School is out. That means Canada Day is just around the corner with folks of every age draped in traditional red and white.
As expected, St. Albert organizers have booked a full day of games, treats, inflatables, crafts and blazing fireworks.
Anchoring these events are two free outdoor concerts: a day concert for families at Rotary Park on Riel Drive and an evening concert at St. Albert Place.
Day concert
Kicking off the entertainment at 11 a.m. are the high-wattage Melisizwe Brothers, a Leduc-based trio making a name for themselves after their cover of The Jackson 5’s I’ll Be There went viral.Their straight-ahead pop caught the eye of American talk show hosts and the trio was invited to perform on the Ellen DeGeneres Show. They were a ratings hit.
That led to winning the 2017 popular competition Showtime at the Apollo hosted by Steve Harvey, and a performance during the 2018 New Year’s Eve Ball Drop in Times Square.
“The brothers, Marc, 15, Seth, 11 and Zacary, 10, are singing with a four-piece backing band,” said professional programming presenter Caitlin North. She also noted they would be appearing on America’s Got Talent this season.
St. Albertan Andrea Shipka’s folk-pop band Cypress keeps the fun rolling at 12:10 p.m. Shipka was first involved with Amplify Festival and the five-piece is slated for a 30-minute gig.
“Andrea’s very comfortable on stage. When we program, we like to support emerging artists of the best calibre. She has a very personal approach to performing and is a very good fit,” North said.
For the French Canadian component, Troupe Zéphyr presents contemporary step dancing at 12:55 p.m. followed by an appearance from the robust-sounding St. Albert Community Band.
Closing the day performances at 4 p.m. is Soft March, an alt-folk-rock band from Edmonton whose original material is described as “happy songs about sad things,” said band spokesperson Joel Kleine, a former St. Albert resident.
“I caught one of their shows at the Almanac and it’s very palatable and easy on the ears,” North said.
Evening concert
Celebrations really heat up in the evening as country headliner Andrew Hyatt ramps up the action at St. Albert Place around 9:15 p.m.Hailing from Sudbury, Ont., he spent many years as an iron-worker at a nickel mine before giving in to his deep-seated passion – music.
Once a blue-collar worker with calluses on his hands, Hyatt is perfectly placed to sing songs about the hard life so popular in country music.
His full-length debut album, Iron & Ashes released in May 2017, quickly shot into the Top 10 at country radio stations. The snappy country-rock riffs, introspective lyrics, smoky vocals and charming stage presence have made him an artist to watch.
Just prior to Hyatt at 8 p.m., husband-and-wife singer-songwriters Jared and Bethany Salte from The Royal Foundry are also among the featured artists.
The three-time Edmonton Music Award winners came to prominence after recording a 2014 debut folk album Wherever We Go. Three years later, their sophomore release Lost In Your Head, embraced an electro-alt-pop sound.
Now enjoying a Nashville residency for several months, the duo continues writing songs for a third album and Peermusic USA, a global publishing house that solicits songs for TV shows and commercials.
Their songs backed a Purina dog food commercial, MTV and multiple television shows including Rookie Blue. Their song Running Away was featured on TSN as the opening song for the CFL and later on an Enmax commercial.
“When we started writing music, we had just married. We started writing folk music and it was a turning point for Jared. He came from a prog-rock background. Our second album was more in his wheelhouse. He was more comfortable with it and we both liked the style. It was rock pop infused in an electronic vibe. It was very experimental,” said Bethany.
Their third album, planned as “fun and upbeat,” is a direct extension of the second CD. The Saltes, along with two support musicians – drummer Robert Szabo and bassist Jeremy Dejtek – will test several new songs at the concert to gauge audience reaction.
“One is a slower ballad inspired by travel and being away from home but also finding adventure in creating a new home. And the second was inspired by being with friends and having a great time. It’s very dancey.”
St. Albert’s Paul Woida, a longtime community favourite, opens the concert with a flourish. He returns with his looping equipment to perform in-the-moment created pop covers and self-styled originals.
Standing shoulder to shoulder with the most influential musicians in the province, he won the Hot 107 $10,000 Hot Factor Competition and the 2016 Air Miles Detour Big Break where he opened for celebrity vocalist Meghan Trainor in Nova Scotia.
Depending on the weather, bring lawn chairs, blankets, suntan lotion or mosquito repellent.
Free park and ride from Village Transit is available. The first shuttle departs Village Transit at 10:30 a.m. and runs every 15 minutes to Rotary Park. The last shuttle leaves Rotary Park at 5:10 p.m.
