The Whitehawk Arts Council presented Union Duke in concert at the Preeceville Community Legion Hall on November 15.
The concert was part of a 12-centre tour in Saskatchewan presented by the Organization of Saskatchewan Arts Council's Stars for Saskatchewan series. The Whitehawk Arts Council sponsored the event in Preeceville.
Therese Sandager greeted concert goers and Sherry Lesser provided a visual art display with her quilt, pottery and paintings. Elaine Meachem and Helen Olson also provided some displays.
Miles Russell welcomed everyone to “sit back and enjoy” the performance.
Union Duke is a Toronto folk quintet with an explosive live show, according to the group’s website. “Bridging soulful rock with bluegrass and country, the group belts out soaring harmonies with three, four and even five voices.
“The songs are irresistible, the perfect fit for the heat wave of the dance hall or the cool breeze of the park.
“These five guys have been making a commotion in one way or another since they were kids, and years of making music together have brought them to this: a heartbreak of twang and a boot shake of rock and roll.
“Union Duke is two fifths city, two fifths country, and one fifth whiskey,” it said.
For their third record, Golden Days, Union Duke recorded live off the floor to capture the raw, joyful energy of their concerts, it said. Then they brought in Grammy award-winning mix engineer Mark Lawson (Arcade Fire, Basia Bulat, Timbre Timber) to bring the mixes to life.
“Golden Days will take you back to your warmest memories: nights by the lake, passing a bottle around the fire, or singing with your friends at the top of your lungs,” the website says. “It also looks forward, reaching for those long, lazy summer days that will keep you going through the winter.
“It’s a record of pain and struggle, lessons learned – and of laughter between friends, tenderness between lovers. One minute you’re following banjo music rambling down a country lane. The next minute you feel the pulse and pound of the amplifiers.
“The band works hard, travelling back and forth across the country playing to fans young and old from coast to coast. The group has played sold-out shows where crowds know all the words. They’ve performed at countless festivals including Toronto Urban Roots Festival, Mariposa, and Summerfolk, topping the list of must-see acts.”
The Whitehawk Arts Council’s upcoming concerts will feature Sweet Alibi on March 24 and the Derina Harvey Band on April 25, both concerts will be held in Sturgis.
