Mike Spencer of the The Geomatic Attic is as happy to help out in the community as he is happy to help excellent bands get Lethbridge gigs.
So when Spencer reached out to Ottawa based blues rock trio MonkeyJunk to play a pair of fundraising shows for the U of L Global drums with old friends Cousin Harley, they were happy to oblige.
“ “I don’t know a lot about Global Drums, but Mike Spencer and the Geomatic Attic have always been good to us and I trust Mike implicitly. He spearheaded the whole thing,” said MonkeyJunk baritone guitarist/ vocalist/ harmonica player Steve Marriner, taking a break from putting the finishing touches on the band’s fourth CD with band mates, guitarist Tony D and drummer Matt Sobb.
U of L Global Drums director Adam Mason is pleased with all the support from the community the group receives.
“I formed the group in 2006. We began just by practicing Trinidad and African drums and it has grown to the largest collection in Western Canada and probably Canada,” Mason said adding the group now has 40 members who play in a variety of Brazilian Samba, Japanese Taiko, Polynesian and African ensembles under the banner of Global Drums.
He said most of the members are University of Lethbridge students though their numbers also include faculty.
“ We also have people who work in IT and public school teachers who take what they’ve learned with us to their students,” he said adding they have had students from Brazil and Japan in the group who have taught the group new techniques.
“We look forward to having those folks involved who come and share their traditional music with us,” he continued.
The group takes their music on the road. they are going to Hawaii again next month and have also toured in Trinidad, Japan, London, Amsterdam and Florida..
“We’ve had a great deal of support from the community and organizations like the Geomatic Attic,” he said.
They raise funds through a variety of performances including their annual spring concerts, which took place April 10 and 11 at the University Theatre and events like the Geomatic Attic’s two special concerts this week including a dinner show with Vancouver rockabilly Cousin Harley at the Mocha Cabana, April 14. Doors open at 5 p.m., the show begins at 7 p.m.. Tickets are $82.50. And the April 15 show at the German Canadian Club. The show begins at 8 p.m. Tickets for that show are $42.50 and also features Cousin Harley.
