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It is the 35th year for a musical group that will be taking its tour to the Battlefords and area this summer.

Saskatchewan Express is doing their summer tour show called Here’s To Us. They take their tour to Battlefords Provincial Park July 13 for a 7 p.m. show.

They also plan a 7 p.m. show at Meadow Lake Provincial Park July 14.

The tour, which started May 23 in Regina, is scheduled for various venues around the province including eight provincial parks. The final tour date is Aug. 12 when they perform at Northwest Territorial Days in North Battleford.

People can expect the troupe of young people to pay homage to music going back to the Big Band and 1960s era right to the modern day, including sets made famous by the likes of Elton John, Bruno Mars, Jerry Lee Lewis and Elvis Presley among others. Their unofficial theme song is Shine On Saskatchewan, which they’ve performed at shows since the troupe started.

Since forming in 1980, over 3.8 million people have seen Saskatchewan Express perform. The group has travelled over 550,000 km across Saskatchewan, Canada and the United States. 

The group is led by artistic director, Carol Gay Bell, and features young performers from across Saskatchewan. The performers are: Chamique Abraham from Rouleau, Tyler Campbell from Saskatoon, Lia Coppola, Renz De Felipe, Jennifer Fong, Breanna Mills and Ryan Ramsay from Regina, Tori Daschuk from Lanigan, Kelsey Howatt from White City, Chris MacCallum from La Ronge, Austin Mayor from Strasbourg, Miranda Rose and Tanner Schier from Moose Jaw and Morgan Thorley from Yorkton.

Danny Balkwill is in charge of vocal coaching while the original choreography is by David Connolly. Montana Adams, Karlee Goby, Chris MacCallum, Breanna Mills and Lauren Palmer are the rehearsal directors, Mike Dey is production manager, Jared Mellom is the technical assistant, and Sean Eastley is production assistant. Mike Dey, Craig Salkeld and Brittany Soriano acquired and/or adapted all the musical arrangements and managed the sound editing.