A talented trio that rocked the house the first time they played in Osoyoos several years ago will kick off the Osoyoos Concert Series for 2015-16.
Tiller’s Folly will perform on Thursday, Oct. 29 at the community theatre at Osoyoos Secondary School.
“We had Tiller’s Folly perform for our concert series five or six years ago and we’ve been trying to get them back ever since,” said Pat Philpott, secretary for the Osoyoos Concert Series’ board of directors. “They are an extremely entertaining group that plays Celtic rock and folk and a lot of upbeat music that is very appealing and we’re very pleased to have them back to entertain us.”
The Osoyoos Concert Series has, for the past several years, featured four concerts that run between early fall and the middle of winter and that won’t change this year, said Philpott.
The second concert for this year will feature Gordie MacKeeman and The Rhythm Boys from Prince Edward Island. They will perform on Thursday, Nov. 25.
The third concert will feature renowned impersonator and one-woman show Bonnie Kilroe from Vancouver, who will present a tribute to Broadway musicals as well as impersonating country music legends like Patsy Cline and Dolly Parton. Kilroe will perform on Thursday, Feb. 11.
The final concert of this year’s series will take place on March 10 and features April Verch, a talented fiddle player and step dancer, who played in Osoyoos four years ago.
Members of Tiller’s Folly include Bruce Coughlan, the chief songwriter, vocalist and guitarist for the group.
Coughland is a sixth generation Canadian possessing a profound connection to his Celtic roots. Coughlan is a true collector of songs and the founding member of Tiller’s Folly.
With a growing list of commissioned works and soundtrack credits, this composer/lyricist is a creative force of rare ability. Coughlan is a multifaceted talent and will undoubtedly be recognized as a great Canadian songwriter in the league of Gordon Lightfoot and Stan Rogers, said Philpott.
Nolan Murray plays fiddle, mandolin and mandocaster and has a long history as a multi-instrumentalist who, at an early age, parlayed an impressive list of championships into a touring/recording career that has spanned decades.
Some of those highlights include Oregon State fiddle Champion, Top Ten Grand Masters Champion, Top Ten U.S. National Fiddle Champion, International World Bluegrass Championship Band and the B.C. Country Music Awards Instrumentalist of the Year in 1989, 1990 and 1992.
Rounding out the trio is Laurence Knight on bass and vocals. Knight has been an active member of Western Canada’s vibrant music scene for over 40 years.
Advance tickets for the show are $23 and available at Imperial Office Pro in downtown Osoyoos and Sundance Video in Oliver. Tickets at the door are $25 and $15 for students. All concerts this year will be performed at the community theatre at Osoyoos Secondary School and will begin at 7:30 p.m.
KEITH LACEY
Osoyoos Times
