A more subdued, acoustic Trews return to Lethbridge, Feb. 24 to play the Southminster United Church for the Geomatic Attic.
“We like to do an acoustic tour at the tail end of every album cycle. It’s a tradition we really enjoy. It’s nice to change gears and focus on a different side of the band with the vocal harmonies and acoustic instruments,’” said the Trews singer songwriter Colin MacDonald, who forms the core of the band with his brother John-Angus MacDonald and bassist Jack Syperek.
The Trews have several hits on the radio including “Poor Broken Hearted Me,” “I’ll Find Someone Who Will,” “Hope and Ruin,” “One By One,” and “Not Ready to Go.”
The Nova Scotia born, Toronto based rock band are joined by multi-instrumentalist Jeff Heisolt and new drummer Gavin Maguire who took over behind the kit when Sean Dalton stepped down in July.
“We’re just continuing on with that tradition. And I like playing nice theatres all over. We usually play bars and bigger clubs, which is great, but there are a lot of nice theatres to play too,” he said.
“It’s still upbeat beer drinking music,” he said.
In anticipation of the upcoming acoustic tour which begins with several dates Stateside, they re-released their 2009 acoustic album “Friends and Total Strangers” with four previously unreleased tracks.
“We had songs from that same tour we always wanted to release,” he continued.
The band has been busy in the studio writing new material.
“We’ve already written four songs for a greatest hits album we’ll release this year and we’re working on a new album we hope to release in 2017,” he said.
“Usually it’s me and my brother and Jack sitting around with acoustic guitars, then we teach the songs to the other guys. So we’ll see how it goes with the new dynamic,” he said.
They have also been breaking in new drummer Gavin Maguire.
“He’s from Windsor. He’s a great drummer,” he enthused.
“And Jeff can play anything. He’s been with us since 2005,” he continued.
The band had to cancel a few American dates last year due to regulation changes in that previously they had to submit their schedule 45 days in advance, which was increased to 70 days. They have sorted out this time.
“Hopefully this one will be hassle free,” he said, noting the last time they toured the U.S was in 2014, which was also the last time they played Lethbridge.
“We’ll be playing songs from the acoustic album and songs we don’t get to play otherwise. And there will be a few new songs,” he said.
The Trews released their debut EP in 1997 and have been going strong ever since.
The show begins at 8 p.m. sharp. Tickets cost $37.50.
