Eric Johnson and friends — Ted Bryant, Debra Mehrer and Shelli Morris Hutcheson — will present a concert, Plan Bee, on July 21 at the Snoring Sasquatch.
Johnson is a venerable member of the music scene in Creston, Nelson and beyond. He is a multi-instrumentalist, performing on guitar, vocals, drums and other instruments.
He plays in a multitude of bands and is a mentor to many musicians, always patient and encouraging and extremely generous with his time. Johnson drums with a supple touch and steady rhythm, and is adept at playing almost any genre from swing to Latin, rock, folk, country or concert band.
Listening the music of the 1960s left a distinct and lasting impression on Bryant as a teenager at that time. Influences including the Rolling Stones, Bo Didley, Paul Butterfield Blues Band and even Herman’s Hermits created the bond between Bryant and his guitar.
Originally from Vancouver, Bryant played in bands including Teen Angel, Armed and Dangerous, and Mule Train with Tom Russell. Now living in Creston, he is the front man for the Kings of Kitchener. In 2010, they released their first CD, After The Rain, a collection of some of Bryant’s original songs together with a refreshing take on popular cover tunes.
He is a master of quick wit and comic relief and pours all his energy into his performances because, as he puts it, “It is more than playing music — people want to be entertained!”
Mehrer appeared on the music scene about six years ago, playing bass and doing vocal backups with Celtic/folk band Peanut Butter and Jam. She has played bass and done some vocal work with the Gone Country band, and is currently the bassist with blues/rock band Fat Charlie. She is exploring the solo aspect of singing and is enjoying the adventure of everything from folk to classical.
She has provided backup harmony in Peanut Butter and Jam and some solo work in Gone Country, but as a recent graduate — “You can never graduate,” she said. “There is always so much more to learn.” — from the Buchanan Studio of Music, she was inspired by her teacher Geri Buchanan to reintroduce herself to the community as a serious soloist.
Morris Hutcheson grew up singing in church and at community events in rural northern Alberta with her sisters and cousins — and thus began her love for folk and roots music. She was always drawn to music and the joy she and others received from it. Hutcheson was 12 years old when she got her first guitar and her uncle showed her a few chords.
Music took a back seat to motherhood and career, however, until she opened the Snoring Sasquatch in 2005. Although an introvert and uninterested in performing publically, she began to sing reluctantly at karaoke. After singing a few duets with Johnson and receiving encouragement, they began to perform at Snoring Sasquatch’s open stage, the Wynndel Coffee House, Swan Valley Lodge and various local events. Kilpatrick joined them to form the trio Evergreen. Hutcheson continues to perform occasionally with her musical friends.
Advance tickets are $10 at Black Bear Books, Buffalo Trails Coffee House and Kingfisher Used Books, and $13 at the door, which opens at 7 p.m.; the show begins at 8.
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