Allen Christie & Hillbilly Dust
Cochrane, Alberta, Canada | INDIE
Music
The best kept secret in music
Press
What a night of entertainment last Saturday at Grandview Stage Resort! Allen Christie and Riley Tubbs entertained with Tim Hus and Spider Bishop for an evening of fine music that won't be soon forgotten by the packed house that attended....This duo plays anything from country to boogie, but shine brightest when they are harmonizing on their bluegrass numbers. The music is continuously entertaining due not only to their versatile repertoire, but also their sound - they frequently change from guitar and bass to banjo and mandolin. Many of their numbers are from their duet album "mmm... "Cowgrass" and from Allen's first CD "The Last Rodeo" ...The albums are well recorded are produced, and most of the tunes are Christie's own. - The Western Star - Dec 21, 2005
Main stage this evening was reserved for Allen Christie and his partner Lucas Welsh. We asked Allen to come up with a fiddle player, and he took the job seriously!...The audience wasn't about to let Allen Christie escape without singing a few tunes, to which he obliged and more. His "Old Bronc Saddle" is getting good air time in some of the more "Albertan" stations such as Olds' CKLJ, and is going over big. Also getting air time is "I Don't Want to be a Star", with the beautiful "Alberta May" soon to be aired. It's just a matter of time til Allen gets the recognition he deserves, he is truly a special talent. - The Western Star - May 17, 2006
Allen plays a masterful flattop guitar as well as banjo and mandolin (though he didn't pick up the mandolin Friday night, leaving something to look forward to for next time). Allen and Ric performed tunes off Allen and Riley Tubb's first and second albums as well as a huge variety of Western, Bluegrass and Old Time Fiddle tune favorites.... Allens sings everything from ballads to yodeling tunes, and Ric provides a harmony. Theses fellows played for two and a half hours without a break and not a soul in the house left their seats. Then they took a short break and played the same tune twice. Some of the numbers getting the biggest reaction were Allen's own, including the beautiful "Alberta May". This man is a vert talented song writer. - The Western Star - October 19, 2005
For the second part of the evening, Allen Christie, Riley Tubbs and Sharkey Schauer took the stage. Between Allen's guitar, Riley's bass and Sharkey's dobro, the room was full of good music. Allen played several songs from his new Cd, including "Alberta May", Making '8" and Ivan Daines' " I Don't Want to be a Star", along with old favorites such as "(Now and Then There's) A Fool Such as I". Riley, playing an acoustic bass guitar, sang harmonies with Allen, and then took the lead for some songs himself. - The Western Star - February 15, 2006
They (Allen Christie and Riley Tubbs) stood out from this field of talented performers with their high energy music, great harmonies, and excellent playing abilities.....Allen and Riley also performed in the Forster's Lounge Saturday and Sunday nights, and entertained and jammed with other performers into the wee hours with great music and Riley's dry humour. - The Western Star - March 15, 2006
We met Allen a couple of years back or so. He dropped into Novel Ideas in Rocky one night off the street, borrowed a banjo, then guitar, and lit the place up! That was the start of a great relationship. Allen has been out to Grandview Stage a couple of times since, but our most memorable occasion was at last year's Bluegrass Festival in June. Allen's band Hillbilly Dust was our feature band for the weekend, and everyone got their money's worth of great music. Riley Tubbs and Ric Cormier played with Alen that weekend the result was a treat of bluegrass, country, and even some Celtic fiddle numbers that kept the capacity crowd toe-tappin' and clappin' into the wee hours both nights. - The Western Star - October 12, 2005
Discography
Allen Christies (self-titled CD) - released April, 2006
The Last Rodeo - released October, 2000
Photos
Feeling a bit camera shy
Bio
For the past ten years, Allen Christie and Hillbilly Dust have been touring North America with a driving acoustic sound that has been getting a lot of attention. By blending elements of alternative country, western, and bluegrass music into what Allen and these Alberta boys like to call Cowgrass music, Hillbilly Dust has taken their roots based sound to new levels.
Allen's first album "The Last Rodeo" and his 2006 self titled album feature evocative songs he wrote that reflects his familys ties to the rodeo arena, such as The Old Bronc Saddle, The Last Rodeo, Oh Brother, and Back to Racings. His song, Borderline reflects a bad break-up while Alberta May evokes a love lost. His lyrics paint vivid pictures of what life is like on the prairies you get to share the hopes and dreams of the people that work the land along with their special moments, successes and failures, and, ultimately, their ability to not just survive rural living but to celebrate it.
Allen leads the band vocally and plays a masterful flattop guitar as well as mandolin and banjo. Riley Tubbs on bass fiddle also blends his vocals and harmony to the mix to give the band a haunting, earthen tone. Brad Creemer has added a new element to the already defined sound of the band. Playing dobro, he integrates his own creative style with bluegrass, jazz, and country. Chance Simonson can play just about anything with strings on it. Playing mandolin, guitar and banjo in the band, his fast picking and energy compliment this seasoned, dynamic, and very talented group of young entertainers.
Allen Christie has a unique sound and energy that demands attention as soon as he takes the stage. His up-tempo renditions of traditional country music coupled with some progressive bluegrass has captured North American audiences wherever he has performed. Allen Christie and Hillbilly Dust have a repertoire that will take you on a journey through western swing, honky-tonk, traditional cowboy, yodeling and bluegrass.
Allen Christies talent as a songwriter has not gone without recognition. Two of Allens songs have made it to the big screen as part of the movie soundtrack "Jet Boy", along with two of his songs appearing in documentaries. Allen has played with Ian Tyson, Dick Damron, the Poverty Plainsmen, Steve Fox, Diane Chase and Julian Austin.
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