Old-time stringband The High Quadra Ramblers are embarking on their Vancouver Island autumn tour in early October.
HQR has been playing festivals all over B.C. this past summer in support of their self-titled debut album. The fall tour schedule will highlight intimate venues such as The Clayoquot Theatre, The Cowichan Folk Guild, Victoria Folk Society’s Norway House, and Cumberland’s very own Studio Live at 8 p.m. On Saturday, Oct. 20.
The Ramblers were formed during a cold long winter over a need for mournful Appalachian mountain tunes and a love of traditional music. The Ramblers are Mack Shields on fiddle and vocals, Kaitlin Chamberlin on banjo and vocals and Keith Rodger on occasional upright bass.
With beautiful old-time vocal harmonies and skilled instrumentation, they weave intricate notes over the droning backdrop of clawhammer banjo. They play a wide range of traditional music, from metis to Celtic, Appalachian, bluegrass, Cajun and roots. Expect high-energy hillbilly hoedowns to droney, middle-eastern inspired instrumentals.
Studio Live is a great listening room, located at 2679 Beaufort Avenue at First Avenue in Cumberland. Advance tickets are $20, available at Bop City Records, Courtenay, Rider’s Pizza, Cumberland or by e-transfer to studiolivestudio@gmail.com. At the door: $25.
