Tuesday, October 30, 2007

Canadian Country Artist of the Year performs at Horizon Stage

Brad Johner brings his down-home country music to Spruce Grove on November 9th

Winner of the 2007 Canadian Country Music Association Award for Male Artist of the year, Brad Johner is still just a down-home country boy from the Saskatchewan prairies. This proud father and family man puts his heart, soul and voice into songs that both he and his audience can relate to. Join this twelve-year veteran of the music industry at Horizon Stage in Spruce Grove at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, November 9th.
One half of the popular Johner Brother’s duo in the 1990s, Brad’s solo career since 2003 has also been stellar. With four well-received CD’s, two top ten songs and nine videos, he continually sets the bar for excellence. His first solo album, Free, garnered him a 2003 Western Canadian Music Award for "Outstanding Country Album", 2003 CCMA nominations for "Album of the Year" and "SOCAN Song of the Year", and a win at the 2004 Canadian Independent Music Awards for "Favourite Country Artist/Group". He was also recognized with Juno and CCMA nominations in 2004.
The past years have been hectic ones for Brad. Besides completing his second album, Summertime Road, a Christmas CD, and a Classics CD, he has performed at several high-profile events including the Queen's Gala and The Canada Summer Games. He has also been logging many hours touring across the country from Victoria to Prince Edward Island. Married to his high school sweetheart since 1992, when he’s not on the road, Brad keeps himself busy raising his five young sons.
Opening for Brad in Spruce Grove will be the Edmonton-based, mother-daughter duo, Myrol. Heralding from generations of Canadian prairie farmers and ranchers, Myrol has a warm and honest sound that touches people’s hearts. Together they sing about the joys and hardships that life can throw one’s way, reflecting the experiences of life lived on the Canadian plains. Mother Joanne and daughter Haley’s thoughtfully-crafted songs are laced with an earthy truth and nitty-gritty humanness.
Don’t miss Brad Johner and Myrol Up Close and Personal at Horizon Stage on Friday, November 9th at 7:30 p.m. It is sure to be a truly entertaining and memorable evening. Tickets are selling quickly so call the Horizon Stage Box Office at 962-8995 to order yours today!

Be sure to visit http://www.bradjohner.com/, http://www.myrolmusic.com/ and http://www.horizonstage.com/

Special thanks to the sponsors of this event: The Horizon Stagelighters, The Alberta Foundation For The Arts, Canadian Heritage, Royal Inn Express, The Edmonton Journal, Big Earl, River City Round Up and Birdsell Grant Gardner Morck Barristers & Solicitors

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

The STrung Tour stops at Horizon Stage

April Verch, Tony McManus and Doug Cox perform on Saturday, November 3rd

Combining breathtaking solo, duo, and trio arrangements, the STrung tour brings together three of Canada’s roots-music greats in an evening on unexcelled musical virtuosity. April Verch, Tony MacManus and Doug Cox will mix their acoustic styles together to create an electricity on stage that is seldom seen! Performing at Horizon Stage in Spruce Grove on Saturday, November 3rd, these three amazing artists will leave their audience spellbound.

April Verch was first schooled in the fiddle styles of her native Ottawa Valley. The first - and only - woman to win both the Canadian Grand Masters Fiddle Championship and the Canadian Open Fiddle Championship, she has since been applying her formidable technique to a wide range of styles. April is not only a world-class fiddler, she is also an expert step-dancer, and a singer whose voice has been hailed as ‘absolutely captivating’ by the Toronto Star. April crosses genres easily from bluegrass to Appalachian to Celtic. She has seven recordings and a Juno nomination to her credit.

Tony McManus has come to be recognized throughout the world as a leading Celtic guitarist. Since early childhood, his twin obsessions have been traditional music and acoustic guitar. In Tony’s hands the complex ornamentations normally associated with fiddles and pipes are accurately transferred to guitar in a way that preserves the integrity and emotional impact of the music. Nominated for 2002 Musician of the Year by the BBC Folk Awards and The Scottish Tradition Music Awards, Tony’s album Ceol More hit the Critic’s Album of the Year list in Acoustic Guitar magazine and was named Album of the Year by the Live Ireland Awards. Tony is invited annually to the Chet Atkins Festival in Nashville and he has performed at guitar festivals around the world.

Doug Cox is a multi-instrumental roots music musician who specializes in the resophonic slide guitar. He is also a world-leading dobro player. Hailing from Vancouver Island, Doug enjoys collaborating with musicians from around the world and exploring new styles of music. His most recent projects include the acclaimed Slide to Freedom CD with India’s Salil Bhatt and Ramkumar Mishra as well as a new CD with Sam Hurrie called Blues From The Forbidden Plateau.

Accompanied by Cody Waters from The April Verch Band, the STrung Tour will add a new dimension to the music of these three individuals. Together they will deliver an eclectic blend of roots music styles with an expressive depth and intensity that allows each artist to shine. The STrung tour will be equal parts invigorating, surprising, haunting, thrilling, foot-stomping, and smile inducing. Don’t miss this utterly unforgettable concert at Horizon Stage on Saturday, November 3rd at 7:30 p.m. Call the Horizon Stage Box Office at 962-8995 to order your tickets today!

“Playful, flirtatious, whimsical and wry”
-The Toronto Star

Be sure to visit www.aprilverch.com and www.horizonstage.com

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

Ticket Availability Update

Robert Munsch: All 3 shows - single tickets only
Arrogant Worms: Oct 15 - lots left, Oct 16 - single tickets only