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Tribute artists taking Foothills for a ride

Foothills residents will be star-struck as they feast their eyes and ears on some music legends this weekend.
Louisiana Hayride2
Andrea Anderson will perform as Patsy Cline in the Louisiana Hayride Show at the Foothills Centennial Centre Nov. 22 at 7:30 p.m.

Foothills residents will be star-struck as they feast their eyes and ears on some music legends this weekend. A Louisiana Hayride Christmas is bringing the holiday spirit to Okotoks with artists paying tribute to greats like Roy Orbison, Elvis Presley and Patsy Cline with their biggest hits and favourite Christmas songs at the Foothills Centennial Centre Nov. 22 at 7:30 p.m. Andrea Anderson will perform as Patsy Cline, Crystal Gayle and Shania Twain, Gil Risling as Roy Orbison, Adam Fitzpatrick as Elvis Presley and Derek Pulliam as Lefty Frizzell. “It’s music that isn’t out there anymore,” said Risling, whose wife Lori is the show’s creator and hostess. “We do it for the people to make them happy and get them into the Christmas spirit.” Spectators will feel they’ve stepped back in time with performances of some of their favourite songs, tidbits of information about the music legends told by Lori between sets and plenty of audience interaction, said Risling. “We’ve played the bars, but it’s such a treat when people come and watch and are very focused on the show,” he said. “We meet and greet with them afterwards and they often express what it’s done to them - it’s taken them to their youth. One gentleman said, ‘It took me back to 1955.’ He was just beaming. It fills their hearts and when that happens it fills our hearts.” Risling said that’s what’s kept him going, even at age 69. “What keeps us going down the highway is the people, and Okotoks is the same,” he said. “The payoff is spreading joy and happiness and just making people smile and laugh, which we need a lot more of nowadays.” Putting an extra big smile on Risling’s face is Elvis tribute artist Adam Fitzpatrick, who is returning to the stage with the hayride after five years. Fitzpatrick, who placed second in the world in the Ultimate Elvis Competition in Memphis during Elvis Week in 2013 for his ability to mimic the King, began his tribute career with the Louisiana Hayride. “It’s a reunion of the original start of the Louisiana Hayride Show,” said Risling. “He started with the hayride and was with us when he was the second-place winner of the world. He’s going to come back, which is awesome and exciting for all of us.” The Calgary Elvis tribute artist said during his days performing with the hayride he played Elvis’ ’50s music. He’s since progressed through the ’60s and now plays mostly ’70s songs of Elvis’. “It will be interesting because I haven’t done the ’50s in a while, but I’m looking forward to it,” he said. “There’s a few Christmas songs in there that I’ve got to remember as well. I will start to rehearse very soon.” Fitzpatrick will be returning to the Foothills after performing for Rock-A-Billy Entertainment at the Black Diamond Hotel and Bar on Nov. 3. He said the hayride’s regular Elvis was unable to perform for a few shows so he gladly stepped in. “We’d been talking for a few years about doing a reunion show or shows,” he said. “I’m really looking forward to travelling with them again - they’re like a second family. They’re very down-to-Earth people. Everyone helped each other out and encouraging each other. It will be nice to get on stage with them again.” Fitzpatrick said he has no doubt those in attendance will have a good time. “It’s a classic country show and for a lot of the elderly people, that’s what they grew up with,” he said. “They love it.” He attributes a lot of the hayride’s success to its creator and hostess. “Lori does such a good job of putting the shows together and narrating the shows, it’s so well done,” he said. “I can’t believe she can still find different things to say about the artist we’re paying tribute to. She does such an amazing job of it and the performers as well. They’re so talented outside of what they’re doing in the show, too.” Tickets to see A Louisiana Hayride Christmas cost $45 and are available at Okotoks Sobeys, Boot Hill Gallery, ticketseller.ca and by calling 1-866-311-1011.

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