Shake off winter with Rosebud River Valley Boys

Times Contributor

 

The Rosebud River Valley Boys (RRVB) will be heating up the winter in Strathmore, with lively bluegrass gospel and folk tunes. 

“The attraction of the bluegrass gospel is that it is corporate music. Lots of harmonies, instrumentals, and great group synergy. Bluegrass is a contagious music that is popular from kids of two to 92,” said Royal Sproule, spokesperson for the band. “Intimate rural venues are some of the favourite venues for RRVB.”

Sproule said the audience can expect a fun-filled evening of foot-stomping music, comedy, and heartfelt ballads, an evening for the whole family.

Members of the band are Bill Hamm, Lewis Frere, Royal Sproule, Jason Bertsch, Mark Lewandowski, Nathan Schmidt, and Keith Hamm. 

However, the band started with only two members in the late eighties, with Sproule on banjo and  Bill Hamm on guitar. Campfire accompaniment added bluegrass tunes from ‘The Beginning Bluegrass Instruction Book,’ leading to their first gig at Strathmore’s Whooper Upper Days, busking for coins with an open guitar case.

Additions to the band occurred in the summer of 1990, for Rosebud Theatre’s Cotton Patch Gospel. Tim Erickson, administrator at the time, played fiddle and Mark Lewandowski learned stand- up bass to flesh out the sound. They loved playing so much they began writing new tunes, entering competitions, playing festivals, touring and recording albums. They later added Lewis Frere, vocalist/guitar and Jason Bertsch. 

“The guys stayed busy until the married members of the band began to have families. Now the boys assemble themselves together for a concert a year. It is more of a reunion than anything. Lots of fun, lots of energy,” said Royal Sproule.

All the members of RRVB pursue the other facets of the arts. Royal is a visual artist, theatre and film actor. Mark, Bill, and Lewis are all involved in theatre. Lewis and Jason also play in various rock bands. 

None of the boys know when the next RRVB concert will be. However, two of the members, Lewis & Royal, have their own folk duo and will be performing across Alberta. Check their schedule out at lewisandroyal.com. Rosebud has a radio show, ROSEBUD ON RADIO that can be caught on 1140 AM radio. Sometimes you’ll even hear some RRVB tunes on it.To preview the band check out YouTube. The band has produced CDs, which can be purchased after the concert.

The Strathmore concert is to support the Hope Bridges Society, which supports the Arts in the community and encourages equal opportunities for participation and enjoyment of the Arts.

“A portion of the funds from the concert will be used to offset the cost of our upcoming 2013 workshop program expenses such as facilitator fees, supplies for participants, space rental and advertising. This allows Hope Bridges to subsidize participant workshop fees for those who cannot afford a full fee. It supports our ‘Everyone is Welcome’ principle. No one should be excluded from participating due to financial burden,” said Sheila Konschuh, organizer for the event.

The fun begins at 7 p.m., at Hope Community Covenant Church on Nov. 15. 

The audience will also be able to sample sweet temptations from the dessert bar that will finish off a great musical evening.

Please call Sheila Konschuh at 403-734-0179, or Hope Bridges Office at 403-983-3640 for tickets: Adults $35, Seniors $25, Children 14 and under $15.