The Filberg Heritage Lodge and Park Society will present the third concert of their 2013 Summer Concert Series this Thursday at 7 p.m. with the Abramson Singers.
The Abramson Singers are a Vancouver-based alt-folk project serving up memorable melodies combined with killer harmonies and an elegant (and heartbreaking) turn of phrase.
Acclaimed alt-folk songstress Leah Abramson (formerly of traditional folk bands Dyad, The Crooked Jades, and indie-rockers Octoberman) and her band are influenced by American old-time music, classic songs of the ’60s and ’70s, and indie-rock.
With members from Dan Mangan’s band, Headwater, Petunia & The Vipersand and Snowblink, The Abramson Singers write quirky, haunting, catchy and heartbreaking songs about surprising topics such as truck drivers, old maids, the oil sands and the famous Métis rebel Louis Riel.
In these days of AutoTune, the freshness of their harmonies is a welcome slap in the face.
Abramson sounds like an Appalachian angel. Her voice sails in on a gentle wind. It’s melancholy but bright, sad but sweet, and so distinct that every new release feels cozily familiar.
The Vancouver singer/songwriter isn’t afraid to go full-on choral, layering harmonies and counterpoint to blissful levels while the music behind her stays sparse.
The Abramson Singers are touring to support their new album, Late Riser. Produced by Colin Stewart (Dan Mangan, Brasstronaut), this album finds the Singers with lush band arrangements, relatively upbeat tempos, retro organs and catchy melodies.
Begun at the Banff Centre Indie Band Residency with Howard Bilerman (Arcade Fire), Tony Berg (Jakob Dylan) and Shawn Everett (Weezer), Late Riser explores new pop and indie rock sensibilities, but not without a firm grounding in folk songwriting.
Ethereal, melancholic, uplifting and addictive, that’s The Abramson Singers and then some.
Tickets are available online or at Laughing Oyster Bookshop, Long and McQuade in Courtenay or Blue Heron Books in Comox. Children 12 and younger get in free.
Pack a blanket, bring a picnic and come enjoy some stunningly beautiful music. All proceeds from the Filberg Summer Concert Series are dedicated to the construction of a new permanent main stage in Filberg Park.
— Filberg Park
