Medicine Hat News

Here comes the Sundrops

- JAMIE RIEGER jrieger@prairiepos­t.com

For those in the Medicine Hat area who haven’t had the chance to see the incredible musical talent of Swift Current's Sundrops perform at one of their previous performanc­es, they will have another opportunit­y when they come back to the Gas City for a 7 p.m. show at Medicine Hat College’s Eresman Theatre tonight.

Each of the quartet of gifted siblings plays a variety of instrument­s and play everything from top 40 hits to old-time country tunes mixed with some gospel and blues, all of which is family friendly.

Hailey, who just turned 16, plays piano, guitar, cello, violin and drums, as well as sings; Darian, 14, plays guitar, piano, violin, drums, sings and also composes songs; Lara, 12, vocals, piano, guitar, bass, viola and cello; and Jesse, 10, piano, violin, guitar, drums and also provides vocals. They also perform orchestral quartet pieces, some of which are their own compositio­ns.

All the kids started playing musical instrument­s at young ages, and Jesse, aged 10, is quickly catching up to his older siblings.

Most of the song-writing is done by Darian, but the whole group has a hand in the process.

“If we have an idea for music, then we work on that, get a rhythm going, an then work on the lyrics,” said Darian.

The Sundrops have played at venues and jamborees across the prairie provinces, as well as two tours to Phoenix, Ariz.

In 2015, they were invited to perform at the Canada Gospel Music celebratio­n in Red Deer and were invited back this past summer. They also performed at a Scandinavi­an Festival in Minot, North Dakota in September.

“There were a lot of people there from all over the place. Even the Doobie Brothers performed there,” said Hailey.

They had played in Medicine Hat in 2014 and 2015, but Hailey says this performanc­e will be different than their previous shows.

“We plan to have some new tunes and we have changed our show a lot,” said Hailey. “It’s all live music and you really have to see it to believe it.”

For further info, check out their website at www.thesundrop­s.com

Tickets, $18 plus service charges and GST, are available online at www.tixx.ca by calling 403-502-8777, and in person at the Esplanade box office or the Medicine Hat Mall customer service desk.

 ?? PRAIRIE POST FILE PHOTO ?? The youngest member of the Sundrops, nine-year-old Jesse, conducts the other members of the group, from left to right, Hailey (14), Darian (13) and Lara (11), during a string performanc­e at the Fort McMurray benefit concert in Swift Current in June 2016.
PRAIRIE POST FILE PHOTO The youngest member of the Sundrops, nine-year-old Jesse, conducts the other members of the group, from left to right, Hailey (14), Darian (13) and Lara (11), during a string performanc­e at the Fort McMurray benefit concert in Swift Current in June 2016.
 ?? SUBMITTED PHOTO ?? Jesse, Lara (holding new CD), Hailey and Darian Folks are a happy family.
SUBMITTED PHOTO Jesse, Lara (holding new CD), Hailey and Darian Folks are a happy family.

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