Hitting the stage

By Melissa Piche Times Contributor

The Arts on 817 concert series is set to continue its tradition of bringing exceptional music to the community, with a blend of local talent and seasoned performers taking the stage on Oct. 25 at the Strathmore United Church. 

Opening the evening will be local 17-year-old singer-songwriter Julie Jacobs, followed by a performance from acclaimed folk trio The Wardens.

For Jacobs, a Strathmore High School student, the opportunity to open for such a celebrated group is both thrilling and humbling. 

“I was just really excited because it gave me a chance to put my music out there and let more people listen to it,” she said. “I haven’t recorded anything yet, so this is a really big opportunity.”

Jacobs will perform a mix of original music and covers, accompanied by her father, Jim Jacobs, and her guitar teacher, Jim Baxter. 

“Lots of it will be originals,” she said. “I’m doing two cover songs, but most of it is my own songs that I’ve written.”

Performing alongside family and mentors makes the experience even more meaningful for the young musician. 

“It’s sometimes a little daunting,” Jacobs admitted. “It lets me learn more, but it also puts me in different positions where I’m playing different things and learning new things. I get pushed out of my comfort zone a lot.”

Jacobs began playing guitar at age 12 and wrote her first song that same year. One of those early pieces will even make its way into her Arts on 817 setlist. 

“All of my songs are written about me growing up,” she said. “People can expect to see a more personal side through my words and what I write about.”

She credits her father as one of her biggest inspirations. 

“I’ve always gone and watched his shows, and I knew that I wanted to do that too,” she said. 

As for her future, Jacobs hopes to study musical theatre in Edmonton while continuing to record and perform her own music. 

Following Jacobs’ performance, The Wardens will take the stage with their distinctive blend of storytelling and folk-rooted music. The trio – made up of former and current park wardens – bring the wild beauty and history of the Canadian Rockies to life through song.

“We tell stories from patrols we did in the backcountry with horses,” said Scott Warden, one of the founding members. “We worked on mountain rescue, avalanche functions, wildlife, local characters and history of the Canadian Rockies. We don’t call it country; we call it backcountry.”

Known for their rich harmonies and authentic storytelling, The Wardens’ goal is to transport listeners to the campfires and trails of the Rockies. 

“We like to make the audience feel like they’re sitting around the campfire just listening to our tunes and gripping stories,” Warden explained.

The group plans to include both fan favourites and new material in their Strathmore performance. Among the new songs is “The Bells of Little Heaven,” inspired by a remote cabin on the northern boundary of Jasper National Park. 

“It’s a cabin that sits on a big grassy meadow that the horses love,” Warden said. “We wrote a song about it and almost adapted a gospel sound with four-part harmonies.”

Their influences include legendary songwriters like Gordon Lightfoot, John Prine, and Ian Tyson, artists whose storytelling aligns with The Wardens’ deep connection to the land. After touring extensively across Canada and the U.S., including multiple showcase performances in Saskatchewan, the band is now working on its fifth album.

“It’s going to be several new songs, but also some live recordings from shows we’ve done,” Warden said. “That’s our next project.”

Fans attending the concert can expect a heartfelt and intimate evening. 

“It’s very friendly,” Warden said. “It’s not loud music, it’s quiet, acoustic-style music. People can look forward to some good stories and a fun time on stage. I think they’ll catch on to the fact that we’re having a good time ourselves up there.”

The Arts on 817 concert series continues to be a cherished part of Strathmore’s cultural landscape, offering a platform for both rising artists and seasoned performers to connect with audiences in an unforgettable way.

The performance begins at 7 p.m. sharp.

Tickets can be purchased ahead of time online at www.smoreuc.com or at The Vault Cultural Collective in Strathmore.