A lot has happened since Pender Island based, Calgary raised alternative pop musician Lauren Mann played Lethbridge.
While she played a house concert here last week, if you missed it, she and bandmates, bassist Matthew DesRoches, drummer Darryl Swart and keyboardist Adam Gill return to the Slice, April 6 with fellow Pender Island duo Whitebird aka husband and wife duo Matthew and Sherry Ann Des Roches.
She is getting ready to release her third CD this year after making some waves with her sophomore effort “Over Land and Sea.”
“It’s probably been about two years before that show that we played Lethbridge, Mann said, enjoying Junofest in Calgary.
“I played a few solo shows here. We start the tour on Wednesday,” she said, adding while Des Roches is from Pender Island, her new bandmates are from Calgary.
This10 date tour will be their first together. She’s used to playing with a variety of bandmates, known as “the fairly odd folk.”
“The band has been about 20 people over the course of my career. They’ve all been amazing players,” she said.
Her career is starting to pick up steam after thanks to her sophomore album “Over Land and Sea,” which lead to winning the CBC Searchlight competition in 2014 and placing second in the Peak Performance competition later that year.”
The release date for her third album hasn’t been revealed yet.
“ It will be at the end of summer though,” she said.
“ it’s a lot more dynamic. There is a lot more emotion,” she said describing the sound as “ alternative pop music.”
She is enjoying working with Whitebird and having Matthew Des Roches in her band.
“ We’re really good friends. We’re helping record their album in our studio on Pender Island. They’re just starting their musical journey, ” she said
She is also enjoying living on Pender Island since moving there in the Fall.
“We’re getting connected with the community. The people are amazing. We love the island lifestyle and we love this small town way of life here,” she said.
“There’s lots of musicians, lots of open mics. There’s a huge number of people who have been playing for decades and people who are just starting out. We’ve found our niche here,” she said, adding while touring is a challenge because of extra ferry expenses, it is worth it.
“Once you’ve lived the island lifestyle, you love it and you get used to it (touring expenses),” she said.
The show begins at 9p.m. at the Slice, April 6.
