SOLD OUT Up On Cripple Creek Plays The Blues of The Band

Earning rave reviews, this ensemble tears into the remarkable songbook created by Robbie Robertson, Levon Helm, Rick Danko, Garth Hudson and Richard Manuel while earning praise from festival directors, newspaper columnists and roots radio show hosts.

Allison Brock of CKUA Radio, stated matter-of-factly that “it’s like the members of Up On Cripple Creek are channeling The Band.”

Line-ups for the show have morphed from time to time and for this upcoming performance at Edmonton’s Yardbird Suite, the Up On Cripple Creek cast will be focusing on the blues side and blues influences of this legendary group.

From the group’s early days of backing Ronnie Hawkins, to crossing paths with John Hammond and Sonny Boy Williamson, to infusing Bob Dylan’s music with razor sharp blues basted solos and deep blues grooves, The Band played and sang blues music with authority and conviction.

Their fabled Last Waltz concert included mesmerizing guest spots from blues masters Paul Butterfield, Muddy Waters, Dr. John and Eric Clapton.

The Moondog Matinee, Before The Flood, Rock of Ages, and Islands albums were dotted with blues inspired numbers, while the reformed Band leaned into tunes by Muddy Waters and Willie Dixon, while serving up a wonderful rendition of Bob Dylan’s Blind Willie McTell on the Jericho album.

“We also draw on some of the blues material Levon Helm recorded on his solo outings. Stuff that Helm, Garth Hudson and Butterfield recorded with Muddy on his Woodstock album, tunes he cut with the cool bluesman Little Sammy Davis and some of the material found on the RCO All-Stars albums,” says Up On Cripple Creek bassist and singer Ron Rault.

Rault will be joined for this Yardbird Suite show by longtime compadres Gord Matthews on guitar, mandolin and vocals, Thom Moon on drums, Crawdad Cantera on harp and special guest Stewart MacDougall on keyboards and vocals.