Morinville’s St. Jean Baptiste Catholic Church steeple needs some tender loving care and a Manitoba country band may have just the medicine.
The parish steeple was leaking and damaging the church’s interior. In 2011 a committee invited engineers to reinforce the parish steeple. In a two-step renovation, this year they hope to seal the steeple’s interior.
“We haven’t got the final engineering report, but we know it’s going to be expensive,” says event co-ordinator Denise Touchette.
Four years ago, Touchette invited Country Blend for a benefit concert and the five-piece group sold 300 tickets.
“We’re hoping to do it again,” says Touchette who has booked the fivesome for a concert at Morinville Community Cultural Centre on Friday.
Country Blend evolved from The Fugitives, a popular Manitoba dance band that entertained audiences for 35 years. Dianne Lodge (vocals), Cyn Lodge (drums) and Henry Martens (guitar) were the original mainstays, adding Evelyn Ramage (vocals) and Gordy “Crazy Fingers” Lindquist (piano) in 2005.
“We thought we’d like to record a CD and that it would be fun to play a few shows to help pay it off. Pretty soon it turned out we were doing 100 shows a year. We bought a bus and toured from Niagara Falls to Vancouver Island and everything else in between,” Cyn Lodge explains.
The band’s signature is old-time classic country and gospel with artists such as Patsy Cline, Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash, Statler Brothers, Willie Nelson and Jim Reeves.
“Old country has a story and that’s what we like. We also don’t blast it out of the building. We want you to hear every word the singer sings.”
Country Blend will sing two sets with cherished tunes such as Blue Moon of Kentucky, Coal Miner’s Daughter and Walk the Line. But usually the most requested song is an old time waltz Lodge wrote honouring his mother.
“To Everyone’s Mother has very powerful words and it doesn’t matter who you are, everyone has a mother.”
Perhaps the flashiest spectacle of the whole performance is Lindquist flying across the keyboard.
“When you see him play, you think his fingers leave his hands. His hands go faster than your eyes can see.”
With tight harmonies and good rhythm, Country Blend is all set to ramp up their home and hearth style.
“If you like old classic country, I guarantee you will like this show. People often tell us they feel blue when coming and leave feeling uplifted.”
