Well, so much for not having shows in the summer time – we’ve got some more talented westerners travelling through at the end of the month! The Take Note! Music House is pleased to present Manitoba’s powerhouse duo Leaf Rapids on Tuesday, August 25 at 7:30 pm (doors open at 7:00). Requested donation is $15, with all proceeds going directly to the performer. You may reserve your seat by calling (705) 305-1687 or emailing concerts@takenotepromotion.com.
Leaf Rapids (www.leafrapids.org)
“When the Twin Peaks reboot releases its first trailer, this should be playing in the background.” [Mike Seely, No Depression]
“…a sweetheart voice singing not-so-sweet subject matter. Vultures circle overhead, squirrels are in the attic, there’s a kiss in the toxic rain, and a town that hits 40-below at 4 am. Stuff is going on here.” [Bob Mersereau, top100canadianblog]
The “Western” in Country & Western Music rarely gets mentioned, but country music today owes a great debt to the realities of open-range ranching and days and nights spent on the vast North American prairies; to an age-old celebration of cowboy living. The Canadian prairies have always loomed large in this vision, and today Canada’s Western provinces boast some of the most cutting-edge country roots music. While artists like Kentucky’s Sturgill Simpson or Nashville’s Rosanne Cash craft their own signature country sound, now from Western Canada comes Leaf Rapids, a powerhouse duo who frame their music on a continuum that stretches from the Manitoba grasslands to Nashville’s modern streets. Leaf Rapid’s debut album “Lucky Stars” is a soundtrack for the modern cowboy–part Canadian trucker, part Manitoba Motown, bringing the deep roots of North America’s great plains into the new millennium. Fronted by husband & wife Keri & Devin Latimer, Leaf Rapids came out of their popular indie folk band, Nathan, which spent the early 2000’s signed to major label Nettwerk. Winning 2 Canadian Folk Music titles and the 2008 Juno award (Canadian Grammy) for Roots Traditional Album of the Year, Keri and Devin’s outstanding talents grabbed the attention of industry heavy weights, including Canadian roots music producer Steve Dawson. Dawson, a prodigious multi instrumentalist, was eager to work with Keri and Devin on their new project Leaf Rapids via his renowned record label Black Hen Music. Named for a small Manitoba town, Leaf Rapids is primarily a reflection of landscape – miles and miles of grass or snow in any direction, and the northern lights dancing above. Their sound resembles the Canadian grasslands, as beautiful as they are harsh, taking notes from Canada’s soft tones and tough seasons. From Keri Latimer’s sweet, Dolly Parton-esque vocal styling, to Devin Latimer’s slow-and-steady bass lines, their music wears a three-piece searsucker suit that’s been rubbed in the mud. Leaf Rapids shows a far-ranging vision of country & western music that stretches from Manitoba to Memphis.