LAC LA BICHE - A 16-year-old Lac La Biche musician prefers to be known by her stage name when she’s talking about her music. Amri was recently on the professional stage, playing as an opening act for the award-winning Canadian folk-country trio The Washboard Union at the Oct. 24 Bold Centre show.
The show drew about 300 fans.
The 16-year-old singer and songwriter not only enjoyed playing in front the audience, but also having the opportunity to listen to the other musicians of the nigh, including another country and, The Prairie States, an Alberta country music group that has won several awards, including the Country Music Alberta Award and 2018 Rising Star.
Prior to this concert, Amri had never before performed as an opening act.
“It was the first time I had ever opened for a band, and it was a great experience,” she told Lakeland This Week.
While she was somewhat nervous performing in front of a hometown crowd, it was a very rewarding feeling for the artist whose soft, but penetrating voice falls in line with many contemporary current pop and rock artists like Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo, Gracie Adams and Zach Bryan.
The Lac La Biche singer described the support she received – on and off the stage that night – as “incredible.”
In addition to being chosen to open for the group, Amri was also able to meet with The Wahboard Union members for a pep talk and feedback.
“They were all very kind and gave me great words of encouragement,” Amri stated.
The Washboard Union, which consists of Chris Duncombe on the banjo, Aaron Grain with lead vocals and acoustic guitar, and David Roberts on washboard and mandolin were not only playing in Lac La Biche for the first time, but the show at the Bold Center was also the band’s first concert of the 19-date ‘Grab the Wheel and Go Tour’ that will see the group play gigs from northern Ontario to Vancouver Island.
Duncombe enjoyed meeting the Lac La Biche singer.
“She was fantastic and has a great voice,” he said. “I am sure we will see her again somewhere down the road.”
The Washboard Union, which is based in British Columbia, is the recipient of nine Canadian Country Music Awards, a Juno Award for Breakthrough Group of the Year, as well as a SOCAN Country Song of the Year award.
Prior to the concert, Amri had listened to The Washboard Union’s songs, but after hearing them live, she has become a bigger fan of the group. During the Oct. 24 show, she also discovered The Prairie States, and has since taken a liking to their music as well.
The young entertainer would like to make more appearances on stage. Opening for The Washboard Union was not only exciting, but it also served as a learning experience for the young musician.
“I hope to play at more shows in the future, depending on when opportunities arise,”
Amri, who has played at different events in the Lac La Biche area, recently released her first single, ‘Valerie’. Since then, she has been working on new music and has another single, ‘Seasons,’ which was performed at the concert and will be released soon.
As for The Washboard Union, following their their ‘Grab The Wheel and Go Tour’ across Canada, they will be heading to Australia to play some gigs Down Under.
Being in Lac La Biche for the first leg of the tour, Duncombe said, was a great experience with the band members feeling very welcome treated with hospitality.
“Lac La Biche made us feel very welcomed for our first time there,” he said, hinting at a return visit. “We wish we had more time to see the town and will have to come back again to do that.”
