A female folk trio, a master vocalist for a Christmas performance, an acoustic ensemble and an a cappella group make up the 2015-16 Stars for Saskatchewan concert series being presented by the Kamsack Community Arts Council.
Season tickets are already available for purchase for the live music series which is being presented for the fourth year by the Arts Council, said a release from the Arts Council. Tickets, which are for sale at Cottenie and Gardner Agency, cost $75 for all four concerts, while admission to individual concerts costs $25 each.
All four concerts, which make up an “unconventional season” are to be staged at the Kamsack Playhouse.
The Travelling Mabels
November 5
The first concert of the series will be on November 5 when The Travelling Mabels perform. Voted Group of the Year in 2011 by the (ACMA) Association of Country Music in Alberta, The Travelling Mabels is a folk/country female trio full of spirit, spunk and laughter.
Collectively, their songs bring a wealth of life experience to the stage, said the release. “Singularly, each woman can vocally stand alone, but once you hear the combined harmony blend, you will know why these three women came together.
“The beauty of the Mabels is that they represent three generations of women,” it said. This has opened the door to a dynamic energy both musically and in the rapport with the audiences that most wouldn’t experience every day.
“Their musical influences range from Dolly Parton, The Eagles, Bob Dylan to Sheryl Crow, and their comedic, yet often heart-felt, take on life means they more than meet a wide range of audience expectations whenever they perform.”
Jesse Peters
December 12
Then on December 12, for the first time, the Arts Council will be bringing in a special Christmas performance. Featuring Jesse Peters and guests backed by guitar, upright bass and piano, the concert will be “a perfect Christmas evening, served up with class and style,” the release said. “Jesse is one of Canada’s premier emerging artists.”
“Textures that honour Jesse’s great influences like Ray Charles and Billy Joel are fused into the modern sound he creates every time he sites in front of a piano and microphone,” it said. He explores jazz as pop music, balancing the past and present effortlessly. He moves from hand-clapping jive to heartfelt ballads and on to foot-stomping, gospel inspired soul with confidence.
Peters is a master vocalist and energetic, virtuosic pianist, it said “In the world of music, there are two types of performers, those who play for themselves, and those who play for their audience, Jesse is definitely the latter.
“With his soul bared at each and every performance his musical sincerity draws in anyone willing to let go and come along for the ride,” it said. “Jesse’s shows are renowned for the excitement, exploration and interaction that have left audiences across North America standing in the aisles and screaming for more.”
The Dead South
January 15
On January 15, the Regina-based band The Dead South will be bringing a lively performance to the Playhouse.
The Dead South is a four-piece acoustic ensemble and while they’ve only been around for a few years, they’re already widely respected in their home province, the release said. “With gritty vocals, soaring harmonies, blazing banjo licks, guitar chops, prominent cello melodies and infectious beats, The Dead South blends elements of folk, bluegrass, classical and rock which results in a unique, modern and authentic blend of toe-tapping acoustic music.
Since the inception of the band, The Dead South continually strives to push the energy of their live shows, as well as what is possible between four ordinary acoustic instruments, it said. The unique abilities and viewpoints of each band member make The Dead South an impossible band to duplicate and it has become a fixture of the Regina music scene that will not soon be leaving.
“An evening with The Dead South is an evening of boot-stompin’ folk-bluegrass- rock and a dash of acoustic heavy metal,” it said. “It is certainly a show like none we’ve presented before.”
Eh440
April 15
A band called Eh440, which has been honoured with the Galaxie Rising Start Award and has appeared on CBC Television’s Dragons’ Den where they walked away with a deal from two “dragons” will be at the Playhouse on April 15.
Eh440 started harmonizing together in 2012, the release said. “Using just their voices, this Toronto-based a cappella group has wow’d audiences across Europe, the United States and Canada. Their live show is a combination of great recognizable hits with a splash of their own original material.
“The group is a mix of five people from five very different backgrounds and musical genres: Joe’s been a low bass singer his entire life, Luke’s an urban beatboxer, Janet identifies as a country/ pop singer, Stacey’s soul and pop, and Mike’s a musical chameleon who cites blues, folk and ‘anything with a good groove’ as his influences.
“Together they form an unforgettable combination of crazy beatboxing, sassy rapping, killer harmonies and fresh, urban, rhythm and blues-influenced compositions,” it said. “This show will be a grand finale for the whole family to enjoy.”
