Son of Ray returns to Strathmore

Miriam Ostermann
Times Associate Editor

 

This summer, the Canadian Rockies International Rodeo and Music festival introduced Son of Ray who, as a newly formed band, performed together for the first time.
On Saturday, the band will return to Strathmore, and strip their music to showcase a folk sound rather than a rock feel. When Calgary-based singer-songwriter Rob Lagace started out as a one-man show, with a kick-drum, guitar, and harmonica, he attracted the attention of the Strathmore Musical Arts Society during his performance at Rosebud’s 15 Minutes of Fame. Since then, the one-man show grew into a four-piece band by adding guitar player Mike Fournier, bass player Bob Richardson, and drummer Jeff Towers. Yet when the band returns to Strathmore, they will strip their sound back to a kick-drum, harmonica, and brushes on a snare drum.
“We’re stripping it down to a little bit more of an acoustic sounding set and that’s just based on the venue we’re playing and what the Strathmore music group is looking for,” said Lagace.
“We have a full band and having the ability to play different venues with a different sound is really a great thing, because it allows us a lot more selection and availability for these different kind of shows.”
Lagace grew up surrounded by a musical family in Port Colborne, Ont. With uncles, parents, and cousins always singing and playing music, the transition into high school band was an easy one for Lagace. Although he put music on the backburner when he became a teacher, which he continues to be, he quickly realized he wasn’t pursuing his passion. As a result, Lagace became a substitute teacher for elementary schools and uses his free time to perform with the band.
“Music has just been a big part of my life for a long time,” Lagace added. “I call it roots music. Roots music to me is bringing music back to its roots and the traditional roots music is folk and country and blues, and I feel like our music really blends those three together. In my opinion it’s kind of what early rock and roll was. It’s bringing rock back to its roots and having that traditional blend of country, blues, and a little bit of funk and boogie to it.”
Son of Ray will be performing at the Strathmore Golf Course on Nov. 21 at 6 p.m. For more information and to hear some of their music, visit www.sonofraymusic.com.