THE NEW CUSTOMS TO MAKE THE BEATTY HOUSE A STOP TO THE FOLK MUSIC TOP
Live music is coming back to the Beatty Heritage House on Sunday Sept. 18, with the first of six house concerts to make up the Home Routes roster for 2016-2017!
Home Routes/Chemin Chez Nous was incorporated as a not-for-profit arts organization in 2007 to create new performance opportunities for French and English speaking musicians and audiences in rural, remote and urban communities across Canada, hosted by volunteers in their homes and other community venues. The national program has a mission to bring excellent Folk-Roots-Blues music to new audiences who might not otherwise have the opportunity to experience these musical genres live, in their own area, and by professional performers.
So who is first to Rimbey this season? The New Customs are new in name, but not in experience. They’re a recently minted folk duo, but individually they are Emma Cloney and Dale Brown, performers with over 20 years of professional musical experience between them.
Hailing from the prolifically musical city of Winnipeg Manitoba Canada, the duo is being noticed for its solid songwriting, heart-stirring harmonies and outstanding instrumentation. The combination of guitarist Emma Cloney’s powerful haunting voice with the award-winning, sought-after multi-instrumentalist Dale Brown’s strings (mandolin, fiddle) – his deep voice evokes the sound of James Keelaghan or Stan Rogers - make up the heart of their sound. According to their bio, they’re not confined by the conventional and are unrestricted in their thinking: they‘re intent on creating the new customs, blending not only their music styles but also their careers.
In writing together, the pair crafts tunes that range in flavour from Folk to Celtic to Blues, with a sound uniquely their own. With solid reputations and an obvious musical chemistry, they’ve already played at three high profile folk festivals in Manitoba and Ontario this summer, and released a debut EP. (http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/thenewcustoms)
In their own words: “Our shows are a mix of upbeat and contemplative, fiddle tunes and sing-a-longs, friendly for all ages, and full of original songs (mixed with some classics and traditionals you may recognize). We are 2 voices, 4 hands, 33 strings (though not all at once!), and an electrified cutting board all packed into a Kia hatchback and looking forward to playing for you.”
Tickets are available at Stationery Stories and Sounds for $22 or at the door. There are ten free tickets available for children 12 and under. Doors open at 7:00 pm. For more information call Teri at 403-843-6497 or email bhhsociety@gmail.com.