The Whitehawk Arts Council is scheduled to host the last concert in the Stars for Saskatchewan performances on March 17 when the Wheatland Band will bring its signature comedy and heart-felt performance to the Sturgis Community Hall.
Six years ago, a pair of musicians known as Lewis and Royal toured Saskatchewan. They recorded their concerts as they traveled and compiled enough material for their comedy album Lock Up Your Gopher - Live From Saskatchewan. Now, a half dozen years later, the duo has added a new member, Travis Friesen. And it has a new name. They are back touring the province as The Wheatland Band.
The original duo built their sound on two-part harmonies, so it’s no surprise that the new trio has a bigger, sweeter sound.
“When we added Travis to the band, we got an amazing vocalist, but we also added a third note to our vocal harmonies,” says Royal Sproule. “The third note in the chord is a game-changer and with Travis’ instrumentalist skills, we’ve been able to mix and match instruments, add a bass guitar, mandolin, banjo and a stomp box. Our new sound has opened us up to all kinds of options.”
