Sheepdogs take their show on the backroads

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This article was published 22/01/2024 (606 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Canadian rockers, The Sheepdogs, are ready to rock you out of your seats when they perform at the Western Manitoba Centennial Auditorium on Tuesday.

The Sheepdogs, who are celebrating their 20th anniversary, are currently on a tour that targets smaller places and cozier venues than their usual big arena or music festival stage, during the coldest time of the year. “Back road Boogie,” is taking The Sheepdogs to places like Thunder Bay, Ont., Moose Jaw, Sask., and Prince Albert, Sask. Bass player Ryan Gullen said hitting the smaller venues allows the band to reach fans where they are, instead of fans having to travel to bigger centres.

Being from Saskatoon, Gullen said the band knows what it’s like having to travel to see an act he likes.

“We had to travel all the time to go to shows,” Gullen said. “The likelihood of somebody coming to Saskatoon was very low. They would go to places like Winnipeg, and then play Calgary and Vancouver. We realized Canada is more than just Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Toronto, Winnipeg. We know that there’s all these other towns and cities in Canada that have people that also want to go to live music and enjoy. We’ve kind of made it a thing for us over the last several years to include other markets on our tours.”

The Sheepdogs, who Gullen describes as having a “summer all-out-rock” sound, draws inspiration from rock bands from the 1960s and ‘70s, but their sound is all their own. The group consists of original members — Gullen, lead singer and guitarist Ewan Currie and drummer Sam Corbett. Newer members are Shamus Currie, on keys, trombone and guitar, and Ricky Paquette on guitars and background vocals. The band has released seven studio albums since their first came out in 2007. The Sheepdogs have won four Juno awards and spent much of last year touring Europe. Ellen Froese, who also hails from Saskatchewan will open the Brandon show.

“We’re really looking to just help people escape from sort of the the druthers of the January prairie life,” Gullen said. “It’s a rock and roll show. Lots of guitar solos, and five guys all singing together, lights, and we just bring the show. And I think, in a lot of ways our music is really reminiscent of the summer. So we try to just give people that escape where they can kind of forget what outside is like, and just kind of let loose and lose themselves in the music.”

Gullen said the group has put together a show that features radio hits and other popular music from all of their albums, including 2022’s “Outta Sight.” He said each show is unique and fun and the band is still having fun, even as they celebrate their milestone of 20 years together.

“It’s really about crafting a show that can be enjoyed even in a setting like a theatre and it can be a moment where people can kind of forget about what’s going on and enjoy it. Rock and roll music is supposed to make you feel good. And that’s really what we always try to do,” Gullen said. “Music can be serious but it also can be fun. I think we like to have fun. Doing what we do and enjoying each other, and enjoying what you do together while having a common goal in mind is important for longevity.”

The Brandon audience may hear a new song or two. Gullen said the group has been working on new material that they hope turns into an album release later this year.

“We’re always working on new music. Our plan is to put out new things this year. We always want to put up new music and increase the frequency of being played. We don’t want to be caught playing the same songs all the time. So we will do that in this year for sure.”

Tickets for The Sheepdogs “Backroad Boogie,” are still available at wmca.ca

» khenderson@brandonsun.com