Arts in the Park has been something to look forward to at parks all over the city throughout the summer.
On July 31, Henderson Lake was the site of a mini-music festival of local talent.
Host Andrew Legg prefaced each act with jokes, introduction and banjo music including a highlight called “the Pandemic Rag.”
As the sun beat down, of the approximately 250 people took refuge in the shade of trees or under a few umbrellas set in social distanced circles around the stage. New West Theatre and The Geomatic Attic, who co-sp
onsored the event, had a couple water stations beneath tents on both sides of the stage.
I arrived in the middle of an entertaining set from Ryland Moranz, who started off with a solo set of a few upbeat folk/ bluegrass tinged songs which has a few people dancing in the sweltering sun.
Moranz usually plays with Leeroy Stagger. His band mates, drummer and “my wife”s boyfriend” Kyle Harmon and bassist Tyson Maiko joined him for a couple more up tempo numbers.
They took a break as Moranz donned his banjo and channelled his inner Bela Fleck and proceeded to play some Bach, after which he switched to mandolin, for a song he “wrote in England.”
Bailey Kate and her band, most of local band Starpainter were up next with a laid back set of original music from her upcoming CD due out in October.
They played a laid back set of alternative country and pop music which was reminiscent of Kathleen Edwards. There were plenty of chiming guitars and some subtle slide.
Jolene Draper and the Inquisitive few were all over the place with their set, which ranged from blues, pop, jazz, psychedelic rock and a whole lot of funk and R and B.
Draper and bassist Steve Martin added lead guitarist Braeden Rouse to the fold, and as a special surprise, Dino Scavo behind the kit as well as adding mandolin and vocals.
They opened with a sultry cover of “I Put a Spell on You.” Scavo brought out the mandolin for the original “ The Earth Song.”
Martin played upright bass for most of the set, but switched to electric bass for more funk fuelled numbers like “Slippery Slope.”
Draper put away her acoustic guitar to focus on singing and performing. She has a thin, reedy voice reminiscent of Frazey For mixed with a little Janis Joplin.
The psychedelic portion of the set began with a cover of “Nights in White Satin.”
Martin switched back to upright bass for a cover of “Seven Nation Army,” so Draper could stand on it and belt out the lyrics.
I missed Ghost Woman’s set at the Owl Acoustic Lounge on the weekend so stuck around for thei afternoon closing set.
This really was the psychedelic part of the afternoon.
Evan Uschenko, who was also accompanying Ryan “Skinny ”Dyck at Wide Skies Revisited last week, , took centre stage with his band including Aaron Trozzo on bass and Clayton Smith in drums and a new guitarist.
Uschenko played chiming 12 string guitar giving the group a Byrds vibe mixed with alternative country, lots of psychedelic rock and ghostly vocals
.
this week, Arts in the Park returns to Legacy Park in the north with a day long line up and a beer gardens. Andrew Legg’s Half Glass of Vaudevillia opens the show at 2 p.m. followed by the Little Lethbridge Opera Company, White Buffalo Singers, Kyle Gruninger and Adequate.
The beer garden stage opens at 7:15 p.m.with Little Lethbridge Opera Company followed by Ben Price Magic and Theatre Outré Impromptu.
— By Richard Amery, L.A.Beat Editor
