Friday, January 30, 2009

January 2009 Feedback

Where you at any of Ian Tyson's concerts between January 7 and January 11? Did you see DuffleBag Theatre's Robin Hood on January 17, Les Boreades de Montreal on January 19, or Ennis on January 22?
Did you like, or dislike, the artists, the venue, the volunteers, the staff? Please let us know your thoughts regarding your visit to our theatre.
Please Note: Comments will be moderated and course language will not be posted.

Monday, January 26, 2009

Enjoy Exhilarating Gypsy Jazz Music at Horizon Stage

Award-winning Marc Atkinson Trio will perform selections from their new CD on February 7th

The music of The Marc Atkinson Trio is melodically captivating, ferocious and technically awe-inspiring. Embracing a lifetime of musical influences, this virtuosic group has just released their fourth and latest CD, ‘The Marc Atkinson Trio IV’, which has been praised as their finest yet. The compositions on the CD are punchy, driving and rhythmically inventive. The Trio, formed in 2000, has toured North America, England and Europe and has received standing ovations everywhere they perform, from the Montreal Jazz Festival to the Festival des Guitares du Monde to the Vancouver International Folk Festival to DjangoFest Northwest.

Marc Atkinson is a multi-instrumentalist/composer/arranger/producer. A Juno nominee, he is considered to be one of Canada’s most talented musicians. His catchy compositions take guitar beyond the usual repertoire and sound. The tunes have a fiery but elegant guitar style, infused with a catchy blend of influences. All this, while still maintaining the laidback humour and casual ‘good-time feel’ of Canada’s West Coast. Atkinson’s picking has been described as flawless, surprise-filled, sizzling and supremely melodic. His music is original, complex and challenging in its conception and delivery but remains accessible and absorbing. Along with being the leader and composer of the internationally-renowned Marc Atkinson Trio, Marc is also co-founder, composer and a performer in the acclaimed folk quintet, The Bills, winners of the 2007 Entertainers of the Year at the Western Canadian Music Awards.

Marc Atkinson is backed by Joey Smith on stand-up bass, formerly of the Glenn Miller Orchestra, and Reuben Wier on rhythm guitar. The Marc Atkinson Trio good-naturedly welcomes their audience aboard for an intriguing, exhilarating and unforgettable ride. Don’t miss them Up Close and Personal at Horizon Stage on Saturday, February 7th, 2009 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for students and seniors and are available through the Horizon Stage Box Office, 780-962-8995, and any Ticketmaster location.

“. . . this leader and his trio [are] solidly in the top ten of the world's working string trios.”
Jurgen Goethe, CBC

“. . top-drawer picking... an inventive composer...a truly original voice.”
Acoustic Guitar

“They're (the Marc Atkinson originals) outstanding for their vitality, exuberance, elegance and melodic strength, and for the joy these three fine musicians share in executing them. Atkinson is a daring and inventive acoustic guitarist and a powerful force in the new roots/jazz movement (gypsy jazz).”
The Toronto Star

“Amazing players/ Supremely melodic.”
Penguin Eggs Magazine

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


Horizon Stage would like to thank the following Marc Atkinson Trio Sponsors and Supporters: Canadian Heritage, the Alberta Foundation of the Arts, the Edmonton Journal, CKUA Radio, Birdsell Grant Gardner Morck Barristers and Solicitors, Servus Credit Union and the Royal Inn Express.

Two-time Juno and Maple Blues award winner to grace Horizon Stage

Jim Byrnes will bring his smoldering and soulful blues to Spruce Grove on February 5th

Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Jim Byrnes started playing piano at age five and by age thirteen, he was singing and playing blues guitar. His first professional gig was in 1964, and over the years, he has had the great fortune to appear with a virtual who’s who of blues history, from Furry Lewis and Henry Townsend to Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, Albert Collins, Taj Mahal, Robery Cray and many others. Moving to Vancouver, in the mid-70s, Jim formed the extremely popular blues group, the Jim Byrnes Band. Still going strong more than 25 years later, Jim’s current tour of western Canada includes a much-anticipated stop at Horizon Stage in Spruce Grove on Thursday, February 5th, 2009.

Also an actor, Jim Byrnes’ fame has grown immeasurably from his too-numerous-to-mention TV roles. Highlights include playing the character Lifeguard in the CBS series Wiseguy (1987-1990), worldwide success as Joe Dawson in Highlander (1993-98), and his nationally-broadcast variety show, The Jim Byrnes Show.

Jim’s first love, however, is the blues. His evocative, smoky vocals are found in a truth that doesn’t come overnight. During the 80s, the Jim Byrnes Band released “Burnin’” on Polydor, followed in 1987 with “I’ve Turned My Nights into Days” and 1995’s Juno Award-winning “That River” on Stony Plain Records. More recently Jim released “Fresh Horses” in 2004 and “House of Refuge” in 2008.

Joining Jim Byrnes at Horizon Stage will be “Strang” musicians, Zubot and Dawson. "Strang" is, in short, a blend of folk and jazz music with influences from roots, blues and numerous other musical genres. Jesse Zubot performs on fiddle and Steve Dawson plays guitar. The two met Jim before the release of “Fresh Horses”, realized they shared common tastes in music, and decided that a collaboration would be a refreshing and exciting project. They have toured together occasionally ever since.

Don’t miss Jim Byrnes with Zubot and Dawson Up Close and Personal at Horizon Stage on Thursday, February 5th, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $25 for adults and $20 for students and seniors and are available through the Horizon Stage Box Office, 780-962-8995, and any Ticketmaster location.

“...smoldering intensity...deeply soulful...”British Blues Connection
“...a voice that sounds like it saw creation and followed the devil down to hell...”Americana UK
“...Byrnes is a veritable national treasure, and if you like the blues you should know about him...”Uptown
“It’s cross-breeding of soul and country, which recalls Otis Redding or Percy Sledge...”Vancouver Province

Be sure to visit
www.horozonstage.com and www.jamestbyrnes.com

Horizon Stage would like to thank the following Jim Byrnes Sponsors and Supporters: Canadian Heritage, the Alberta Foundation of the Arts, the Edmonton Journal, CKUA Radio, Birdsell Grant Gardner Morck Barristers and Solicitors, Servus Credit Union and the Royal Inn Express.

Monday, January 12, 2009


Charming Country/Folk duo Ennis to perform at Horizon Stage

The sweet harmonies of Maureen and Karen Ennis will enchant Spruce Grove on January 22nd.

Maureen and Karen Ennis both started playing music at an early age. In 1997 they formed the popular trio, The Ennis Sisters, with their younger sister, Theresa, and went on to record seven albums, winning four East Coast Music Awards and one Juno. The Ennis Sisters toured with The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and Jann Arden, and shared the stage with numerous top artists at various music festivals. Their 2001 single, It's Not About You, cracked the top 5 on Canadian Country Radio, and the top 10 on Canadian adult contemporary radio. When Theresa left the group in 2007, Maureen and Karen decided to continue as a duo, and Ennis was born.

Hailing from St. John’s, Newfoundland, the two remaining Ennis sisters are excited about their new beginning. They worked in Nashville with producer Randy Scruggs to release their debut album, “Be Here for Awhile”, in 2008. The album features remarkable performances from some of the finest studio musicians in Nashville. Give Me Love, the debut single and video from “Be Here for Awhile” received air play on numerous country radio stations. Give Me Love, is a beautiful, catchy song that many of their audience members are sure to be singing to themselves long after they leave the theatre.

Now touring Canada, Ennis is pleased to be making two stops in the Edmonton area. The first at Horizon Stage in Spruce Grove on Thursday, January 22nd, and the second at the Maclab Centre for Performing Arts in Leduc on January 23rd.
Horizon Stage is thrilled to be presenting Ennis on, January 22, 2009 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets to their Horizon Stage performance are $25 for Adults and $20 for Students and Seniors. Call the Horizon Stage Box Office at 780-962-8995 or visit any Ticketmaster location for more information or to order tickets. Tickets for their Leduc concert can be purchased through Tix on the Square. Visit www.ennismusic.com to see the video for Give Me Love and to hear other music by Ennis and The Ennis Sisters.

Horizon Stage would like to thank the following Ennis Sponsors and Supporters: Canadian Heritage, the Alberta Foundation of the Arts, the Edmonton Journal, CFCW, Birdsell Grant Gardner Morck Barristers and Solicitors, Servus Credit Union and the Royal Inn Express.