Sobeys Live @ the Centre presents The Trews at Confederation Centre's Homburg Theatre on Thursday, Nov. 29, to deliver their highly-praised acoustic show. The folk and punk-tinged rock 'n' roll group, The Stanfields, will be opening the show.
The Nova Scotia rock band knows how to spryly change their stripes when hungering for variety, having gained a Juno nomination for their acoustic album, "Friends & Total Strangers." The 2009 live record, one of six to their credit, reinvented the Trews' classic hits and interspersed new songs and rarities into their brawny live show. As they did to great acclaim in 2009, The Trews - lead vocalist Colin MacDonald, guitarist John-Angus MacDonald, drummer Sean Dalton, and bassist Jack Syperek - are performing a string of unplugged shows across the continent this fall. "We've always had this other side of us, which is three acoustic guitars and a hand drum," says MacDonald, the lead singer. "Changing things up helps keep us inspired and gives us a chance to showcase some of the intricacies of our music."
The intimate, stripped-down nature of these performances will bring the band's punchy harmonies and acute sense of pop melody to the forefront of the experience.
"It also appeals to a different audience and lets us play for people we wouldn't always see," MacDonald adds, noting the sets will contain re-imaginings of fan favourites from the Trews' extensive back catalogue along with selections from "...Thank You and I'm Sorry."
"We love having something new for our fans each time we hit the road; something we're excited to share," the singer says about the upcoming seven-song EP. The release, co-produced by John-Angus MacDonald and previous collaborator Gordie Johnson and featuring Black Crowes guitarist Rich Robinson, is comprised of a mix of softer acoustic songs along with traditional Trews bangers, including an amped-up take on Australian rock icon Paul Kelly's 'Leaps and Bounds'.
While the tour-de-force that is The Trews' rock show has earned them slots supporting the likes of The Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, and KISS, the aim of this tour is to stun spectators from the stage with tight, retuned takes of well-known tracks. The ability to draw from four full-length studio albums - two certified Gold in Canada - and 13 Top 10 singles will only allure fans new and old, to explore this special side of the band.
Tickets are available at the Confederation Centre box office at 566-1267 or toll-free at 1-800-565-0278.
