After a hiatus from touring, B.C.-based musician Lauren Mann is back on the road and excited to return to Moose Jaw on May 15.
The alternative folk-pop show promises some familiar favorites from Mann’s last album, Dearestly, but also some new music that she’s been working on recently. Although she has yet to put together a new album, she’s been working with some new sounds she’d like to share.
“I've kind of been experimenting with more of an acoustic sound for some songs, but also having the band accompany and bring some life to it,” said Mann. “So, I'd say the new songs are still in that vein, but just kind of exploring it a little bit, getting out of what I am used to, just being mostly piano-based.”
Mann herself plays piano and will have Tim Charman on bass, Kevan Britton on drums, and Steph Jackson on guitar accompanying her.
She describes her music as alternative folk with pop elements and has branched out from her usual keyboard-heavy composing to include some new things — including a tenor guitar, which has four strings instead of six.
Mann’s time off from touring lent itself to a freshness in her songwriting that has energized her back into performing. She’s begun this new tour because she has new stories to tell, and loves reaching out to new places and people with her music.
“I think music just provides such a neat common ground where it really transcends language and culture and social status and all these things, and people can just connect to it and relate on a deeper level,” said Mann. “And so that was a big motivation for getting back on the road, is just being able to connect with people through music, and connect with friends that I haven't seen in a long time.”
Her band is already rehearsing, and Mann promises that the show will be well worth coming out to experience.
“It'll be a really fun show. . . All my bandmates are great musicians and we've got some fun harmony, like fun vocal parts and harmonies and some singalongs and stuff,” said Mann. “I'm always down for an interactive musical experience.”
Mann has been to Moose Jaw before, but the familiarity is something buoyant when she talks about returning on the tour. This time she will be appearing at Chrysalis Coffee Roasters.
“I'm actually really looking forward to being in Moose Jaw because I've played there many times, and so it's always nice to revisit familiar places,” said Mann. “I’m just really excited to kind of get back out there and it's been a while, so I feel very excited and there's lots of anticipation building, even in the band.”
The show starts at 7pm, and no tickets are needed; entry will be by donation at the door.
