Bluegrass is back in Merritt this weekend.
After being unable to play a scheduled show in Merritt back in February, the bluegrass band Backspin will hit the stage this Saturday at the Culture Club.
The band plays a mix of traditional and contemporary music with a distinct bluegrass style, taking from their own repertoire of originals and covering other songs.
Five members comprise the band: Colin Goldie on mandolin, Randy Goulding on guitar, Jay Buckwold on the banjo, Kate Main on the bass and Hugh Ellenwood on the fiddle.
The concert is presented by the SaySo Expression Society.
SaySo president Mil Juricic told the Herald he visited with Backspin in Vancouver during one of their rehearsals and was impressed with their musicianship and quality of their music.
“The sound of bluegrass is really steeped in the sound of the banjo. The banjo is the main instrument – the banjo and fiddle of bluegrass, that’s the sound,” Juricic said.
Band member Colin Goldie told the Herald the band came together about five years ago.
“Originally we were a pickup band, because we all had other bands,” Goldie said.
The group named themselves after a bluegrass song they play, which was originally composed by the Osborne Brothers.
The members come from various musical backgrounds, including rock ‘n’ roll, country and folk. Bluegrass itself is a blend of styles, incorporating country, blues and Celtic music, Goldie said.
“We’re a good bunch of friends [and] we’re an acoustic band,” Goldie said.
He also said all five of them sing as well.
“Expect a good time, I say,” Goldie said, adding that their music is lively.
Saturday will be the band’s first concert in Merritt.
Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at Country Bug Books. The doors open for the show at 7 p.m.
