Prairie singer/songwriter Megan Nash, who just finished performing at the Ness Creek Festival and the Saskatchewan Festival of Words in Moose Jaw following a cross-Canada tour, will be giving an intimate concert at the former St. Patrick’s Church in Herbert, Saskatchewan on Saturday Aug. 1st at 8 p.m.
Nash seems to flourish in retro chapel settings as she recorded her much-praised album second album, Song Harvest: Volume 1 in another vintage former church in Palmer, Sask., where she currently makes her home base.
A bluesy roots rocker whose voice has been compared to both a coo and a thunderstorm Nash has charisma and sass. The evening will begin on a classical note with Verna Martens, a remarkable pianist who has taught music in the Herbert area for almost half a century.
Nash, who was raised in Mortlach, Sask., won’t be the only noted singer with a dynamite voice at the Steeplejack Festival this year.
Award-winning recording artist Casey Stone will be returning to her hometown of Herbert (where she’s also known as Darlene Wiebe) to offer a sampling of the highlights of her illustrious and varied musical career, which has ranged from country to roots to pop, blues and rock. Her Steeplejack concert, also at St. Patrick’s Church, will take place Sunday Aug. 2, at 7 p.m.
Stone, who started out with her own country music band at the age of 12, went on to win 1st place in the National Academy of Country Music Talent Contest. Soon after she was nominated as Newcomer of the Year by the Canadian Country Music Association.
During a later phase of her career, Stone, known as a woman with “an alluring vocal presence” transformed into a rock diva, fronting an edgy roots rock group named eva gold. Her most recent CD, Rock Garden, was released in 2009.
Seating for both concerts is limited, so reservations and early arrival are advised.
The weekend of July 31 to Aug. 2 is also the annual rodeo weekend in Herbert, with multiple events including a Saturday morning pancake breakfast followed by an 11 a.m. parade. The rodeo itself begins Friday at 6 p.m. and continues through Sunday afternoon.
For further information on this year’s Steeplejack Festival events or to reserve a seat for either the Megan Nash Concert on Saturday Aug. 1st at 8 p.m. or the Casey Stone Concert on Sunday Evening at 7 p.m., call 306-784-2689.
Admission: $10 donation requested for each show.
To learn more about the singers check out Megan Nash’s website at www.megannash.ca or Casey Stone’s website at www.caseystone.ca
The Steeplejack Festival has been presenting annual summer events in Herbert since 1997 in order to ensure the preservation of this Municipal Heritage Property and to promote artistic endeavor in Saskatchewan.
