TEXAS SWING FIDDLERS PLAY IN SOUTHERN ALBERTA
A report from ACPA member Doris Daley
March 27 28 2009

A new word has entered the Southern Alberta lexicon that is a combination of rip-roaring, exciting, professional, energetic, exuberant and fabulous, and that word is spelled: Q - U - E - B - E.

The Quebe Sisters Band from Fort Worth, Texas played to sold-out audiences throughout Southern Alberta during a March 20-28 tour, including a dynamo show at the Diamond City community hall near Lethbridge on March 27. Sponsored by the Alberta Cowboy Poetry Association, the Diamond City show came together through the efforts of Bryan and Tina Smith. When I was helping to book a few extra gigs for the QSB, and ran the idea by Perry Jacobsen and Bj, they both said, "Let's go for it."  Bryan and Tina definitely took on the lion's share of the work and did a bang-up job on publicity, tickets and logistics. Bryan and I opened the show with cowboy poetry, and then the Quebes took the crowd by storm with their great Texas swing. It was great to see several old friends, cowboy poets, and fans at Diamond City, and the following night in Cochrane Wendy Vaughan and Ruth Fowler were in the crowd.

"There are several wins in a deal like this", says Bryan. "Our little community hall becomes known as a place for vibrant, top notch entertainment. The ACPA gets great exposure and more people hear cowboy poetry as well as western music. Fans get to visit up-close-and-personal  with the musicians in a way that just isn't possible in larger theatres. And of course the guest group gets another paid gig in their tour. Maybe best of all, new friendships are made with folks who love western entertainment."

Tight harmonies, fast-paced sets, fiery fiddling and incredible stand-up bass and rhythm guitar are the hallmarks of this award-winning Texas-swing group. Sophia and Grace are barely into their 20s, and Hulda is only 18, but their taste in music harkens back to Bob Wills, Spade Cooly, the Mills Brothers, Hank Thompson, Hank Williams, Hoagy Carmichael and other influences from the 30s and 40s. The sisters have been fiddling around for 10 years; each is a Texas state champion. Rhythm guitar player and arranger Joey Mackenzie is himself a three-time world fiddling champion and bass player Drew Phelps comes to the Quebes via stints with Duke Ellington, Nelson Riddle and the Dixie Chicks. I heard many, many folks in the crowd both in Diamond City, and the following night at the Cochrane Folk Club, say things like, "Wow! They are so tight! They have incredible stamina. It is such a treat to see young people playing old music. What pro's!"

The Quebe Sisters Band loved their time in Alberta, and (according to Hulda) the extra bonus was being able to shovel snow and go sledding. "We don't want to do shows all over the world", says Joey.  "We know we play a very esoteric brand of Texas and western music. We loved the Alberta audiences...they seem to get what we're all about. We would love to come back about once a year".  If that's the case, then be sure to watch the ACPA website for details, and make yourself a note that says, "Get Tickets Now" if the Quebes come to your part of the world.