BeatRoute Magazine [AB] print e-edition - [May 2018]

THE KENSINGTON SINFONIA
collaborative quintet swings both ways
Founded in 1988 by John Lowry, the
associate concert master of the Calgary
philharmonic orchestra (CPO), The Kensington
Sinfonia (which uses the Italian term
for symphony) has been around a while. The
quintet captures a classical side of Calgary
that displays a passionate, intimate environment
under musical director, Donovan Seidle.
Currently in its twenty-ninth season, the
Kensington Sinfonia began as an opportunity
to do something different. “It started as a
chance for orchestral players to play with
smaller groups. To be playing stuff that you
never get to play in an orchestra because it is
too reduced for any orchestra to program,”
explains Laura Reid, a member of sinfonia.
Reid, a violinist with the group, will be taking
over for Seidle beginning next season that
consists of three concerts per year. Reid is also
the mastermind behind the Kensington Sinfonia:
Village Sessions, which combines local
folk music with the sinfonia’s string quartet
led by Reid. The sessions create an intimate
occasion between the artist, the ensemble
and audience.
“It is a reduced ensemble,” says Ried. “It
ends up being a string quintet. Donovan has
actually written for (folk and country artists)
Kris Ellestad and Amy Nelson arrangements
of their own songs that the ensemble can
play with them. We are able to expand their
48 | MAY 2018 • BEATROUTE
BY ANDREW BARDSLEY
sound, which is really cool!”
The Village Sessions offers the audience
a chance to engage with the Calgary folk
music scene and the classical scene, two established
music communities that are rarely
viewed simultaneously.
“We want an open door between both
sides,” says Reid. “I am not interested in crossover,
but I want these sessions to be a chance
for each side to what they would do on their
own. When I take over, what I really want to
do is expand what people think of when they
think of a classical ensemble. As a music fan
in this city, I go to a lot of shows where I see
an opportunity for fans to really enjoy an expanded
view. I want to change how audiences
are represented in this city.”
Reid adds, “People in Calgary go to shows
to support their friends, and those are the
only shows you go to. I think it is a lack of
awareness that maybe the concert goer
would like something different.”
As the sessions continue, Reid carefully
selects who the sinfonia should collaborate
with. “I want it to be a positive social interaction,
but I also want to have someone who
makes musical sense.”
The Kensington Sinfonia’s upcoming show on Fri.,
May 31 is at Hope Lutheran Church featuring
Darren Young.
ROSIE & THE RIVETERS
building up, breaking out
Too often it’s been a “Man’s man’s man’s
world,” but that doesn’t mean Rosie &
the Riveters aren’t going to make their voices
heard. Formed in 2011, the group sprang
from Farideh Olsen’s desire to create a collaborative
space for female singer-songwriters
in a male-dominated industry. With this in
mind, the group named themselves after
feminist icon Rosie the Riveter, after finding
that their voices blended in a vintage style
reminiscent of the Andrews Sisters.
“There are a lot of strong woman in each
of our family histories,” says band member
Allyson Reigh. “My grandmother repaired
planes outside Shellbrook, Saskatchewan
during WWII, and that’s a legacy I’m proud
to represent.”
In keeping with the vintage theme, all three
band members present themselves in the
ultra-feminine style of the 1940s, something
that Reigh says is not contrived, but rather
genuine self-expression. “It lets us express
our personalities in a different way from our
everyday lives.”
Although they’ve been asked if their style
is counter-productive to their message, Reigh
doesn’t see the two as being mutually exclusive.
“It’s not like we can have feminist-leaning
songs or we can dress femininely. It’s a mix of
both,” she emphasizes. “We see the message
of feminism as being that you can decide your
own destiny and how you express yourself.”
Rosie & the Riveters are also firm in
their conviction to put their money where
their mouth is and support other people.
Twenty per cent of the proceeds from their
BY EMILIE CHARETTE
merchandise sales are donated to fund
the projects of women around the world
through Kiva, a microfinance initiative. To
date, the band has helped fund 200 projects,
amounting to nearly $10,000.
Guided by the belief in supporting others,
the band secluded themselves in a cabin
in Northern Saskatchewan to write the
songs for their new album, Ms. Behave. The
emphasis was on collaboration and splitting
the work equally.
“We took inspiration from the things going
on around us,” states Reigh, citing the gender
pay gap, “mansplaining” how society polices
the behaviour of women and non-binary people,
and sexual violence. “These are issues that
are current, even though they’ve been going
on for a long time.”
The new album is both hilarious and
heartbreaking, but above all, powerful. The last
track, “I Believe You,” is a poignant message
of support to survivors of sexual assault. Proceeds
from digital sales and streaming of this
track are donated to YWCAs across Canada
to help survivors of sexual assault, one of the
ways the band fulfills its goal of empowering
and uplifting others.
Reigh’s favourite track, however, is the CBC
Radio hit “Let ’Em Talk.”
“It’s really about letting people talk shit
about you and not caring, because what does
it matter? Don’t let them ruin your ambition
or your dreams.”
Rosie & the Riveters perform Sat., May 5 at the
Ironwood Stage & Grill
ROOTS