Roxanne Delage
After some notable success in the 90s, local rockers, Ritual, walked away from the band and each other, 10 years ago, following a performance at Lift-Off, opening up for Kim Mitchell.
Touring extensively together for over a decade had taken its toll on their relationships, and time had come for the members to branch off and do their own thing, explained Sean Harley, former Ritual front man. “It had run its course, and no one had any intention of ever revisiting it. We wanted to look forward, not back.”
Back in the day, the group gained critical acclaim worldwide for their music and live performances. Their EPs, I Give” and “Hate,” received extensive airplay and charted in such countries as the US, Russia, Japan, France, Indonesia, The Netherlands as well as in Canada.
Each of the band members, including Harley, who now fronts his very successful Trench Town Oddities; Jay Collis and Joel Labrosse, both members of The Shiners, and Daryl Kiviaho, went down their own musical path, but continued to be reminded, throughout the years, by their ample fan base, that Ritual was missed.
With much water under the bridge, and not coincidentally, marking their 20th anniversary, the guys are putting the proverbial band back together, for a very few select dates, next month, starting with local pub, Lola’s.
“When bands break up there are usually a number of personal issues, and now we’re all just happy to be playing music (together) again. This is just something that we love to do.”
Ritual will be live at Lola’s on Saturday, June 7. Tickets for the event are $20.00 and are now on sale at Lola’s Pub and Grub (616 Pitt St. Cornwall Ont.) Tickets are going fast, leaving the possibility for an encore performance.
Here’s what’s is playing in town, this month… On May 17, Winston Marley will be at Lola’s; on May 23, The Social presents The Hometown Series, featuring three talented, local singer/songwriters, Stephanie Coleman, Tracy Lalonde, and Keegan Larose; also on the 23rd, Matt Andersen with Jeremy Fisher will grace the stage at Aultsville Theatre; and on May 24, live at the Port, Persuasion, a tribute to the music of Santana, is sure to have ‘em groovin’.
The third annual Ontario Harmony Explosion Camp (OHEC) is being held, June 6, and once again they are looking for young men between 14 and 22 to join them in a weekend-long singing event. Participants will receive coaching and teaching from the best, in the district and have the opportunity to sing with the Ontario Youth Acapella chorus. The cost is $150 per youth, but C- way Sound Chorus is once again prepared to fully sponsor up to three young or give almost full scholarships to 4 or more young men. For further information visit, http://www.ontariodistrict.com/YIH or contact James Essex-McIntyre at jessexmcintyre@gmail.com.
Here are a couple of CDs that came across my desk this week…
West coast, singer/songwriter, Johnny DeMarco has released, Living Out Our Dreams, a collection of 10 songs, that evoke memories of Bryan Adam, with rock, country and even reggae flavours. Visit www.johnnydemarco.net for more on the artist.
Also, from Orillia, Ontario, Bruce Ley’s Collection One, The Peacock, The Deer, and The Moon, fuses blues/jazz/soft rock/funk sounds that put me in mind of Steely Dan www.bruceley.ca.
If you have local music news or an event, write me at roxannedelage@gmail.com.
