Stephen Maguire would like to take you on a trip down Memory Lane. The singer is bringing his show, which features hits from the '40s, '50s and '60s back to Yorkton as part of the Stars for Saskatchewan series on September 18.
Maguire has been busy on the road with the show, including previous concerts in Yorkton. He says that it's been keeping him busy ever since he began the Memory Lane tour, and it's something which people all around want to hear.
"It's the kind of music that resonates with people, you know? It's music I grew up with, with my father playing with people like Van Morrison, Dusty Springfield and Bert Weedon. I was immersed in this from a very early age, so we're loving having Memory Lane on the road."
The show will feature an eight piece big band, and Maguire says they come out swinging. He notes that the arrangements have been handled to bring out the best in the songs.
"To do the songs justice you need a big band. We didn't want to do this half-heartedly. We're very fortunate to work with some great musicians, and everywhere we go we try to get as many local musicians as possible to be in the band."
The driving goal of Memory Lane is to present the music in the best possible way, and to do justice to the many classic songs being covered. Maguire describes the songs themselves as the foundation for modern music, and says that there are always links between the acts of today and the songs from the show.
"All of the music now has been influenced by that, and it's hard not to be influenced by that," Maguire says.
Maguire says it's a family show, and something which has such a breadth and depth of music that it truly has something everyone can enjoy, whether they're old favorites or songs that people have not heard before.
"It's great to see grandparents with grandkids in the audience. It's great to show them what they grew up with... At the end of the day, we say we'll have people dancing in the aisles, and we haven't failed in that yet. It's just a real feel-good night, a real family night of entertainment, and I think people leave in a better mood than when they came in the door."
While still drawing from the same era as his previous visits to Yorkton, Maguire says that the show will stay fresh, and since the era has so many great songs, he's able to give audiences a new experience each time. With his connections to Yorkton, Maguire says it's always a treat to come back and see the local audience, whether it's new faces or familiar people.
The show takes place Wednesday, September 18 at 8:00 PM at the Anne Portnuff Theatre, Yorkton Regional High School. Tickets are available at the Yorkton Arts Council office or at Welcome Home Floral and Gift Shop.
