Thursday, January 18, 7:30 p.m., Orcas Center
— from Susannah Weaver for Orcas Center —
Orcas Center welcomes the Good Lovelies back to Center Stage on January 18, 7:30 pm. Audiences have fallen in love with the Good Lovelies for over ten years. Caroline Brooks, Kerri Ough and Sue Passmore rely on impeccable vocals, accomplished musicianship, winsome songwriting and on stage banter. Winners of the 2010 Juno Award for Roots Album of the Year, and 4-time Canadian Folk Music Awards winners, the trio brings material from their upcoming folk/pop album Shapeshifters to Center Stage. Get your tickets now—bring the whole family for an unforgettable concert January 18.
You hear it a lot these days – the idea that something is greater than the sum of its parts – and yet there’s really no better way to describe the musical essence of the Good Lovelies. These ladies are immensely talented vocalists and songwriters in their own right; however, it’s their voices interwoven in harmony – powerful and pure, organic and inspiring – that elevates the Good Lovelies from impressive to peerless.
Over the course of their decade-plus career, covering plenty of stylistic ground, they’ve added tinges of pop, roots, jazz, and even hip-hop to their country folk core at various points. The trio first united in 2006 for a one-off performance and has since compiled a catalogue of four studio albums, a pair of EPs, a live album, and Christmas collection. The unmistakable sound of their intertwined voices has been the sonic anchor, and it remains true as the Good Lovelies now push further into the mainstream with their most accessible and pop-influenced output to date.
Their upcoming collection offers a perfect balance between a more modern production style and the wholesome musical influences that have made them a household name. What’s more, the songs themselves build on the Good Lovelies’ familiar foundation with widespread appeal. “But that wasn’t really a conscious decision,” Ough admits of the more mainstream leanings of their upcoming album. “We just let each other write and bring ideas to the table and, as usual, went with what was strongest.” Another pillar of the Good Lovelies’ charm—songs that are born of singularity but then brought into the collective fold. “In short, no matter what they’re singing about or how, the product is purely the Good Lovelies. We’ve got an incredibly devoted group of fans that have been with us for years,” offers Brooks, “so even though we reached into new places with these songs, we’re still focused on doing right by our fans.”
Some of the songs explore relationships with family and friends – sometimes through a lens of love and others through one of struggle. Others deal with looking for light in dark situations or dark times, and while at times that flirts with social or political commentary, it’s never overt or overindulgent. Even when those themes are at their darkest, as Ough offers, “There’s always love somewhere in the background. There’s always that center of optimism and making a positive difference.” The music, the album, and the trio – all are greater than the sum of their individual parts.
Tickets for Good Lovelies are $29, $21 students and $3 off for Orcas Center members and may be purchased now at www.orcascenter.org or by calling 376-2281 ext. 1 or visiting the Orcas Center Box Office open Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 12-3 pm. $5 subsidized tickets available at the Box Office. For more information about Orcas Center’s 2017-2018 season visit www.orcascenter.org.
