Louisiana Hayride and its The Legends of Country & Rockabilly is a live stage show offering a blast from the past on Mother’s Day at the South Cariboo Rec. Centre.
The matinee performance on May 12 at 2:30 p.m. will feature some of the all-time favourite music of Elvis Presley, Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn, Willie Nelson and Roy Orbison.
The show is a tribute to classic KWKH radio show The Louisiana Hayride, which aired from 1948-1960 and helped turn many classic singers into unforgettable stars of the music world.
Presented by South Cariboo Community Concerts (SCCC), its entertainment co-ordinator Rob Fry, says last year’s Louisiana Hayride concert was very successful.
“The Louisiana Hayride has a lot of followers in British Columbia.”
The show highlights the legends of country and rockabilly in recreating music that brings back a flood of memories to enraptured audiences.
The Mother’s Day matinee features tribute artists Gil Risling, Mike Melnichuck, Andrea Anderson and Adam Fitzpatrick, and presents the live music of William Brookfield.
Risling, who impersonates Willie Nelson and Roy Orbison, says these performances have been ongoing for three years, and are so popular, some folks have bought tickets eight or nine times to see the various shows.
“It takes people back in time to when it was still simple music that was good, and it is just a fun time,” explains Risling.
“It is narrated, so they get to learn what the meaning is all about, and the history of it. It is concert theatre.”
Fry adds last year’s Louisiana Hayride show in 100 Mile House was a big hit, so it has been brought back by popular demand, but with a new format and music.
“They are just incredible musicians and singers. You just have to see the show to believe it.”
The more theatrical setting for the musical tributes will see story-telling, jokes and skits about the original radio show, he explains.
“It’s not just people singing songs; it’s a whole picture.”
Some fans enjoy the group so much they will travel to take in shows around British Columbia, and Fry has already heard from people as far away as Lillooet interested in tickets.
They make a great Mother’s Day gift, but tickets are going fast with only a single, matinee performance, so Fry recommends picking them up soon.
Floor seating will be available for everyone, with an option of taking a seat in the bleachers. Front-row wheelchair seating is available on the floor by asking at the door.
Tickets are still available for $30 each at Didi’s Boutique, Donex Pharmacy & Department Store, 108 Mile Supermarket, CaribooRadio.com, 100 Mile House Free Press, Work n Play, and at the door if seats are available.
For more information, visit www.gohayride.ca online, or e-mail Fry at info@caribooradio.com.
