Alicia Wallace
Rossland News
Kootenay band Shred Kelly, a high energy stoke folk troupe, is performing at Rossland Miners’ Hall on Friday, March 20. In late January this year, the band released their third album titled Sing to the Night which CBC Music named Top 15 Most Anticipated Albums of 2015.
Having performed at some of the nation’s premier festivals, Shred Kelly has garnered themselves sold-out shows across Canada. Their success at entertaining to a jam-packed dance floor is a result of the fun and genuine love they have for performing live.
They have been re-defining what folk music means in Canada by amplifying the traditional sound of folk with a contemporary twist. The audience can expect to hear sounds which define the peaks and valleys of the Kootenays.
The five-piece band consists of Tim Newton on the banjo, cello banjo, vocals, guitar and ukulele; Ian Page Shiner on drums; Jordan Vlasschaert on bass, acoustic guitar and the harmonica; Sage McBride sings vocals and plays the keyboard; and Ty West on guitar.
The band has played in Rossland several times, mainly for the Blizzard Music Festival during Winter Carnival. McBride explains that the group has so much fun every time they play in Rossland that they wanted to do a show for the release of the new album and 1980s-inspired ski video for the title track.
“We will be playing a bit of everything from crowd favourites to songs on the Goodbye July and In the Hills albums and new music from the Sing to the Night album,” said McBride. McBride also encourages everyone to check out their music video. “It’s a one-shot ski video in retro ski gear,” she adds.
While in Rossland the band will be going out for breakfast and the Alpine Grind coffee shop is the place they have in mind. The shop is also selling advanced tickets for the gig titled Stoke Folk — The Party! Shred Kelly with Brian Rosen & The WhatNow.
Get your tickets early for this crowd-favourite show or you may only get to see the band at breakfast.
Rossland News reporter Alicia Wallace caught up with Sage McBride, vocalist and keyboard player from Shred Kelly, to get the low down on the upcoming gig Stoke Folk: The Party
RN: What do you like most about being a musician?
McBride: I like creating new songs. I also like playing new shows, it’s the most rewarding part. Playing a show and receiving the audience reaction is unlike any other feeling in the world!
RN: What’s one song that will get people excited for the Rossland gig?
McBride: Definitely Sing to the Night, that would be the perfect song to capture what Shred Kelly is all about. And the emotion. It is an emotional and high-energy song; it captures everything we do as a band in one piece.
RN: What’s the wildest gig you have played at to date?
McBride: We played a show at Castle Mountain where eight people were crowd surfing at once, shoes being thrown and all sorts. It got pretty wild.
RN: What’s the most memorable thing an audience member has done?
McBride: We played in Winnipeg and a woman started doing scandalous dance moves in the first set. It was hard for the band to contain our reaction to what was happening. Please don’t do that in Rossland!
RN: What’s the best thing about being on tour?
McBride: Meeting new people and getting to see other bands play. You arrive in a new town and hear new bands. When you hear some of them play, they can become one of your favourite bands.
RN: What is one tip you would give to an aspiring musician?
McBride: Work really hard. Talent is only part of what carries you through. It is a combination of talent, hard work and dedication. If you want to pursue a career in the music industry you have to be dedicated.
RN: Thank you Sage, we look forward to seeing you in Rossland later this month!
Shred Kelly will be at Rossland Miners’ Hall on Friday, March 20.