LAC LA BICHE - The 2024 Music in the Forest concert series at Sir Winston Churchill Provincial Park concluded on Thursday, Nov. 14 with an intimate performance by Edmonton-based singer and songwriter Christin Hyshka.
Hyshka, who once opened for American Grammy Award-winning roots and folk musician John Reischman, not only enjoyed his time performing on the stage at the Sir Winston Churchill Provincial Park community facility, but also received some genuinely warm hospitality from locals who came to watch the concert.
Hyshka has played a variety of venues ranging from bars and folk clubs to festivals, and says smaller venues like the one at Sir Winston Churchill Provincial Park are, as he puts it, an “absolute treat” in which to perform.
“Lac La Biche has some really wonderful people,” he told Lakeland This Week. “Everyone was so friendly. It was such an intimate and attentive audience, and it was wonderful getting to know some of the people during the break and discussing music and art in general.”
To date, Hyshka – who is originally from Dauphin, Manitoba – has released two albums, 2021’s debut ‘The First Word’ and the follow up release, ‘Rescue’, earlier this year.
After playing in Lac La Biche, Hyshka’s next gig will be on Dec. 7, when he performs at the Edmonton Christmas Market at Fort Edmonton.
While he loved the experience of playing and socializing with those who who came to his show at Sir Winston Churchill Provincial Park, Hyshka says he wishes that he could have driven from Edmonton to Lac La Biche during the day and had more opportunities to take in the scenic landscapes of the Lac La Biche region.
“I'm positive I missed a beautiful view driving over the bridge to get to Sir Winston Churchill Park,” he said.
As for returning to Lac La Biche to play another gig, Hyshka said this is something he would very much like to do in the near future.
“I'd love to return for a second show if Music in the Park will have me. Edmonton is only a two and a half hour drive away,” he said.
Ready for next year
Fans of Music in the Forest, a series hosted by Alberta Parks, has brought musicians from near and far to Lac La Biche for the past number of years. Next year’s series starts on Thursday, March 20 when Ontario-based blues and roots musician Sean Pinchin kicks off the 2025 season.
In 2014, Pinchin received a Maple Blues Nomination for Best New Artist, and his 2016 album “Monkey Brain” received the Juno Nomination for Best Blues Album of the Year in 2017. Furthermore, Pinchin won the Juno Award for Best Children’s Album for recording guitar for the “Lily Pad Bop” by Splash’N Boots featuring Jill Barber.
Online tickets for the shows are available through the event listing at the Alberta Parks website at www.AlbertaParks.ca/Events
