What began as a family band has expanded into something dynamic and evolving.
Local band Elbow River will be showcasing its debut album Redtail Flyer Feb. 22, performing with Bruce Innes (founder of Canadian folk-pop group, The Original Caste) at the Priddis Community Hall.
“It’s not really cool to say, ‘I’m in a band with my mother’…it’s cool until you get to the mom part,” laughed Leanne Copithorne, lead vocalist, songwriter and rhythm guitarist for the group, musing over the dynamic of playing in a band with her daughter, Kaitlynn Copithorne (accordion, background vocals), son Charlie Copithorne (mandolin) and Kaitlynn’s fiancé, Brandon Smith (acoustic bass).
The band, whose members all live along the Elbow River (from Water Valley to Springbank), is rounded out by local Tim Jeffery, who brings his seasoned take on mandolin, lead guitar and production credits to the group.
“Tim really steered the ship,” explained Leanne, crediting Jeffery for his production work on their premier release.
“We begged him and wore him down until he joined our band.”
Touting their sound as ‘harmony-centric folk music with subtle blues and Celtic elements’, Jeffery said it’s Leanne’s songwriting that attracted him to joining the group.
“Leanne writes beautiful music — structurally and lyrically,” said Jeffery. “And the mother-daughter harmonies are honest and real…the acoustic originality of it, it’s quite different than what’s around.”
Picking up performance momentum throughout the foothills, Elbow River is focusing on getting into the folk and country festival circuit in the coming months, as well as on building their fan base.
Leanne said the 12-track album was an intense, enjoyable experience and something the band is likely to look at doing again. The (horse) riding instructor by day, musician by night said she’s finding herself lost in her songwriting these days.
“The songwriting has been so enjoyable…I’m surprised with how much I’m enjoying it,” said Leanne, adding that her inspiration for new songs usually comes to her while driving in her car between lessons. The band has performed at a number of local festivals since their 2011 beginnings, including the Mountain Shadow Music Festival, Bragg Creek Days and the Water Valley Celtic Festival.
They credit their friends in and around ‘the Creek’ (Bragg Creek) for their support in the making of their album. Visit elbowriverband.com.
