Lauren Lohneis and Teegan Jeffers perform on a surprise concert on a P.A. street. (Facebook/EA Rawlinson Centre for the Arts)

By Alison Sandstrom

New normal?

Live music returns to Prince Albert

Aug 22, 2020 | 8:59 AM

Festival season may not have really happened this year, but staff at the EA Rawlinson Centre are doing their best to close out a subdued summer with some exciting performances.

On Wednesday the Rawlinson hired local musical duo Lauren Lohneis and Teegan Jeffers for a series of pop-up curb-side concerts around the City.

Over the course of the afternoon and evening, the pair crisscrossed P.A. to play at around eight locations including care homes, the hospital, a spray park, Homeward Bound and SARCAN. To prevent crowds gathering, no one knew they were coming.

“At first they looked really confused,” Jeffers laughed, recalling peoples’ reactions when the musicians pulled up and began unloading instruments and equipment from a pick-up truck.

“But after the confusion went away it was just joy, the whole day was just joyful.”

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(Facebook/EA Rawlinson Centre for the Arts)

She said it was evident how much people had missed experiencing music performed in-person.

“Live music is all about connection, arts are all about connection,” said Jeffers. “And this year has been really hard for people to connect with each other in that way… it does take out of the box thinking to bring that to the community.”

Drive-in concert

On Thursday night, P.A. will host another out of the box performance – a drive-in concert at the EA Rawlinson Centre featuring One Bridge Town, a local band with a distinctly P.A. name.

Marketing and events coordinator Cara Stelmaschuk explained every second space in the parking lot will be blocked off, leaving spots for 49 cars.

Although the building will be open for attendees to use the bathroom, everyone is otherwise asked to stay in their cars to maintain distance.

“Roll down the windows, sing along, chair dance if you want in your vehicle,” said Stelmaschuk.

“One Bridge Town celebrates the grittiness of Prince Albert with an alt-country sound polluted with punk and southern rock” reads the band’s bio. (Submitted/Cara Stelmaschuk)

Weather permitting, One Bridge Town will perform from atop the awning above the EA Rawlinson’s entrance.

“I’m really looking forward to getting back on stage and playing some music,” said guitarist Joel Rohs, adding that normally his summers are packed with festivals and other performances.

“Facebook live streams are nice, but it’s just not quite the same so I’m looking forward to this.”

Tickets for the drive-in concert must be purchased ahead of time over the phone or online and will not be sold at the door to minimize the risk of COVID-19 transmission. Stelmaschuk emphasized that the entry price of $30 covers an entire vehicle, so split between a few friends, the event is quite affordable.

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alison.sandstrom@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @alisandstrom