Carolyn Harley and the Davidsons will be rocking out at the Water Valley Church Events Centre on May 26. Carolyn Harley and the Davidsons is a lively evening of original music in a wide range of styles. This band loves to mix it up with audience participation, up-tempo tunes, ballads a few instrumentals and a healthy dose of humour. The band is comprised of Carolyn and Joe Harley, Robb Mann and Craig West. Carolyn is a dynamic performer who loves being on stage and interacting with her audience. She believes in writing songs that matter and songs that connect. Whether she is on stage with her full band; with her trio; as part of a duo; or as a solo artist, her objective is always to connect with the people who came to hear her music. Harley has spent a career of study and effort to create a body of work that is well crafted, varied, entertaining and thought provoking. Her songs have been recorded by a wide variety of artists including Cajun, bluegrass, roots and classic country artist. Through the years of writing Harley has crafted her songs and her voice to fit different song styles and moods. Joe Harley's first exposure to music came in the 1960s with a college group called The Dangling Conversation Piece as their lead singer. He then left music and spent the next 40 years raising a family, chasing careers and carrying gear for his musical family. Harley joined a Jazz singing class to celebrate the onset of his second half-century and re-ignited his love of music and performing. Harley joined the Weekend Warriors and worked with other musicians, including his son Sean, to learn to be part of a band. A native of Sydney, N.S., Robb Mann comes from a very musical family. Mann, who started singing solo at age five on local television station C.J.C.B., also performed in school and church choirs, for many years. His first instrument, after voice, was piano. The piano gave way to the ukulele and guitar, and then in high school, clarinet, trumpet and bugle in marching bands. Mann moved to Calgary from Halifax in 1997, and has performed in various groups in Calgary. In 2012. Mann, who is also a song writer, finally completed his first CD, Livin’ The Dream. The album was produced in Calgary by Don Kletke, at Encore Studios. Craig West was born in Red Deer and was raised southwest of Sylvan Lake. Even though he has been completely blind since birth, he has always been given many opportunities to learn and play music. He began playing the violin at age 11 and completed his Diploma in Music Performance from Mount Royal University in 1995 and went on to complete his Bachelor of Arts at the University of Calgary in 1999. A year later Mann released his first fiddle CD called West Country Fiddle. He now plays with several bands in Calgary including Harley and the Davidsons. Tickets for the concert that is scheduled to go from 7 to 9 p.m. are $20 per person and are available at the door or at 403-256-3871.
