An award-winning bluegrass band left the music capital of the United States to embark on a week-long tour of western Canada that will bring them to a small foothills community this weekend.
Nashville’s Claire Lynch Band is touring 10 cities and towns across this part of the country from Oct. 15 to 25. The band will perform for the Beneath the Arch Concert Series at the Flare ‘n’ Derrick Community Hall in Turner Valley on Oct. 24 at 7:30 p.m.
“It’s my first real live tour of the prairies,” said Lynch in a phone interview last week.
Turner Valley won’t boast the expansive audience like the folk festivals Lynch performed at in Edmonton and Winnipeg, but it will be a little like home for Lynch.
“I like playing for an intimate room,” she said. “I like small towns. I’m a small town girl myself.”
Lynch lived in a small farming community in Alabama for 20 years before moving to the music capital of Nashville.
She also has a home in Toronto, having married a Canadian last year who she considers a “jack of all trades.”
With a growing connection to Canada, Lynch is experiencing more of the country during her tours and musical travels.
“It’s charming,” she said. “The people are just fabulous. I’ve been to Vancouver where it’s just heavenly. It’s an amazing city.”
Lynch said many people who live in the United States aren’t aware of Canada’s abundant culture and art.
“The music is so rich,” she said. “I’ve always been impressed and thrilled to be exposed to it.”
Canada isn’t the only country that’s welcomed the Claire Lynch Band with open arms. The band has performed around the globe, recently returning from a tour in Ireland and the United Kingdom.
The Claire Lynch Band is backed by Bryan McDowell on fiddle and mandolin, Jarrod Walker on mandolin and guitar and Mark Schatz on bass and banjo.
The group recently won three international Bluegrass Music Association Female Vocalist Awards and a United States Artists Walker Fellowship.
Its recent albums, Dear Sister and Holiday! feature heartfelt stories of love and celebration.
With 40 years in the music industry, Lynch has seen and done it all. In addition to winning numerous awards, Lynch lent her harmonies to such well-known music legends as Dolly Parton.
Lynch said much has changed over those four decades, including the perception of women in the music industry.
“My notoriety has changed,” she said. “When I started up women were not really embraced. It was more a good old boys music. The culture has a history of being the last ones to not think of women as hussies. We are way on the other side of that now.”
Lynch also changed, becoming more of an independent artist and writing her own songs with the accompaniment of other artists and even going a little off the beaten track.
“We show people that we know how to play bluegrass, but that’s not all we do,” she said. “We do originals, body percussion, we do jazz, swing. We just give them a wide variety.”
Those familiar with Claire Lynch’s music may have noticed a little less bluegrass sound over the years.
“There’s not a banjo on every track,” she said. “I love banjo and it will always be a part of my music. It’s got that fast kind of nature but for the most part we slow things down.”
Lynch continues to stick to her roots and said bluegrass has always been her music of choice.
“The first time I heard bluegrass music I went, ‘This is amazing,’” she said.
“There was a lot of vocal harmony, which I love. I realized that my voice, the timbre of it, went really well with acoustic instruments. It was a better match for me than singing top 40 music in a rock and roll band.”
Lynch also likes the green nature of bluegrass music.
“You don’t need an amp and you don’t need to plug in,” she said. “Bluegrass music you can play it way after dark and in the park. This is organic.”
Those taking in this weekend’s performance in Turner Valley will leave on an emotional high, said Lynch.
“We have humour and we have showmanship, as well as serious music,” she said. “Usually when people leave they feel elevated. It should be one of the roles of entertainers.”
Tickets to see the Claire Lynch Band perform cost $25 for adults and teens, $10 for children and free for those five years and under.
Tickets can be purchased at Coyote Moon Cantina & Espresso Bar in Turner Valley, Bluerock Gallery in Black Diamond, the Millarville General Store and Okotoks Country Florist.
For information about season passes and upcoming performances go to beneaththarch.ca
To learn more about the Claire Lynch Band go to clairelynch.com
