Bamboo guppies hit the stage

By Melissa Piche Times Contributor

The Strathmore Musical Arts Society is pleased to present The Bamboo Guppies, featuring opening act Dennis Toner, on Feb. 10 at the Strathmore Travelodge.

“My job is like high school with money,” said Rick Kawa, drummer for the Guppies. “We’re flattered to be playing out there.” 

Kawa said this will be the first time the group has played a gig like this. They’re used to playing at weddings and birthday parties, but this more of a formal concert atmosphere and will hopefully be the first of many more. 

The Bamboo Guppies hail from Lethbridge and Coledale and they are a three-piece party band with a lead singer, bass guitar and drums. 

Members of the band include Kawa, JP Lorge and Jason Eveleigh – with each bringing over 30 years of musical experience with them, 20 of them together. 

“We’re more of a dance band than a show band,” said Kawa. “I feel we play really good music to fill a dance floor. I’m not sure what to expect actually – from what I understand from the organizers, there could be dancing if we do our job properly. I guess we’ll see what happens. 

“We don’t play for ourselves anymore – we play to fill the dance floor, that’s job number one.” 

As for their unique name, Kawa explains how “the legend goes.” Two of the original founding members were talking about how bands can just be called almost anything. One of them said, “Like Bamboo Guppies for instance.” As he pointed to a wind chime in the shape of a fish made out of bamboo. The name stuck and is one people can’t forget. 

Kawa finished by reiterating the cohesive nature between the band members.  

“The three of us … is just a perfect harmony,” he said. “We don’t take ourselves very seriously, we have lots of fun, and hopefully that spills out into the crowd. The biggest feather in our cap or compliment we could get is when people invite us back for another (show).”  

Meanwhile, the opening act will feature Dennis Toner. The Carseland native has been playing guitar and singing for over 58 years. 

“I feel like Mick Jagger, I can keep going, the only thing that will quit is my fingers, I think,” joked Toner. “One of the highlights of my playing career was being able to play with my son for 10 years.” 

Toner said he was part of a band for a number of years before embarking on his solo endeavor.

“I started volunteering at the hospital for the adult daycare program,” said Toner. That lead to him getting calls for bookings everywhere. Now he plays for approximately 10 retirement homes on a regular basis. 

“I play everything from old time country music, because that’s what I was raised on. Then when I heard the Beatles, that changed and I started doing more rock and roll. I think people like what I do because I present it the way they remember it.” 

Toner is thrilled to be playing for the Musical Arts Society and hopes people come out to enjoy the music. 

The doors to the evening will open at 6 p.m. on Feb. 10 at the Strathmore Travelodge. Dinner will be served at 7 p.m. and the concert will begin at 8 p.m.

Tickets can be purchased online (www.showpass.com/bamboo-guppies-dinner-and-show).

More information can be found on the Strathmore Musical Arts Society web page (www.strathmorearts.com).