St. Albert’s Plaza Series returns live with nine shows planned for the summer featuring everything from jazz, country, folk and blues to Caribbean, Latin and Celtic.
The free family concerts are held every Thursday from July 3 to Aug. 28 at St. Albert Place. Each concert focuses on a different musical genre and features two bands or acts.
Opening the series on Thursday, July 3 are Calgary-based The Polyjesters and Edmonton’s Jivin’ Belles.
With 28 years performing concerts in Europe, North America and Japan under its belt, The Polyjesters bill themselves as a band of prairie pirates playing swing music of all flavours. These let-it-all-rip dudes have released several albums and are about to push the red button on new work.
The Jivin’ Belles, composed of Kate Blechinger, Mallory Chipman and Emily Guthrie, love vintage songs and fashion themselves after the iconic 1940s Andrews Sisters. Their swing jazz harmony evokes upbeat, toe-tapping vibes that are timeless yet fresh.
Dropping by on July 10 are The Myhre Brothers as well as Jed and The Valentine. The Myhre Brothers are none other than a three-generation family – Alfie (grandfather), Byron (son) and Tanner (grandson).
Alfie is a two-time Grand North American Old-Time Fiddling Champion who was inducted into the 2020 Country Music Alberta Hall of Fame. Byron is a multi-instrumentalist and is part of Alberta’s legendary bluegrass band, Jerusalem Ridge, while Tanner is an accomplished guitarist anchoring the family’s fiddlers.
The Myhres are also presenting Luc Gauthier, a St. Albert resident who is a musician with Calling All Captains. A Métis jigger, Gauthier will join in a dance with the Myhres.
Instead Jed and The Valentines is a folk duo that writes dreamy soul-stirring songs with earthy guitar strums and wistful banjo plucking. In 2024, their first album, Awake, debuted at No. 6 on the CKUA playlist, and they look forward to releasing their sophomore album In Like a Lion, Out Like a Lamb.
Concerts start at 7 p.m.
