One of Canada’s most popular and well-loved bands brings its “soaring harmonies, memorable melodies and shimmering guitar lines” to the ACT next month.
Platinum-selling Canadian folk-rock trio The Grapes of Wrath stop in Maple Ridge Nov. 2 at the tail-end of a cross-Canada tour to celebrate the recent release of brand new, critically acclaimed album.
If you lived in Canada in the late ’80s, it was hard to avoid the jangle-pop, strains of the Beatlesque sound emanating from every dorm room, and dominated alternative radio playlists across the country. You will surely recall singles All the Things I Wasn’t and What Was Going Through My Head that propelled the band to platinum success.
In the spring of 2012 the trio gathered at co-producer Darryl Neudorf’s private studio to begin work on the album – the first time all three had been in a studio together since completing their final album, These Days, at London’s Abbey Road Studios in 1991.
The resulting 12 tracks, written by both Kane and Tom Hooper, feature the signature harmonies, vivid melodies and heartfelt lyrics The Grapes Of Wrath are known for.
“This record is a continuation of where we last left off. This isn’t a nostalgia trip. It’s like our other records – the next step in our growth as songwriters and musicians. The only difference is it took us a little longer to make the step,” Tom Hooper said.
The Grapes of Wrath formed in Kelowna in 1983 and released their first album in 1985, September Bowl Of Green.
In 1987, the band broke through to Canadian mainstream radio with their sophomore effort, Treehouse. That was followed in 1989 by the platinum selling Now And Again, which spawned three hit singles, including What Was Going Through My Head.
Following the release of 1991’s These Days – their second platinum album that spawned two Top 10 hits, You May Be Right and I Am Here – the band decided to call it a day.
Showtime
The Grapes of Wrath play the ACT in Maple Ridge on Nov. 2 at 8 p.m. For tickets, visit theactmapleridge.org.