The Newmarket Folk Society is bringing the sounds of bluegrass to town with a show by the five-piece acoustic string band The Barrel Boys on April 27.
The sound of The Barrel Boys is built around rich vocal harmonies and virtuosic instrumental playing, and their unique repertoire of original material is informed by their fluency in classic bluegrass, old-time, country, and Americana, the folk society says.
Each band member writes and sings their own songs, making for a wide stylistic range within the band’s sound.
In addition to being creative songwriters, The Barrel Boys are seasoned performers. All five members crowd around a single vocal mic, making for a beautiful vocal blend and a dynamic stage presence.
The Ontario-based group, which was established in 2012, first honed its craft through a two-year weekly residency at Toronto’s Cloak and Dagger Pub, where they performed every Tuesday night.
"Since their humble beginnings, they have been featured on stages across Canada, including Mariposa Folk Festival, Folk Fest sur le Canal, Northern Lights Bluegrass and Old-Tyme Festival, Blueberry Bluegrass Festival, and Salmon Arm ROOTSandBLUES," the society said.
The Barrel Boys’ most recent release, Mainline, is their third full-length album of original songs and tunes. This recording showcases the band's five unique singers and songwriters, complete with the top-tier vocals and picking that their fans have come to love.
Their songs capture experiences from their own lives, as well as stories the Boys have collected from their journeys touring across Canada. The album earned them a nomination for Vocal Group of the Year at the 2021 Canadian Folk Music Awards.
Concert attendees will have a chance to win a pair of tickets to the 2024 Tottenham Bluegrass Festival.
The concert starts at 8 p.m. at the Newmarket Legion, 707 Srigley St.; the doors open at 7:15 p.m. Tickets, $30, can be purchased at newmarketfolk.com or by calling 705-431-7182 (leave a message).
