Skip to content

The Banff Centre welcomes local talent

As fledgling musicians trying to take wing in the entertainment industry, a regularly encountered problem is… Hell, we’ll just say it – often a problem for new artists is playing sub-par venues featuring sketchy lighting and a way less than ideal sou

As fledgling musicians trying to take wing in the entertainment industry, a regularly encountered problem is…

Hell, we’ll just say it – often a problem for new artists is playing sub-par venues featuring sketchy lighting and a way less than ideal sound system.

Not everybody, for example, lands a gig at The Banff Centre.

Sure, the likes of The Tragically Hip, Blue Rodeo and Xavier Rudd have played there, but what about the little guys, those with just a few gigs (maybe none?) under their guitar straps?

Well, The Banff Centre is taking care of that situation with its Uncorked and Unplugged Acoustic Night, Saturday (July 9) in The Club at 7:30 p.m.

Uncorked and Unplugged is an ideal way for local music aficionados to check out some up-and-coming local talent and it’s an ideal situation for the talent – Layten Kramer, The Gruesome Two and The Shoulder Season – to get the full meal deal courtesy The Banff Centre experts.

Further, Friends of Banff National Park can get a monetary assist, as entrance to Uncorked is simply by donation, with funds going to the group.

The idea for Uncorked and Unplugged came up during meetings among The Banff Centre staff, said David Cseke, assistant manager presenting.

“We’ve all talked about these acts we see in town,” said Cseke. “There was talk of doing something with these bands and we started planning something around them. But we wanted a twist, so we challenged the artists to create something new, and said the evening will be acoustic instruments only.

“So even if you’ve seen these artists, this performance will be different and special.”

In casting about for local acts, The Banff Centre’s Kurt Bagnall and Canmore Folk Music Festival’s Sue Panning were consulted, as were local bar managers.

“Then we approached some of the artists and said ‘we like you guys, but we want something different and something different for the town’.”

In the end, the three performers were chosen for the inaugural event, which is part of The Banff Centre’s Summer Arts Festival.

Along with providing an acoustic bass guitar and a drum kit, The Club will be fully mic’d and mixed by Centre staff. The artists were given a rider form to state their gig needs (you know, no brown M&Ms, colouring books in the dressing room, favourite beverages, etc.).

“Everything will be the same as we do for any band here,” said Cseke. “Each band will have a load-in time, a sound check, everything. We’re treating it as a regular show and I think it will be a great experience for everyone involved.

“We want to see how this goes and what the response is. We’ve already got a list of other bands who would be interested for the future.”

The Club seats about 140, and each band will play a 45-minute set. Seating is cabaret-style and, because the bar will be open, the show will an age 14 and over event.

Talent-wise, Uncorked and Unplugged will feature Canmore teenager Layten Kramer, who recently released his first folk album at Canmore’s Communitea Café and who is looking forward to his first tour into B.C. this summer.

The Gruesome Two are Banff’s Bruce McComb and Ray Brooks, who will offer up soulful blues and blues rock, while The Shoulder Season is an upbeat alt/folk/grass group headed by two-time Calgary Folk Music Festival songwriting contest finalist Josh Smith of Canmore.

The Shoulder Season includes Matt Mueller (percussion), Mike Dodd (trumpet, vocals), Darcy Gillis (upright/electric bass), Margaret Tannett (banjo, vocals) and Smith (guitar, lead vocals).

Friends of Banff was chosen as the charity of choice for Uncorked proceeds and will have some information and products for sale on-site.


Rocky Mountain Outlook

About the Author: Rocky Mountain Outlook

The Rocky Mountain Outlook is Bow Valley's No. 1 source for local news and events.
Read more



Comments

push icon
Be the first to read breaking stories. Enable push notifications on your device. Disable anytime.
No thanks