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Letter of Intro - The Teavelling Mabels
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I have been invited to forward a letter of what I can only call “awesomeness” for ‘The Travelling Ma...I have been invited to forward a letter of what I can only call “awesomeness” for ‘The Travelling Mabels’. They had played in our community a week ago and folks are still talking about them and how much they felt that this had to be one of the best concerts they had ever seen in the 23 years of our existence as a concert series. Many folk commented that we needed to bring them back next year, if possible, and these sorts of requests do not come lightly but with a deep conviction of what they saw and experienced on stage. Their music is true to Alberta, true to the prairies, and with a reality that harmony, humour, and musical professionalism is what draws crowds into their world and into their realm of touching hearts wherever they perform.
I would never hesitate to have them grace any of your stages and have your fans leave with a feeling that they’ve been touched with something much greater than what could be expressed in word. They are fabulous, fun, real, and more importantly, know how to bring music into every heart – into every soul. The Travelling Mabels are truly on the go and truly on the move! You will be delighted!
Yours sincerely,
Jope Langejans
c/o Forestburg Concert Series
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Travelling Mabels Entertain in Last of Forestburg Concert Series
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Travelling Mabels Entertain in Last of Forestburg Concert Series
Val Vincett, staff reporter
The C...Travelling Mabels Entertain in Last of Forestburg Concert Series
Val Vincett, staff reporter
The Community Press, Forestburg.
Tuesday, Apr. 24, 2012
The Travelling Mabels sang at the Forestburg Community Hall on Saturday, Apr. 21.
"We saved the best for last," said Jope of this trio and, you know for a change, the man was right!
This group knocked everyone's socks right off! The combined three voices blended together in a wonderful, powerful voice.
eva Levesque, her daughterSuzanne, and Lana Floen entertained for three hours with an intermission in between.
Keith Floen, on back up, was a magician at the piano! He played a couple of solo numbers, and wow, could he play!
This group won the ACMA Group of the Year on Jan. 29, 2012. They have opened for Charlie Major, Ian Tyson, and Prairie Oyster.
The group started the concert with one of their own tunes, "Smolder Blues", a song that said, "Now I'm getting older, I got to learn to smoulder" then went straight into "Love Is Strange", a song suzanne had written.
"We come from Longview, the home of Ian Tyson, so he wrote a song for us to sing", said Eva. With that, they sang "Song In A Dream"written by Tyson.
"We got our name from a Blue Tick Hound in Atlanta Georgia. Her name was "Mabel", laughed Eva.
Throughout the evening, they mixed their own music with John Denver, Neil Young, gordon Lightfoot, Fludd, and Aretha Franklin in a mixture that was perfect for the audience.
Eva told some stories too. "A lady with a glass eye went into a bar looking for some affection. She dropped her glass eye and a cowboy managed to catch it for her.
"The next morning, she brought home breakfast in bed. "Do you always bring breakfast for your one-night stands?" asked the cowboy.
"Only those who catch my eye", was the reply.
They played several songs during the concert with Suzanne's "Go Away", Lana's "That's The Deal", and Eva's "Butterfly".
They also played "Riding Fences", "Cousin Mary", Aretha Franklin's "Chain Of Fools" then "Night Rider's Lament".
For their encore, Keith played another song, then the girls sang a song.
All in all, it was a wonderful night of solid entertainment.
Makes you wonder how Jope will top it next year!
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Praise For Prairie Poets
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PRAISE FOR THE PRAIRIE POETS
It was an easy move from they Hyatt and the Teachers' Convention a...PRAISE FOR THE PRAIRIE POETS
It was an easy move from they Hyatt and the Teachers' Convention a couple of blocks to the home of my good friends at the Cantos Music Foundation - freshly named The National Music Centre. They had taken advantage of my presence in Calgary to put together an amazing show called Songs of the Prairie Poets - a great concept with six different acts doing a mix of original material and classics from the Canadian prairie canon.
After a delightful VIP reception, I began the evening with a shortened version of the presentation (though, as usual, I got so relaxed telling stories I know I went a little long - not that anyone seemed to mind). The musical portion of the evening kicked off with Scotty Hills, whose selections included an absolutely brilliant song about Gimli, Manitoba and tied it in nicely to the Lucky Stone on the 7th fret. The Travelling Mabels' sweet harmonies weaved through their set - including the honorary prairie tune, Lightfoot's "Alberta Bound". Prashant John wound up the first set with a stunning cross-cultural rendition of Buffy Ste. Marie's "Starwalker".
The second set started with the extraordinary Cam Penner (pictured) - an amazingly soulful voice and a genuine poet - a real find for me and great guy. SAVK offered up a brilliant original along with one of the most impressive covers of Joni Mitchell's "This Flight Tonight" I've ever heard and another by one of my all-time favourite Canadian artists, John K. Samson. And finally, Tim Hus brought the classic Canadian country cowboy-song to the evening with a pedigree that includes multiple connections to Stompin' Tom and Alberta charm as genuine as his boots. He also lead the all-cast finale in the ultimate prairie closer, Ian & Sylvia's "Four Strong Winds".
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The 2011 Association of Country Music in Alberta Awards
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Red Deer, AB – The 2011 Association of Country Music in Alberta Awards was hosted in Red Deer this p...Red Deer, AB – The 2011 Association of Country Music in Alberta Awards was hosted in Red Deer this past weekend at Westerner Park. Several awards and recognitions were handed out to some of the best in Alberta’s up and coming country music scene. With over 200 artists, industry members, and fans alike in attendance for the 1st Annual gala – the country music scene was apparent! “We are privileged to have such a unique foundation of country artists in the province ranging from folk and bluegrass to country rock. As an Association, this was our opportunity to showcase these artists to industry members as well as fans throughout Alberta,” says ACMA and Royalty Records President, Rob Smith.
Awards on Sunday were handed out in five different categories:
2011 Male Artist of the Year – Shane Chisholm - Claresholm, Alberta
2011 Female Artist of the Year – Tenille – Grande Prairie, Alberta
2011 Group of the Year – The Travelling Mabels – Calgary, Alberta
2011 Fans Choice Award – MYROL – Edmonton, Alberta
2011 Hall of Fame Inductee – Harris Dvorkin, Ranchman’s Cookhouse & Dance Hall
Following the awards show, guests were invited to a jam session hosted by Alberta’s own KixxSin which showcased the other award nominee’s.
A special thank you to 2011 CCMA Group of the Year, Hey Romeo, who hosted the evenings show, as well as, a big thank you to our presenting sponsor: Ranchman’s Cookhouse & Dancehall Inc. and our other show sponsors: Westerner Park, Travelodge Red Deer, Live Events Concerts & Promotions, Exposure Productions, Rayacom Print & Design and Andrew Peller.
For more information, we invite you to visit our website at www.abcountrymusic.ca or ‘like’ our page on Facebook.
Our mission: To develop, nurture and promote Alberta Country Music and its Artists and to support the Alberta Country Music Industry and its Alberta based companies to the best of our ability.
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Chicks With Picks
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Her name is Mabel, and she’s a big ol’ blue tick hound dog with a voracious appetite for shoes, spag...Her name is Mabel, and she’s a big ol’ blue tick hound dog with a voracious appetite for shoes, spaghetti, and sofas made of supple Italian leather. She has no notable qualities except the ability to plant her 100 pound torso on any unoccupied lap, and clear a plate of edibles – midstride – with just a quick sweep of her fluid tongue. If the connection seems obscure, it is, yet somehow this incorrigible canine is the namesake for the Travelling Mabels; an all girls musical trio that is enthralling music lovers across the province.
“We all love Mabel, and we want to travel,” said Longview-based band member Eva Levesque. “Put the two together and the name just seemed to fit.”
The Travelling Mabels came together serendipitously in 2008, when all three women were in Winnipeg for the Canadian Country Music Awards (CCMA). Suzanne Levesque, on tour at the time performing bass and backup vocals for country music singer, Gord Bamford, was nominated for the CCMA Bass Player of the Year Award. Her mother, Eva, along with good friend and fellow singer/songwriter, Lana Floen, were on hand to provide support. At a party hosted by a record company there was an open mic session and the trio – Eva, Suzanne and Lana – got up and performed an impromptu (and unpracticed) a cappella version of the Eagles song – Seven Bridges Road.
The response, from a crowd of record executives, managers and other performers, was positive. The rest is history. The women named themselves after an unruly hound dog and have since written a variety of songs, produced two CDs, and played at numerous venues across Alberta. Eva and Lana play acoustic guitar; Suzanne (who has since left her gig with Gord Bamford to fully commit to the Mabels) plays bass guitar, and Eva adds harmonica to some numbers. Keith Floen, the band’s leader and manager, joins the trio playing keyboard on some occasions.
Asked to define the band’s genre, Levesque shook her head. “Since we all write music and we’re all so different, you can’t really narrow our style into one or two categories,” she says.
“We’re roots, we’re folk, some songs are pop, others come out sounding pure ass country.”
Eva, a self proclaimed ‘earth mother’, and the most seasoned of the group, has been writing songs and singing for decades. She likes to write songs that tell a story. “I get my inspirations from life. Just look around you – everything is an idea for a song,” she says.”Sometimes you have an idea and it takes months to turn it into a song. Other times you wake up at two in the morning and it’s all there – words and music.”
Suzanne adds kick to the band with her country flair and an ear for pop. Lana’s style is what Eva calls “elegant”; she writes heartfelt ballads and brings polish to the group. Together the women perform a broad spectrum of songs ranging from poignant ballads (Let Me In), to an uproarious tune about some unscrupulous endeavours south of the border (Della’s Gentleman’s Club).
Highlights thus far for the Mabels include being on stage with Ian Tyson (who wrote a song for the group to sing), opening for Prairie Oyster last July, and playing at the Big Valley Jamboree to a standing ovation. Last November the Mabels performed at the Blue Christmas Concert in Calgary put on by Rev Elvis and Friends. Along with their contribution of some crisp harmonic Christmas carols, the Mabels took to the stage and performed A Song for Spirit – with grade one and two students from Calgary Arts Academy.
“We didn’t know what to expect,” said Eva, “but oh my god, we fell in love with those kids.” She added that the Mabels felt proud to be on stage singing back-up to the youngsters, who wrote the song as a fundraiser to help care for Spirit – a blind golden eagle. “With the kids on stage, and the eagle, and the hoop dancer, I had to close my eyes – it was just so spiritual I was getting all choked up.”
With two years invested in the Mabels, and two CDs behind them, Eva said she is fully satisfied with the road she is on. “I know 150 per cent that this is what I’m meant to do. I get on stage and I just know this is where I’m supposed to be.”
As for measuring the success of the Mabels, Eva takes a humble approach. “To me success is not about the money or having a guitar-shaped swimming pool. If every show we do, big or small, the people go away happy, that’s it – that’s my success.”
Beginnings
Eva Levesque first started in the music scene in 1991 in small town British Columbia where she and her husband and their two teenagers, Robert and Suzanne, performed regularly at local venues and events. Five years later a recession hit BC, and Eva, along with her two adult children relocated to Alberta with a five-piece country ensemble named Wrangler. The band met with measurable success, and continued performing Top 40 country music at bars, clubs and parties across Southern Alberta, until 2005. At that point, Levesque cut her kids loose to pursue their own musical endeavours, while she took up with a new mate, got a class one driver’s license and together the pair tag-teamed long hauls for two and half years all over the North American continent. It was while trucking that Eva met and wrote a song about Mabel – the long-eared blue tick hound dog.
Eva Levesque resides in Longview, where for the past three years she has organized the Longview Music and Arts Festival (nicknamed Longstock). “God I love Longview! Three hundred and thirty people living there and when I went looking for volunteers for the festival, 29 people signed up!” she gushed. “We’re like one big family – living in this unbelievably friendly town that is peaceful and beautiful!”
The Travelling Mabels will host their 2nd CD release party at The Ironwood in Calgary on April 2 and 3, 2011
*** Special thanks to the staff at the Bar U Ranch who opened up the bunkhouse on a frosty winter’s day, swept out a heaping helping of dead flies, turned on the furnace and made us welcome. Great location for a photoshoot.
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Musicians hit the right note in fundraiser for victims of Slave Lake wildfire
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Musicians hit the right note in fundraiser for victims of Slave Lake wildfire
BY FISH GRIWK...Musicians hit the right note in fundraiser for victims of Slave Lake wildfire
BY FISH GRIWKOWSKY, EDMONTONJOURNAL.COM JULY 9, 2011
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The group The Travelling Mabels perform onstage for the crowd during the concert to raise money for the Slave Lake fire victims at the River Cree Casino, featuring Johnny Reid, George Canyon and Tom Jackson located west of Edmonton, Alberta on Wednesday, June 15, 2011.
Photograph by: Walter Tychnowicz, edmontonjournal.com
Originally published June 14, 2011
EDMONTON - One community’s devastation inspired the rise of another.
Wednesday night’s heartfelt CBC Benefit Concert for Slave Lake Featuring Tom Jackson broke the rules of timing typically needed to pull off such a huge production.
Two and a half weeks ago, this was nothing but a plan to help an aching need in northern Alberta. There was no venue, no talent, no backing.
By Thursday night, however, Wednesday’s sold-out show at Enoch band-operated River Cree Casino was to be performed, shot, edited and broadcast on TV across the country. Every penny from the sale of 1,800 seats, ranging from $50 to $60, will be on its way north. And many more will be reminded the story isn’t over.
It’s an act of community that amazed everyone involved in the production. “This is like doing the Junos in three days,” CBC executive producer Steve Glassman yelled over sound check, looking for host mics. “Congratulate me when it’s all done.”
The show’s biggest performer was Scottish-born Canadian country singer Johnny Reid, who has twice won Canadian Country Music Association male singer of the year, and album of the year in 2011.
On Wednesday night he played Today I’m Gonna Try and Change the World. His involvement involved two acts of lucky timing, the first: a meal with his manager in Nashville, where Reid lives. “I was having lunch with Ron Sakamoto, taking about an upcoming tour. Suddenly he got a call and said, ‘Hey, would you like to be involved with raising some money for Slave Lake?’”
It was musician and philanthropist Tom Jackson on the line, asking Sakamoto to pull in musicians for Wednesday’s successful benefit. Award-winning George Canyon, Emerson Drive, Victoria Banks and others performed under the River Cree Casino tarp, as did Jackson. Also on stage, the Command Sisters, who have an intimate connection to Slave Lake. Their mother Karen, 48, said she “lived there for 26 years, both my kids were born there. I met my husband there. My sister’s still there. Three of my previous homes burned up in that southeast area.
“We want to help out, absolutely. My one friend, 60 people she knows lost homes there.”
The Commands now live in Spruce Grove.
Organizing guru Jackson, who has stepped up in the past for such emergencies before, briefly wondered if he and Glassman would be able to pull it off with such a tight deadline. But he knew money was needed, fast. He also knew how to get it. “If you’re going to get airtime, you need entertainment, a level of marquee.”
Jackson noted Reid’s other bit of timing luck: “Johnny Reid, he shouldn’t even be here. His band is rehearsing for a big show, right now, today, in Toronto.” Later, Reid was enthusiastically received, and the audience fell silent as a video of the devastation played. Family acts One More Girl and the rootsy Travelling Mabels, playing the sombre Time Drags On, joined larger acts like headliner Canyon for the love-in. PEAR memorably fiddle-fused Eleanor Rigby and Smooth Criminal. Jackson’s Blue Water was fitting.”
A sample of northern residents attended wearing I (heart) SL T-shirts. These included Slave Lake General Hospital workers Lori Kirtio and Freda Silvius. “We got tickets on Sunday before it sold out. It’s great – it’s wonderful,” Kirtio said.
“The generosity in all of Alberta has been amazing,” Silvius said.
Jean Twin and her husband Gordon lost their home in the fire, but had smiles at the concert. “I think it’s great,” Jean said, “and I always wanted to see Johnny Reid.”
Jackson said: “You have to remember, there’s 400 families that are homeless. Put that in your mind. It tears your heart out. It’s not just me, there are a lot of people that care, but there are also a lot of people that love.
“That’s one thing they should know, that I love them.”
The special will be broadcast on CBC TV Thursday at 8 p.m. RadioActive will feature highlights between 3 and 6 Thursday, and Friday at 7 p.m., so will CBC Radio 2’s Canada Live – 90.9 FM in Edmonton. On Shaw, nationally, the concert will air 8 p.m. on both June 18 and 22. Provincewide, Shaw will show it June 19, 1 p.m.; June 20, noon; June 23, noon; and June 24, 10 p.m.
To donate, call 1-800-418-1111 or, on the web, redcross.ab/cbcinalberta.
fgriwkowsky@edmontonjournal.com
twitter@fisheyefoto
© Copyright (c) The Edmonton Journal
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The Travelling Mabels- The Travelling Mabels Album review
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If you love great songs with superb female vocal harmonies, then this debut CD should be in your col...If you love great songs with superb female vocal harmonies, then this debut CD should be in your collection.
Eva Levesque, daughter Suzanne and friend Lana Floen share most of the writing credits along with lead and harmony vocals that blend perfectly, creating a very smooth flowing sound on every track.
All of the tracks are played plain and simple with the guitar, bass and banjo as the main instruments. These are supplemented tastily by several other musicians, including Ian Tyson's long-time band members, The Two Gords, (Maxwell and Mathews)
Ian Tyson himself adds his raspy vocals briefly (along with the ladies) on a wonderful song penned by Pat Hatherly and Jim Lewis. The resulting Alberta Blue is definitely a highlight track on the disc.
Any fan of Linda Ronstadt, Emmylou Harris and Dolly Pardon's collaborations should enjoy this Alberta grown trio.
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The Travelling Mabels three generations, three voices- By Spencer Brown
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The Travelling Mabels, an all-female trio comprised of mother-daughter duo Sue and Eva and friend La...The Travelling Mabels, an all-female trio comprised of mother-daughter duo Sue and Eva and friend Lana, are about as Albertan as you would expect. Starting out casually in the fall of 2008, the three-piece played a record industry party at the Canadian Country Music Awards and, as Lana puts it, “had three business cards before we’d even left the stage.”
With this early praise, the Mabels kept practicing and writing original songs, and had their eponymous first album out by June. The Travelling Mabels drew on their varied influences such as Emmy Lou Harris, Dolly Parton, Patsy Cline, early Sheryl Crow and Sweethearts of the Rodeo. With their vocal harmonies and instrumental abilities, they were able to pen eleven tracks with a few focusing on the blues. “Eva wrote them, but they’re about other people’s blues – we don’t get the blues!” laugh the Mabels. Also on the album is a guest appearance by Ian Tyson. Lana and Ian share a common bond: Lana’s husband, who functioned as Tyson’s keyboard player.
Lana and Sue reveal that their formula thus far has been a success. “We’ve done fantastically; we’ve sold out of 1,000 CDs so far and have even charted in the States. People are loving it and it’s nice to get a fan base right from the start.”
For those ladies looking to start, or jump-start, the way the Travelling Mabels have, they recommend “doing what’s right for you and learning an instrument so you have musical knowledge. That way, you grow as your own artist rather than depend on other people.”
While there are those that wonder what it’s like to play in a band with your mom, it’s nothing out of the ordinary for Sue. “On a cross-Canada trip, we always played music together, so there’s a chemistry between us. We dig at each other and have a back and forth, but it’s never malicious,” Lana agrees, stating, “We’re three generations of women and we all bring something to the table. That makes everything we do pretty cool.”
The future promises a second Travelling Mabels album which “will be recorded in our basement with my husband,” according to Lana. “(It) will be more roots and acoustic than our first album as we’re going to focus on our vocals.” Further, the band wants to focus on “building a solid fan base, getting a booking agent, touring and playing something the size of the Jack Singer if we could.”
The Travelling Mabels credit those around them for “making our work easy to do with their support,” and fans who have helped sell out shows in such locales as Black Diamond, Turner Valley and Pincher Creek’s Cowboy festival. They encourage those unfamiliar to “see the show; we love to meet new people.”
Visit
www.thetravellingmabels.com
for more information.
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The Travelling Mabels set to play Twin Butte General Store April 17 - By Debbie Houghtaling Reporter
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The-Travelling Mabels be making a stop at the Twin Butte General Store and Mexican Restaurant-on Apr...The-Travelling Mabels be making a stop at the Twin Butte General Store and Mexican Restaurant-on April l7 The-trio have been gaining popularity around southern Alberta. Here they play at the Blackbird Coffeehouse last Januiry.The Travelling Mabel's will be travelling to the Twin Butte General Store on April 17. The trio, from southern Alberta, has become more and more popular in Cole- man after playing at such venues as.the Blackbird Coffeehouse and was a verv popular act at last year's Cowboy Gathering. The Mabels' beautiful harmonies, extraordinary musical arrangement and a sense of humour in songs reflecting their lives and experiences make the ait one that is hard to beat. Songs like "Smolder Blues," is just one of many that relates the artists' talent and humour.
The show begins at 8 p.m. on Saturday, April 17.
supersonic
