Honey is one of those ingredients that is just better when mixed with tea, peanut butter, Cheerios – you name it. Stir in a little honey and things get a little sweeter.
Honey in the Jar is definitely an appropriate name for Edmonton folk/blues super-group, made up of Chloe Albert, Karla Anderson and Ben Sures.
The three artists were brought together in early 2014 by Sures to form a songwriter’s collective.
“While we’re all different, we have some veins of similarity,” said Anderson. “I just think we’re going to be a really good mix because we all offer something a little bit different. It will be a show with lots of heart – I know that.”
Anderson explained that all three artists knew each other well from having played the Edmonton music scene for a long time together. Albert and Anderson had even done a project together in 2012, recording together in Canmore.
Folk-rock artist Albert was born and raised in Edmonton. Her last album, Dream Catcher, was released in 2013, was the most played album of 2013 on Alberta’s CKUA radio charts and was nominated for a JUNO Award for Adult Contemporary Album of The Year.
Anderson is a folk artist who lives just outside of Edmonton, has won best New/Emerging Artist at the Canadian Folk Music Awards and has been nominated for a Western Canadian Music Award. Her latest album is 2012’s Love’s Great Equation.
Sures is a folk, roots and blues singer, songwriter and guitar player and was recently nominated for several 2014 Edmonton Music Awards. He took home Blues Recording Of The Year for the song “Love Will Kick Your Ass”.
Honey in the Jar will be performing as songwriters-in-the-round. Anderson explained that all three of them would be on stage at the same time, but they share songs. She said they jump on each other’s songs, adding harmonies or instruments.
“We are essentially solo and playing together. It’s not operating as a band, it is still operating as three separate entities but hanging out together,” she said. “It’s more personal because there is a lot more banter that happens.”
Anderson added that they play off each artist, tell stories and jokes.
“It’s funny because I always say I could never handle two hours of me, because it’s too depressing,” said Anderson with a laugh. “I’m a folk singer, you don’t want to bring everyone down for two hours.”
Their appearance at the Cochrane Valley Folk Club will be one of the first shows the group has had as Honey in the Jar. She said they are booking into next year already and plan to apply for some grants to record their first album.
Anderson said that the group does have something special when they make music together and she’s excited about the upcoming dates.
“I love it when I go watch a show and artists on stage and they are interacting with one another,” she said. “It’s a very personal show and it brings you into who we are as songwriters, individuals and who we are to one another too.”
You can catch Honey in the Jar kicking off the Cochrane Valley Folk Club season Sept. 12 at the Alliance Church. For more information visit facebook.com/honeyinthejar or cochranefolkclub.com.
