The Fugitives captivate Kindersley audience
By Joan Janzen
KINDERSLEY – Four Canadian folk artists wowed their audience at the first performance of the Kindersley Arts Council concert series on Thursday evening, October 22.
The Fugitives, an acoustic folk-roots group, have been performing together for 20 years. The band is led by songwriters Adrian Glynn and Brendan McLeod. Both vocalists played guitar, and Adrian also played harmonica. Joining them were vocalists Carly Frey on violin and Chris Suen on banjo.
Harmony in full voice: The Fugitives, a Canadian acoustic folk band, opened the Kindersley Arts Council concert series on Thursday evening, October 22. The band is comprised of Carly Frey (fiddle), Adrian Glynn, Brendan McLeod and Chris Suen (banjo) at right. PHOTO BY JOAN JANZEN
Together the foursome showcased amazing harmonies and excellent musicianship.
The concert captivated the Kindersley audience. Everyone, from the youngest children to their parents and grandparents, clapped enthusiastically after each selection.
The band’s repertoire covered numerous heartfelt themes and accompanying lyrics. The four musicians performed everything from an Irish-flavoured fiddle tune to a song inspired by a WWI theatre show they created six years ago. Lyrics to another of their songs were written to keep the spirit of the band young and take them back to the best of times.
“Somehow we’ve been a band for 20 years. I don’t think of myself being in a band my whole life,” Brendan joked.
Throughout the evening the band kept up a lighthearted conversation with the audience. It was one band member’s first visit to Saskatchewan. He joked that on the long drive from Ontario, the prairie landscape didn’t seem flat enough.
The band has released seven albums, been nominated for a Juno, won Best Folk Album of the Year, and toured across Canada, the UK and the EU, earning a reputation for unforgettable live shows.
As the concert came to a close, the audience carried the melodies and lyrics home with them. A line from their song Ridge Lights, about a song rolling right through the listener, aptly describes the impact of their music.