The Kootenay Gallery TD Bank Concert Series is excited to announce the upcoming concert with some of the best musicians in the Kootenays – Craig Korth and the Guilty Pleasures. It's an eclectic mixture of players, all with vastly different experience but with a common goal of making great music together.
Craig Korth is an acoustic musician who plays banjo, mandolin and guitar and was frontman in the popular Canadian bluegrass group, Jerusalem Ridge. For almost 20 years the band played nearly every folk and bluegrass festival in the country. They also were the first bluegrass band in Canada to develop a bluegrass and symphony program that they performed across western Canada.
When Craig was asked to put on a concert for the Kootenay Gallery he assembled a band of some of his favourite local players.
“The band is Rick Lingard - saxophone, Steven Parish - percussion, and Rob Fahie - upright acoustic bass," he describes. "These musicians are some of the most proficient, soulful players I have had the honour to play with. They're also such great people to be around; it almost feels like the music is the icing on the cake."
When asked about the unusual combination of instruments, Craig had this to say; “I know the banjo is well known as a hard driving bluegrass instrument, but it is actually very versatile. I can be fast and furious, but it also can be soft and sensitive and soothing. The reason I wanted to play with these particular musicians is that they are all so adept at playing what the music needs most, no matter what the style. Steven is one the most sensitive drummers, right there with you the whole time, but never dominating. He's a joy to play with. Rick is a wonderful player, he's just so musical. Rob, who recently moved here from Montreal, is such an accomplished musician; he always knows exactly what fits."
The music will include selections from Craig's solo CDs. His 2008 solo album, Suspicious Minds, had Craig nominated by the Canadian Folk Music Awards as Solo Instrumentalist of the Year. Craig's wife Julie, a recognized singer songwriter, will join the group for a few tunes. The couple are directors of the Sorrento, BC-based August NimbleFingers Bluegrass and Old-Time Music Festival.
This concert will take place on Sunday, February 9, 1:30 p.m. at the Kootenay Gallery located across from the Castlegar Airport adjacent to the Doukhobor Discovery Centre. Tickets are for sale at the door at $12 for Gallery members and $15 general admission. For more information contact the gallery at 250-365-3337 or visit the website at www.kootenaygallery.com.