HUMBOLDT 鈥� The prairie provinces are in for a treat as Country Blend wraps up their final tour this winter after 15 years of performing.
The Nov. 27 concert at the Gathering Place features Cyn and Dianne Lodge, Evelyn Ramage, Gordy 鈥淐razy Fingers鈥� Lindquist and Henry Martens singing classic country and country gospel from the likes of Dolly Parton to Willie Nelson to Johnny Cash.
The last 15 years have been wonderful, Cyn said, as the group has performed in every province and territory except Nunavut multiple times. This has meant a lot of great music, meeting lots of great people, and enjoying a lot of great meals.
鈥淲e鈥檝e seen an awful lot of Canada. We鈥檝e got a beautiful, beautiful, big country... People in Canada have treated us unbelievably good,鈥� Cyn said.
Lodge said that they have been billeted at their concert locations more often than not and have been fed a lot well.
The band started with first cousins Dianne and Ramage, who sang together as children, getting together with the three male members of the band to perform at a fundraising event back in 2004. It went over so well that the band decided to record a CD. They鈥檙e still playing that CD, Cyn said, but have put out 11 more besides.
This is not the end of music for the members by any means.
Piano player Gordy Lindquist has decided to spend more time touring as his one man show. 鈥淐razy Fingers鈥� is really hard to replace because he is so wonderful, Cyn said, so his departure was a sign that it was time to quit.
Three band members, Cyn and Dianne and Martens, will continue to play together and tour the country as The Fugitives, including to places like Danceland at Manitou Beach.
Country Blend will have nine shows remaining after the Humboldt performance.
The performance is at the Community Gathering Place on Nov. 27 at 2 p.m. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Gathering Place or Main Street Music and Books.
