BeatRoute Magazine AB Edition - March 2020

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03.20YYCAGENDATHE SLOCAN RAMBLERSCanadian bluegrass banditskeep it fresh and physicalreviews, noting that while the banddips into the backwoods of traditionalbluegrass they also dive into newdirections.Gross, who loves jazz, Miles Davis,Phish and the Grateful Dead as muchas he loves Stevie Ray Vaugh and LedZeppelin, explains, “You have do yourhomework and learn about whatever styleor genre you’re playing comes from andbe true to that tradition, really loving it.Then be comfortable to do your own thingand explore.”What then do the Ramblers think theyadd to tradition?“All four of us write, we all composeand keep ourselves interested. Whenplaying live, we keep it dynamic,interactive, and we surprise each otheron stage, try out little whacky thingsand keep it fresh. If we keep ourselvesinterested, we know the audience isfeeling the same way.”In recent years, bluegrass showsin Toronto hit their stride where bandmembers took turns showcasing theirtalent, sharing a single mic hoisted up oncentre stage. While the acoustic elementproved to be a refreshing break fromoverdriven amps and pounding bass bins,the energy levels to unleash a flurry ofAppalachian fire and skill held steadfast.Praised for their vigorous, breakneckdeliveries live and on record, theSlocan Ramblers have emerged as oneof Canada’s top-seeded, aggressivebluegrass acts.“When I hear musicians,” says AdrianGross, the Ramblers’ mandolin man,“I like to hear a real physical presenceof themselves. To hear them play hardenough so that their instruments talkand I can hear them sing, so they have apersonal stamp on it. To put your physicalself into it, that’s where I think you kind ofget the uniqueness. To play with intent, soyou communicate something.”Their third album, Queen CityJubilee, which pays homage to Toronto’scfmfpresents-beatroute-march-ad.pdf bluegrass scene, has received glowing1 2020-02-27 1:49 PMThe Slocan Rambler play The ArdenTheatre (St. Albert) on March 13, the IrishCultural Centre (Calgary) on March 20,and the Horizon Stage (Spruce Grove) onMarch 22.By Brad SimmJEN SQUIRESPinkCMYCMMYCYCMYKMartini12 musicians25 languages1 Pink MartiniAPRIL 16, 2020Arts Commons, Jack Singer Concert HallDoors 6:30pm/ Concert 7:30pmGET YOUR TICKETS TODAY!artscommons.ca/martiniPublic Sector SupportOfficial Suppliers36 BEATROUTE MARCH 2020
LOCAL ARTIST SPOTLIGHTJUSTINE VANDERGRIFTYOUNG NEIGHBOURSFinding motivation inunfulfilling relationshipsand heartbreakGrowing up in rural Alberta, countrymusic permeates just about every facetof daily life. The traditional music genrehas long gone hand-in-hand with prairieliving and its various permutations, suchas Americana, folk or roots, all sharing acommon theme of direct storytelling thatreflects the values of its community.Justine Vandergrift is no stranger tothis life, having grown up in Lacombe, AB,and regularly splitting her time betweenthere and Calgary. As a kid, country musicwas everywhere, even if “in my circles, itwasn't necessarily cool to identify withit, though, I think I always did,” as shesays. Indeed, the music left an indeliblemark on her life as she works on her ownadditions to the country canon, releasingher latest full-length, Stay, on March 7. Asshe wrote “melodies and lyrics that aremore true to [her] roots, it felt good toembrace country sounds [she’s] alwayssecretly loved.”“Prior to recording the tracks I hada series of ‘complicated’ and unfulfillingrelationships,” she says. “I guess I finallyrealized I was the one to blame for thedecisions I kept making and wanted tochange some of my patterns. This albumis a story of choosing to move forwardfrom a place of overall dissatisfaction. Iwanted to share my thoughts and hopeswith my listeners, specifically my sisters(both biological and spiritual).”Stay is a homegrown album throughand through. With a local cast of playersbacking her on the album (which wasrecorded at OCL Studios in Chestermere,AB), Vandergrift comes to terms withherself and her relationship to countrymusic, all the while pushing herselfcreatively towards the bright edges of theenvelope.Justine Vandergrift will release Stay onMarch 7 at the Ironwood (Calgary).By Sebastian BuzzalinoIndie rock outfit findsdeep friendships inlong-term songwritingSome albums feel like a burst of freshflavour, raw and rich in their immediacy asthey come together in a flash of creativity.Others take longer to mature, simmeringaway and developing deep and nuancedcomplexities that seem to emerge themore time passes. It’s in this lattercategory that Young Neighbours’ newestfull-length, Famous, fits.The Calgary indie rock outfit hasundergone its own fair share of changessince they debuted in 2015. Led by EricPauls, the contemplative singer-songwriterat the helm of it all, Young Neighboursseems to have finally found its footingas a stable group with the addition ofSarah Houston, Noah Michael, CameronClowe, and Evan Freeman, all of whomcame together to push Famous forward,creatively and emotionally.“Creatively, I don't know if I pushedmyself as much as the band pushed meand challenged every idea I had withsome very healthy creative tension,” saysPauls. Used to a perhaps more individualapproach to songwriting, Famous pushedhim out of his comfort zone as themes“around the idea of holding my beliefsloosely and being willing to let go of thingsthat used to define me,” emerged asoverarching narratives.But with the passage of time — threeyears since Pauls first started workingon Famous — Young Neighbours havegained a new appreciation for the craftof releasing an album. To wit, Pauls hada moment during the filming of the videofor “Peace During Wartime” that, in manyways, has come to define this chapter ofthe band: “As I stood there pretending toplay and sing with streamers flying aroundme, my friends all playing their parts, I hada moment where it felt like all the dreams Ihad of playing music and being an artist asa kid had come true.”Young Neighbours will release Famous onMarch 21 at the King Eddy.By Sebastian BuzzalinoSEBASTIAN BUZZALINOINGRID VARGASMARCH 2020 BEATROUTE 37
Page 1: MARCH 2020 • FREEKENNY+CARIBOUU.S
Page 4: UpFrontMARCHPublisherJulia Rambeau
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Page 24 and 25: MUSiC ALBUM REVIEWSJOHAN BERGMARKPE
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Page 39 and 40: LEVI MANCHAK03.20YEGAGENDAEssential
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BeatRoute Magazine AB Edition - March 2020

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