The Humboldt Christmas Cheer Hamper is about to get a boost right before Christmas. On Dec. 23, the Community Gathering Place is hosting a concert benefiting the hamper program.
Grizzlyhawk is a four-man band consisting of singer and guitarist Jorges Langevin, bass guitarist and singer Dana Fouhse, guitarist Kelly Jenkins and drummer Brent Stadnick.
Langevin said Grizzlyhawks sound has “that 90’s punk sound where it just became really fun and really melodic and clean and tonnes of energy.”
Grizzlyhawk started as a bunch of friends jamming during their time in high school. After high school ended, the friends started moving away, putting an end to the band.
After a little more then a decade, Langevin and the rest of the band found themselves back in the area.
“I moved back and called up the same old crew and we just started jamming again.”
The show on the Dec. 23 marks the first show in Humboldt in 15 years.
Humboldt resident, Alanna Hoesgen, is the opening act for the evening before giving way to the main act, Grizzlyhawk, with doors opening at 8:00 pm.
Hoesgen started playing classical music when she was young. When she got to university, she began writing her own music. She describes her style of music now as “Sarah McLachlan-esque”.
Hoesgen has played multiple shows in Humboldt before, including a show at the gallery and a show on the stage at streetfest.
Hoesgen says the venues play as big in a role in her decision to keep people coming back. Hoesgen said the gallery is a “beautiful space” and described her show on the stage at streetfest as “another really cool experience.”
Hoesgen will not be alone on stage however, as Engelfeld resident Tyler Kowalski, a singer and guitarist, will join her.
Kowalski and Hoesgen have played a few shows together over the last couple years, which Hoesgen says has been really fun because they share a similar taste in music.
Although the concert features two different musical styles and sounds, Hoesgen thinks that it will be good for everyone.
“Regardless of the genre I think people will appreciate the different styles and maybe people that have never heard me will be able to hear me and vise versa,” said Hoesgen.
Grizzlyhawk first met Hoesgen earlier this year during the production of their record.
Langevin had an idea for the last couple of songs that would have background singing from a choir. Langevin reached out to the Maxine Moore of the St. Peter’s Chorus in Muenster looking for a small group of the chorus to do the back-up singing.
One of the singers that Moore brought along was Hoesgen whom Langevin noticed right away to be a very talented. He said all the ladies that Moore brought that day were extremely talented but Hoesgen stood out becausen Hoesgen “was doing her own solo stuff.”
After working with Hoesgen on the album, Langevin said picking an opening act for the show became very easy.
“When this show came up, we were like who can we get to open, somebody who’s local would be nice and we were like what about Alanna, that would be awesome.”
Hoesgen said when the call came in to open for Grizzlyhawk, it was an offer she and Kowalski couldn’t pass up.
“Anytime I have an opportunity to perform, I usually jump at the chance just because it’s another opportunity to share music… we have so much fun doing it,” she said.
“I think both audiences are going to really like what they see and what they hear,” said Langevin.
Tickets are available in advance at Centre Stage Music or by calling 306-231-8894.
