Bluesland wants to get Strathmore dancing

Times Reporter  

 

The Musical Arts Society is once again bringing a top act to town, one guaranteed to have you dancing the night away. 

Bluesland with the Cold Sweat Horns will be playing at the Travelodge on Feb. 14. Bluesland’s members have played at festivals and shows throughout North America. 

“We had them way back in the late 1990s and they do a lot of swing, blues and jazz and funk, so a real cross section of music,” said Linda Storkson, president of the Strathmore Musical Arts Society. 

The music was so good at the first show the dance floor was expanded because everybody was up and dancing. 

“We’re going to play dance music that is going to have people dancing, no question about it. We like to play great music that is danceable, funky and gets people up,” said original band member Terry Medd.

Bluesland plays a mix of blues, funk, soul and jazz. A few of the members have been influenced by shows they have done in New Orleans and it shows in their newest album, says Medd.

“Some of us have played at New Orleans in the south and we’re influenced by that Memphis-to-New Orleans area so we were keen to do a recording that would reflect that, and we have been writing songs that reflect that,” said Medd. 

Medd hopes that the album ‘Down in New Orleans’ will be ready for sale at the Strathmore show. The band plans to play some older favourites, and will also be debuting songs off the new album. 

Medd has always had strong roots in the music industry. 

“We were raised in a house that listened to horn music. Louis Armstrong was probably the first blues horn that I listened to. Pretty early on I started forming horn bands so I have been doing horn bands for 40 years, something like that, in various forms in western Canada,” said Medd.

“Music has always been really important to me. I operate a small project-recording studio out here in Springbank. We produce singers, songwriters, we do records for them and we’ve recorded the Down in New Orleans album here.”

Anyone who buys their ticket early could also win an extra little treat. 

“We are putting together a Valentine’s package, so it is a stay at the Days Inn for one night and then dinner at the Station and there will be a bottle of wine in the room,” said Storkson. 

All you have to do to get your name entered into the draw is buy your tickets on or before Feb. 7. Tickets are for sale at PJ’s Appliances, Assist Business and Pro Water Systems for $50 each. They include dinner and the show at the Travelodge. Strathmore teen songstress Kirstyn Johnson will be performing the opening act.