Kelowna-based roots/alt country/Americana ensemble Dirt Road Opera is returning to Bowen Island for a concert at Tir-na-nOg Theater on Friday, August 25 at 7:30 pm.
With most of their songs written by Juno nominee Barry Mathers, this quartet brings their unique blend of soaring vocal harmonies, acoustic and electric accompaniment, and stellar musicianship to Tir-na-nOg, reprising their successful concert last year. The band’s other Juno Nominee, vocalist and bassist Rachel Matkin, has been performing on stages across Canada since she was a little girl, and together with veteran guitarist and singer Barry Mathers, they formed Dirt Road Opera 5 years ago after years of being friends and working on each other’s projects. Their live vocal blend must be heard to be believed!
With songs reminiscent of the best of artists like Lucinda Williams, Steve Earle, John Prine, and Gillian Welch, Dirt Road Opera puts on a great show filled with laughs, great music, and amazing singing. The band is touring in support of their recent album “Nowheresville”, and they recently won 6 Gonzo People’s Choice awards, winning every category they were nominated in: Favourite Album for Nowherersville, Favourite Country Group, Favourite Folk/Roots Group, Favourite Single for Seven Shells, Favourite Music Video for Tell the Truth, and Favourite Songwriter, won by the band’s founder Barry Mathers.
The band is rounded out by multi-instrumentalists Mike Brown (guitar, mandolin, vocals) and myself, Bowen resident Robert Bailey (pedal steel, acoustic guitar, lap steel, banjo, bass, and keyboards). Dirt Road Opera has spent the last year playing festivals and concert venues all over BC, and last year’s show at Tir-na-nOg was one of the band’s very favourite venues, due to its intimate size and cozy atmosphere. Don’t miss this event!
Tickets for the show are $35 and can be purchased online at EventBrite.
