Friday, February 23, 2007

Win FREE Tickets to Montreal Guitar Trio

Be one of the first two people to e-mail hstage@sprucegrove.org with your contact information (phone number or e-mail address) and you'll win two FREE tickets to The Montreal Guitar Trio at Horizon Stage on Saturday, March 3rd.
Visit: www.mg3.ca for more information on The Montreal Guitar Trio.

Tuesday, February 20, 2007

Montreal Guitar Trio scheduled on Saturday, March 3, 2007

The Hottest Guitar Ensemble in Canada is Coming to Horizon Stage

Selling out theatres wherever they go, the Montreal Guitar Trio has quickly established itself as a force of rejuvenation and cross-pollenization between various musical forms including classical, jazz and folk. Marrying passionate virtuosity with a stealthy sense of humour, guitarists Glenn Lévesque, Marc Morin and Sébastien Dufour charm the ears and capture the hearts of audiences. Their eclectic, energetic music takes listeners on a journey through many cultures - from the mysterious, exotic melodies of India to the hot rhythms of South America, from Spain and the Balkans to the Orient, traditional Quebec and Hollywood. Now they are poised to impress and amaze audience members in Spruce Grove at Horizon Stage on Saturday, March 3rd.

Since it was founded at the University of Montréal in 1998, Montreal Guitar Trio has given hundreds of concerts in North America and Europe, many of which have been recorded and broadcast by national networks such as CBC, Radio-France, BRAVO. Société Radio-Canada’s 2002 concert entitled "The Heat of the Day," and performed in Montreal, was nominated for Jazz and World Music Concert of the Year at the prestigious Prix Opus 2002, celebrating musical excellence in Quebec. This concert launched the Trio's second album, Garam Masala, which was also nominated for Disc of the Year. Their 3rd CD, MG3, was released in the fall of 2006.

Opening the evening on March 3rd will be Edmonton’s own Rosette Guitar Duo. Kevin Marsh and Michael Lyngstad balance intricately-woven melodies in a unique style that is enticing and captivating. With musical influences including world, indie-pop, jazz, and classical, they produce a sound that is rhythmically inviting and rich in its harmonic language. Their merging of styles is fresh in its approach - combining the wisdom of quality with the freedom of innocence. Since the Duo's inception in 2001, the pair has been composing music and performing extensively. They have traveled throughout Western Canada and released a full-length album entitled Portage to Tunnel Mountain (2003). Through their music and stage performance, Rosette Guitar Duo allows their audience a full view of their carefree and spirited personalities.

Travel the musical world and experience many new and exotic flavours and sounds with Montreal Guitar Trio and Rosette Guitar Duo at Horizon Stage on Saturday, March 3 at 7:30 p.m.. Tickets are just $20.00 for adults and $15.00 for students and seniors. Or, if you can not make it to their performance on March 3, you can see just The Montreal Guitar Trio at the Shell Theatre in Fort Saskatchewan on Friday, March 2 at 8:00 p.m.. Call the Horizon Stage Box Office at 962-8995 or Ticketmaster at 451-8000 for more information.

The Montreal Trio's guitars know no limits. They journey along with brio from jazz to classical music, from India to Canada. The Ussac Church has been swept away on the thunder of their strings!"
La Montagne Newspaper

"... They delivered loads of infectious good humour and some solid ensemble playing
that skirted the four corners of the musical world."

Bill Rankin, Edmonton Journal

Be sure to visit www.horizonstage.com, www.trioguitarsmontreal.com and www.rosetteguitar.com
Also: Visit www.youtube.com and search for Montreal Guitar Trio to see some amazing video clips!

Special thanks to the sponsors of this event: The Alberta Foundation For The Arts, Canadian Heritage, The Edmonton Journal, Royal Inn Express and Birdsell Grant Gardner Morck, Barristers & Solicitors

Audience Feedback: Romany Blues

Did you see Vinok Worldance's word premiere performance of Romany Blues on Saturday, February 17th? What did you think of the dancers/costumes/choreography/video footage? Please write a short review and tell us what you thought of Romany Blues.
Note: Comments are moderated and offensive language will not be posted.

Tuesday, February 13, 2007

Audience Feedback: Frog Prince & The Amazing Kreskin

Did you see Alberta Opera's production of The Frog Prince on Saturday, February 10th or The Amazing Kreskin on Sunday February 11th?
Do you have any feedback that you would like to give about either show? Please write a short review and let us know what you though of the performance.
Please Note: Comments will be moderated for inappropriate or offensive language.

Monday, February 05, 2007

Horizon Stage adds New Brunswick Blues & Root’s Band to its line-up

East Coast Music Award Winner Hot Toddy scheduled on March 10, 2007

Known for their alternative acoustic roots and blues stylings and a live show that is full of improvisation and impromptu musical journeys, Hot Toddy will burn up Horizon Stage on Saturday, March 10th. Their high-energy vocals, aggressive guitars, and heart-stopping instrumentals will mix with other, more organic, folky, funky and groovy sounds to push the boundaries of the familiar and captivate all who listen.

With six critically-acclaimed albums and an East Coast Music Award under their belts, Hot Toddy recently won the 2006 Maple Blues Award for Acoustic Act of the Year. Fast becoming one of the east coast’s favourite acoustic acts, the Fredericton-based band is comprised of Thom Swift on acoustic guitar, dobro, vocals; Joel Leblanc on lead guitar, harmonica, vocals, and Tom Easley on acoustic bass and vocals.

Regulars on the Canadian Festival scene, Hot Toddy have played the prestigious Newport Folk Festival in the U.S., the Blue Balls Festival in Switzerland and the Vienna Jazz Festival in Austria. They are often heard on independent radio in the US and Canada and have been highlighted on the CBC a number of times. When they tour, they win fans wherever they play.With musical prowess that is second to none, Hot Toddy can “rip it up” on a stage, throwing the audience into a frenzy, or hold them in the palms of their hands with an original ballad. They have opened for such diverse performers as jazz great, Bill Frisell and country icon Dolly Parton. Hot Toddy has also become a favourite collaborator with such notables as Flamenco great, Juan Martin, harmonica wizard, Mike Stevens and bluegrass legend Raymond McLain, as well as New Brunswick comrades, Isaac and Blewett.

Don’t miss what is sure to be a truly memorable concert experience when Horizon Stage presents Hot Toddy at 7:30 pm on Saturday, March 10, 2007. Tickets are $20.00 for adults and $15.00 for students and seniors. Call the Horizon Stage Box Office at 962-8995 or Ticketmaster for more information or to purchase your tickets today!

“Not since The Band roared out of upstate New York with its original sound have I heard such unique music! Not surprising that the culturally rich East Coast of Canada has once again produced stellar music makers.”
The Signal Star - Goderich Ontario

Hot Toddy is a unique amalgam of blues and roots music with a hint of jazz,
their musicianship shining brightly on each new release.”
Exclaim! - Toronto

Be sure to visit: www.horizonstage.com and www.hottoddytrio.com

Special thanks to the sponsors of this event: The Alberta Foundation For The Arts, Canadian Heritage, The Edmonton Journal, Royal Inn Express and Birdsell Grant Gardner Morck, Barristers & Solicitors

Vinok Worldance premieres Romany Blues at Horizon Stage - February 17, 2007

Enter a world of passion, memory, longing and tradition

A Canadian is seduced by the mysterious, often misunderstand, Gypsy world on a trip to Europe. This is the starting point for Romany Blues the newest full-length production from Edmonton’s Vinok Worldance. Romany Blues makes it’s world premiere at Horizon Stage in Spruce Grove on Saturday, February 17. Inspired by memories of his grandfather to rediscover his roots, young Stan encounters Gypsies in a market square and is initially accepted by the men. But when he falls in love with the fiancée of the village primash (fiddler), he is rejected and turned away. Stan’s wanderings underline the plight of a culture facing inevitable change in a modern world, while also illuminating the struggle for love, self-identification and cultural understanding.


With its themes of jealousy and belonging, Romany Blues marks an exciting new direction for Vinok Worldance. Long-dedicated to presenting world dance as a dramatic cultural expression, the ensemble has garnered acclaim for its innovative approach. Romany Blues adds a dramatic storytelling element to its assemblage of choreographies and music from Europe and Asia. Subtle yet persistent, the dramatic arc provides an emotional momentum for the heart-stopping rhythms, exhilarating dances and the heart-piercing songs of the Gypsy culture. The result is a richly-imagined, passionately realized cultural and emotional tapestry.

Romany Blues also marks the debut of the company’s newest members, Lukáš Cabalka, Anton Konečný and Stanislav Giertl. Recently arrived from Slovakia. These three new members bring a wealth of experience and artistic depth to Vinok. They will be joined on stage by Vinok’s Artistic Director Doyle Marko, Executive Director Leanne Koziak, dancers Taisa Marko and Katie Zederayko and musicians John Calverly, William Cramer, Moni Mathew, and Dianne Tebby.

Horizon Stage is excited to present Vinok Worldance’s Romany Blues at 7:30 pm on Saturday, February 17, 2007. Tickets are $20.00 for adults and $15.00 for students and seniors. Call Ticketmaster or the Horizon Stage Box Office at 962-8995 for more information or to purchase your tickets today!

“We left Vinok feeling a little dizzy with excitement. We are not about to forget Vinok very soon!"

Lynda Naden & the Grand Falls Windsor Dance Students - Newfoundland

“A wonderfully uplifting, joyful evening (that) left us wanting more!"

Anne Snyder - Pentiction, BC

"I felt as thought I have just been on a trip around the world."

Audience Member - Summerland, BC

Be sure to visit www.horizonstage.com and www.vinokworldance.ab.ca

Special thanks to the sponsors of this event: The Alberta Foundation For The Arts, Canadian Heritage, The Edmonton Journal and Birdsell Grant Gardner Morck, Barristers & Solicitors