Acrpost: A Project of the Pacific Association of Artist Run Centres

Event Description

Tickets available at roguefolk.bc.ca, Tapestry Music Vancouver, and Highlife Records.
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Unrelated is Early Spirit’s debut release. Ben, Gabriel, Jay, and Will hone their style into six songs featuring the sounds of folk, rock, Celtic, Cajun, and jazz music, but the results are unmistakeably theirs.

A founder of the seminal folk group Spirit of the West, a sideman with major Canadian acts, and a solo artist for over 20 years, Jay Knutson is happy to participate in an exciting new group, Early Spirit. This group presents the harmonious vocals, Celtic influences, and rock rhythms that define his musical legacy, and it adds a contemporary twist, attracting a diverse audience.

Violinist Gabriel Dubreuil and bassist Will Ross met under Jay’s direction in the North Shore Celtic Ensemble. Gabriel and Will are among Vancouver’s most fearless young performers. Encouraging each other to push musical boundaries, they perform ‘twin fiddle’ melodies and accompany Jay innovatively. Gabriel, Jay, and Will musically challenge each other, producing a genuine creative response on stage. This response connects powerfully with their audience. Striving to improve this connection after performing over 100 times together, they added Ben Kelly on drums and percussion. Ben’s decade-plus career in Vancouver’s music scene completes the group Early Spirit: a powerful musical concept that carries a wealth of experience.