Kitchener based folk/ Celtic duo A New Ground visit Average Joes, July 11 in the midst of a quick western Canada run including a couple shows at the Calgary Stampede. They are also playing the Twin Butte store, July 10 and in Medicine Hat on July 13.
 The duo of multi-instrumentalist and fiddle player Claryssa Webb and bassist/drummer/guitarist Ryan Dugal have released two EPS since forming at an open mic  in 2013.
“ We have a couple shows in Calgary including at the Ironwood on July 9,” said Dugal, who is happy to be touring out west in the spring.

“Last time we drove out west in November in the fall and it was snowing,” he said.

“The set at Average Joes will include lot of traditional country Scottish and Irish fiddle music but you’ll also hear some musical experiments. We like to mix it up. But if you like fiddle music, you will like us,” Dugal said, adding the duo cover a lot of musical ground, so it will just be the two of them coming to Lethbridge.

“ We’re both multi-instrumentalists. Claryssa is a singer and an incredible fiddle player, but she is also classically trained.

And I come from a jazz and pop background. I’ll play bass and drums and percussion” he said, adding she is also well versed in traditional fiddle based  folk and Celtic music. She plays fiddle, cello and mandolin on their second CD, “ Forge the Sky,” which they are touring in support of while Dugal holds down the rhythm end on drums, percussion, bass and guitar.

But she also includes piano and flute in her extensive musical arsenal.

“We’re  really pleased with it. It’s our first real attempt at making original music together. We just got into a studio and let loose,” he said, adding they just releases “River,” the second single from their third EP “Connected.” which is due to be released in the Fall. It is a little more electronic and pop  influenced.

The duo met at an open mic in Kitchener that Dugal was hosting with the band the Short Films.
“I was playing bass in the backing band who were hosting the open mic. Then Claryssa got upon stage and she was so and she was so amazing she didn’t need a backing band,” he enthused.

 They were also part of Tunes For Trees, an organization whose goal is for artists to heighten awareness of climate of change and get fans to plant trees.
The Average Joes show starts at 8 p.m. Thursday, July 11. There is no cover.