Hey hey! Hope you're all doing well! We've had a lot of fun in the last month and look forward to what's coming next. Before we get into that, we want to send a big thank you to Festival du Voyageur for having us perform this year and a BIG CONGRATS to Kayla and Rylaan on their wedding last night!
Now, in less than a week we will be in Brandon for the Brandon Jazz Festival. We'll be playing four shows in two nights (March 15th and 16th) and we are beyond excited! (PS, if you want to get tickets, hit up this link!)
I can't help but feel a little nostalgic about this whole thing. I sang at this festival 16 years ago when I was in high school (Maples Collegiate, whaaa?!) and I remember being in awe of all the other school groups. It was just... so cool. It was the first time I had performed for THAT MANY PEOPLE (it was a lot) and while nerve-racking, it set me on a course to where I am today. I remember all the students and teachers being so supportive of each other and was an experience I'll never forget.
Check this out:
A few years later, we (myself, Ben, and Mike with our university group, the Dubs) were back at the festival, again as students; I remember feeling so inspired while watching the featured act, (Juno award-nominated) Cadence. They were (and still are) amazing.
We were fortunate enough to meet Cadence that night. We talked about their lives as performers and they seemed to be very interested in what we were up to. We really looked up to them and they were so easy to talk to. It was in that moment I realized that one day, if we worked hard enough, we could be in their position. A position where we have the opportunity to inspire students to keep singing.
That day will come this week.
...And I am super emotional as I am typing this.
Those Guys still have so much more room to grow, but I'm super proud of where we are right now and I'm sure the other guys feel the same way. This festival is super special to us and we appreciate the opportunity to come back. Brandon Jazz Festival: Thank. You. So. Much.
Here's a message to the students at the Brandon Jazz Festival:
We can't wait to meet as many of you as possible. While we're excited to perform for you, we're also really looking forward to watching YOU perform. Have a lot of fun, enjoy the festival and don't forget to cheer on as many other schools as you can! We'll be doing the same. And if you see us walking around, don't hesitate to come and say hi! Cool? Cool. We'll see you in a few days.
-Those Guys
About Brandon Jazz Festival:
The Brandon Jazz Festival is a showcase of young up-and-coming jazz musicians.
Every year, talented musicians come to the Brandon Jazz Festival to perform and receive education from veteran jazz musicians from all over the world. Performing alongside some of the world’s best-known jazz acts, you won’t want to miss the city’s coolest music festival.
