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Dale Boyd

Osoyoos Times

Playing incredible virtuoso guitar compositions is the easy part for the Montreal Guitar Trio, but working with the same band members for 20 years, that’s the tough part. 

Keeping any band together for 20 years is a tall order according to Sébastien Dufour, who makes up one part of the Canadian trio which includes his musical partners Glenn Lévesque and Marc Morin. 

“It means a lot for us. Most bands, just to be that long all together, it’s already a great achievement,” Dufour said over the phone from Montreal. “We’re pretty proud of that. We try to remember when we started we weren’t expecting to be doing that again 20 years from where we’ve started. The years have passed and it’s incredible to be able to tour again on the road.” 

Keeping the group focused on the music is key, he said. 

“Trying to get along with the other members, that’s the roughest part. Being on stage just playing is the easiest part, in a way, of the job,” Dufour laughed. “There was a lot of compromise from each member, you have to set aside your ego and just focus on what you like to do, and the music itself. I think that’s the secret to being able to do it together 20 years later. We’re pretty proud of that for sure.”

The trio marked another anniversary last year with 10 years of touring alongside the California Guitar Trio in their latest studio album In a Landscape, featuring both groups as a sextet. 

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In a Landscape consists of original songs and acoustic compositions of popular songs by the likes of David Bowie and Radiohead. 

The process of turning popular music into an acoustic arrangement brings out the best of both worlds according to Dufour. 

“Radiohead is electronic music, so taking the pieces and removing those electronics, those keyboards and bringing it back to acoustic guitars, it really brings a new perspective on that song,” Dufour said. “When you remove some layers then you see what’s behind, that was the idea between all those covers, taking the original but removing all the electronics and bringing it to the acoustic.” 

The covers also draw from the trio’s international music influence which lies at the core of what they do. 

“We are really interested in blending those different kinds of music,” Dufour said. 

Audiences are taken on a musical trip around the world at the trio’s live shows, exploring sounds from Argentina to India as well as music from legendary film composer Ennio Morricone and of course “few good rock covers will be in there as well, acoustically,” Dufour said.  

After just wrapping up a tour with the California Guitar Trio, the Montreal Guitar Trio is heading on another tour leg solo, going back to the music that started it all when they perform at the Venables Theatre. 

“For us it’s great to be back to the music that really brought the three of us together at the very beginning. Of course, Spanish music will be pretty present in this concert, but also a big mix of what we like to do.” 

The Montreal Guitar Trio comes to the Venables Theatre in Oliver on March 20. Advance tickets are $23, tickets at the door are $25, and students pay $2.50. The concert is part of the South Okanagan Concert Society’s 2019/20 series.