. Tickets are just $35 for adults and $30 for students and seniors and may be purchased at the City Hall Ticket Centre (315 Jespersen Ave) or by phone at 780-962-8995 or 1-888-655-9090, and online at Ticketpro.ca.

This Spicy Gourmet Recital Mixes Classical and Popular Music

Soprano Marie-Josée Lord Performs with Piano and Violin at Horizon Stage on Sept. 26

On Saturday, September 26, at 7:30 p.m. soprano Marie-Josée Lord will perform with violinist Uliana Drugova, and pianist Dominic Boulianne at Horizon Stage in Spruce Grove. Their concert is the first presentation in Horizon Stage’s 2015/16 Season and the trio will have just started an extensive tour under the auspices of Prairie Debut.  Together they will perform Jambalaya, a spicy collection of audience favourites. Their gourmet recital will tastefully entwine classical, opera, and popular pieces by Gershwin, Verdi, Bernstein, Dvorák, Bizet, and many other composers. The program will simmer ever so naturally with results so flavourful that everyone will be asking for seconds!            

Known as a “warm, melodious, and emotionally generous soprano,” (The Montreal Gazette) Marie-Josée Lord has a stunning, original voice and an on-stage presence that will make you fall in love with whatever genre of music she is singing. The winner of many prestigious awards, including Prix d’Excellence de la Culture from the Fondation de l’Opéra de Québec, she was selected to represent Canada at the Cardiff Singer of the World competition. Last season, Marie-Josée sang Violetta in La traviata (Verdi) in Würtzburg, Germany as well as Serena in Porgy and Bess (Gershwin) for five sold out performances at l’Opéra de Montréal. Her first solo CD, with Orchestre Métropolitain, won a 2011 Félix award and received a JUNO nomination. Ms. Lord is a sought-after performer for opera, recitals, and with many orchestras. Her sound is described by Wholenote Magazine as "the voices of Jessye Norman and Renée Fleming, with a dash of Maureen Forrester ". This powerhouse soprano will be performing with violinist, Uliana Drugova and pianist, Dominic Boulianne, both exceptional musicians in their own right.

Prairie Debut is a Canadian classical and world music touring network that focuses on bringing the highest artistic standard of classical and world music artists to communities of all sizes throughout Western Canada.  Throughout its 18 years, Prairie Debut has cultivated some of Canada’s best musicians by providing performance opportunities, exposure and experience and connecting them with thousands of people across the Prairies. An organization with charitable status, Prairie Debut is based in Manitoba and incorporated in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. 

This tour has been generously supported by The Canada Council for the Arts, Manitoba Arts Council, Alberta Foundation for the Arts, Manitoba Arts Network, Arts Touring Alliance of Alberta, Lloyd Carr-Harris Foundation, RBC Foundation Emerging Artists Project, Calm Air, and Golden West. The performance at Horizon Stage is also proudly sponsored by Canadian Heritage, Alberta Foundation for the Arts, CKUA, Travelodge Inn & Suites, and Ticketpro.

Tickets to taste the music of Marie-Josée Lord Trio Up Close and Personal at Horizon Stage are just $35 for adults and $30 for students and seniors and may be purchased at the City Hall Ticket Centre (315 Jespersen Ave) or by phone at 780-962-8995 or 1-888-655-9090. Tickets can also be purchased online through Ticketpro.ca.

Horizon Stage's 2015/2016 Season

September

26           Marie-Josée Lord Trio

October

2              Barry Allen and the New Rebels

3              Jeremy Fisher with Ariana Gillis

8              Brent Butt

17           Sing-a-long-a Grease

30           Strathcona String Quartet

November

7              Bouge de là: Bedtime

14           Christine Tassan et Les Imposteures

20           Kirby Sewell Band

21           Rave On! The Buddy Holly Experience

December

5              A Quartette Christmas

19           Christmas with River City Big Band

January

16           Fred Penner

22           Kira Isabella with Livy Jeanne

25           Will Stroet and the Backyard Band

30           Derina Harvey Band

February

4              Rosie and the Riveters

12           Grim and Fischer by WONDERHEADS

13           Six Guitars

March

6              Canada’s Ballet Jörgen: Sleeping Beauty

12           Suddenly Mommy

20           Jayme Stone’s Lomax Project

April

5 & 6      Lisa Brokop: The Patsy Cline Project

9             DuffleBag Theatre: Snow White

15           David Myles

23           The Contenders: Valdy and Gary Fjellgaard

Enjoy a Wild Night of Rockabilly, Western Swing, and Honky-Tonk

Cousin Harley hits Horizon Stage and takes on Spruce Grove on April 12

Cousin Harley is the high energy hillbilly persona of Vancouver musician and singer Paul Pigat. With a hard-earned reputation for delivering everything from hot-rod rockabilly to foot-stomping vintage country and western swing, Cousin Haley’s concerts are high energy, wild, and crazy fun! Adding elements of traditional swing, classic jump blues, roots, and jazz to their music they have a truly unique and invigorating sound. Spruce Grove is the only Edmonton area stop on Cousin Harley’s Spring Thaw Tour and their hillbilly squonk, honky-tonk, and cow punk rippers, are going to excite and energize the audience at Horizon Stage on Sunday, April 12.

Called the "Motorhead of Rockabilly" by a delirious fan after a particularly raucous show in Holland, there's nothing tentative about Cousin Harley's pedal to the metal approach to this stripped down form of rock and roll. To paraphrase the old blues song, Paul Pigat’s got so many tunes he don’t know which way to jump. So instead he simply gives into his muse and exuberantly follows wherever it carries him, cranking up the energy so high that no one can resist dancing.

From solos raw enough to melt the door off an old Cadillac, to delicate etudes, Paul is a guitarist who can truly play it all. He is partial to the Merle Travis style of picking and his virtuoso guitar skills set him apart as one of the few guitarists able to do Merle’s style justice. Paul’s superb talent on the guitar is easily matched by his vocal abilities and his warm baritone is equally at home singing flat-out rock songs or crooning relaxed country swing. Is he a genteel sideman, unrepentant redneck, sensitive singer/songwriter, classical composer, or a blend of all the above? Listen long enough and you'll realize it really doesn't matter what he plays, it’s all superb.

Rounding out Cousin Harley are Keith Picot on upright bass, and Jesse Cahill on drums. With a hard hitting slap style, all his own, Keith can drive a beat like the devil, then equally and effortlessly draw out the sweet tones of a saint. In 2011 he won a Maple Blues Award for being Canada’s Best Bass Player. Jesse Cahill has become one of the busiest drummers on the Canadian music scene, working with jazz legends and performing, touring, and recording with many internationally recognized artists. His playing can be heard regularly on CBC Radio One and Two and he has been a featured guest and performer on Jazz Beat, Hot Air, and Canada Live.

Get ready to buckle up, hold on, and enjoy a  wild and wonderful night with Cousin Harley at Horizon Stage on Sunday, April 12 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are just $35 for adults and $30 for students and seniors and may be purchased at the City Hall Ticket Centre (315 Jespersen Ave) or by phone at 780-962-8995 or 1-888-655-9090. Tickets can also be purchased online by visiting Horizon Stage's website and clicking on the ‘Tickets’ link.

This performance is proudly sponsored by Canadian Heritage, The Alberta Foundation for the Arts, CKUA, Servus Credit Union, Travelodge Inn & Suites, and Ticketpro.