Above: Promotional photo of John Hewitt, submitted by the artist
The popcorn is all swept up and tables and chairs are put away, but my, oh my, what a great concert thanks to John Hewitt (Acoustic guitar, vocals, harmonica); Patrick Hughes (Electric guitar, vocals); and Connor Miskiman on Upright Bass.
Our fourth concert of the season was held March 16, 2024 at Fensala Hall in Markerville with a full house of music lovers enjoying the show. The John Hewitt Trio played several original songs from their albums, and sprinkled in a pinch of John Prine and a dash of stories from life on the road.
And when asked for some audience participation where we chimed in on a tune’s chorus, it turns out Markerville has one of the best group of singers for MILES around! Who knew?
Photos by Byron Nilsson
John Hewitt is a force not seen since the end of the 70’s. There are bands, artists and songwriters that mimic and imitate but John Hewitt absorbs and reimagines. From folk clubs to house concerts, festivals to halls John is a master of storytelling, arranging, producing and a painter of poems scarcely seen in today’s musical climate.
Since his early teens taking in the powerful sounds of the Beatles, Tom Petty, Neil Young, Bob Dylan, Van Morrison and the Grateful Dead he has been wandering, searching and yielding a crop of new ideas from the old world. A multi-instrumentalist from Sault Ste. Marie Ontario and being Alberta bound since 2018 John’s mark on the Western music scene is impossible to go unnoticed. Performing over 150 shows per year (From Alberta and British Columbia to Montana, Colorado, California and beyond), covering 20,000 miles per annum and releasing upwards of 3 albums in that same timeframe there is no comparison to the work ethic, the attitude and the drive that John has as an artist.
Fronting the New Americans and touring solo most of the year his output impresses the young and the old, the folk and the rock, the country and the town and the only thing left at the end of the night is a feeling you won’t get anywhere else.
Sponsored in part by Red Deer County and Alberta Foundation for the Arts!