This is a busy year for the Nylons. Between touring, preparing for symphony shows and recording a new album, the group has been working hard to keep evolving and moving forward. They will be coming to Yorkton on October 14.
The four piece group consists of Claude Morrison as Tenor, Gavin Hope as Baritone, Garth Mosbaugh as Tenor and Tyrone Gabriel as Bass. The Nylons have been touring and recording for over thirty years, and their a cappella sound has connected with audiences worldwide. From the hits to the deep cuts, their extensive back catalog ensures that they will have something for everyone at their shows.
That variety has seen the audience continue to grow, from the original fans bringing their kids to the show, to kids bringing down their parents for the first time, says founding member Claude Morrison.
"Everyone can sing, at least everyone should sing, and this is something that really a lot of people could do. You need a good ear and a good voice, of course," Morrison says.
The Nylons are continuing to get more varied, Morrison says, and the new album will go into a jazz vein that is a bit different than where the group has gone before.
"You can't go into the studio year after year and make the same album, you want to change it up, try different kids of music and do things you have never done before."
The a cappella sound has been seeing a resurgence recently, with shows like Glee catching on with a wider audience. Morrison admits that, like with all styles of music, it can be cyclical, but he has seen a lot of people inspired when they see what a four-part harmony can do.
"It's gratifying to know that what you're doing has inspired a whole new generation to do that," Morrison says.
The group has changed a little since the last time it was in town. Bass singer Tyrone Gabriel is the newest member of the Nylons. Morrison says that Gabriel has brought a lot to the group, with a great sense of musicianship and an even better work ethic, something important when you have to learn the large amount of Nylons material. Morrison promises that audiences will see a large cross section of that material.
"There will be some new, some old, some covers, and some originals."
It has been a few years since the Nylons last stopped in Yorkton, and Morrison is excited to get back and reconnect with the area fans.
"Usually I walk into a theatre and go 'oh, I remember this place.' Just the surroundings and the familiarity of it. There are fans who are life friends, some that even follow us around, not in a stalking way. They will drive long distances just to see us, and that will probably be the case at this show," Morrison says.
The show will take place on October 14 at the Anne Portnuff Theatre. Tickets are $45 and are available at the Yorkton Arts Council office or at Welcome Home Floral & Gift Shop on Smith Street East in Yorkton.
