Traditional country music is making its way to High River to celebrate the harvest next weekend.
Calgary cover band Generation Country will play at the Heritage Inn in High River for its second annual Harvest Dance: A Taste of Country Oct. 22 from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Doors open at 6 p.m.
Len and Cyndi Wallace bring classics from country music greats like Johnny Cash, Patsy Cline, Conway Twitty and Merle Haggard to life. The country couple is joined by Sidney Hunter, Darrell Corcoran, William Bird and Jeremy Tymkiw.
“It’s a pure country sound,” said Len last week. “It’s the way things used to be done years ago when everybody would dress nice for the show.”
Len and Cyndi met three years ago during a jam session in Calgary. Len said they have a memorable on-stage chemistry.
“There’s lots of couples around who are together or married and to see them on stage you wouldn’t even know it,” she said. “You see us on stage and you know right away. People like that romantic setting - just the way we look at each other and count on each other.
“She’s a good lead singer, but she’s an incredible harmony singer. Our voices just naturally blend together.”
Len grew up in Nova Scotia and Cyndi spent her childhood in Winnipeg. Both developed a love for traditional country music in their youth and have made a life of sharing it with others.
“We’ve built a pretty good fan base and a solid band,” said Len. “Everybody wants to know where we are playing next.”
The couple’s focus is to bring country music shows back to where they used to be decades ago.
“We know there’s a lot of people who are still wanting that,” he said. “Those are our biggest followers. We do the shows the way they used to be done. We even dress for the part. It’s just real home country.”
Event coordinator Adele Mundell expects next weekend’s Harvest Dance will draw hundreds of people, whether they attend to socialize with friends or get up and dance.
“I want them to have a nice little evening out and listen to good music,” she said. “It’s an opportunity to be thankful for what we have through tough times and just for people to get together before the snow flies.”
Unlike last year, Mundell said the Harvest Dance won’t include a meal in order to keep the cost of tickets down, but appetizers and a cash bar will be available.
Tickets to attend the Harvest Dance: A Taste of Country cost $30 and can be purchased at Sobeys in Okotoks and High River. For table reservations call 403-938-2532.
Those buying tickets will be entered into a draw to win two free tickets to the Jubilations Dinner Theatre in Calgary.
