Manitoba's own Stanley County Cut-Ups are coming to Melita next weekend to share their high-energy blue grass music with the southwest corner of the province.
The group is made up of five members, all from Manitoba, each playing different instruments.
Jeremy Hamm plays mandolin (and is also a luthier who builds guitars, mandolins, and other instruments), TJ Blair writes music and play guitar, paramedic by day and performer by night Jeremy Penner is on the fiddle, singer-songwriter Jess Reimer is on bass, and Tim Osmond is on the banjo.
Osmond says the Cut-Ups are a group that come from different places and backgrounds but love the bluegrass music.
"Personally, I've been playing with Jess Reimer and Jeremy Hamm for over 20 years, and it feels really nice to play with them," says Osmond. "The bluegrass music we play is really high energy. Jess is the one who puts the setlist together, and she usually includes a lot of high-energy songs. She likes those!"
Jess Reimer writes many of their songs, but they also perform songs from the Stanley Brothers, which ties into their name. They also sing and play blue grass hits from Bill Monroe, Jim and Jesse McReynolds, and the Virginia Boys.
"We really like that golden age of bluegrass!" says Osmond.
From hard drivin' banjo solos to four-part harmony singing, blues infused mandolin breaks and hair-raising fiddle tunes, this quintet covers all the bluegrass bases.
"Some of the songs Jess has written definitely have stories behind them, and she sometimes shares these stories," says Osmond. "Most of our songs are upbeat, and we usually perform two sets. There will be some waltzes and medium tempo pieces, but overall, we're a high-energy band!"
"I think that's what people like about our music—it makes the time go by really fast and keeps everyone engaged!"
The STANLEY COUNTY CUT-UPS will be performing at the Strand Theatre in Melita, Sunday April 6th at 2:00 pm thanks to the Prairie Vision Arts Council.
Tickets are available at a number of locations in Melita. Please see the poster below for more details.
To hear these fun-loving country musicians before the April 6th concert visit their website and view their videos.