Lucas Rogerson, musician, recording artist, producer and founding member of the Settlers Creek Band was the focus of the Mapleton Cultural Moment at the Nov. 8 township council meeting.
Economic development coordinator Jaclyn Dingwall, who introduced Rogerson, said his music combines the influences of pop-rock, country and blues.
Rogerson has toured and performed professionally since the age of 12 and has released two recordings to date with Settlers Creek Band and two solo recordings (Streetlights in 2013 and Kaleidoscope in 2014). He is currently in the studio working on a new release.
The eldest son of four and raised on a farm near Fergus, Rogerson took an early interest in music. At an early age, he was singing in church choirs and performing in school plays. After a short venture with piano lessons, he received his first guitar at the age of eight as a Christmas present and quickly took to the instrument.
At 11, he started playing the trombone in his school band while also studying the violin under the tutelage of Canadian Grand Master Fiddle Champion Scott Woods. Under Woods’ wing, Rogerson started touring and performing at festivals, concerts, dances and jamborees throughout Ontario.
During high-school Rogerson started composing and writing songs using the classical and jazz techniques he was studying and a wide array of other influences outside of it.
While on tour with Scott Woods in his mid-teens, Rogerson met Bryce Butcher at a jamboree. They connected over similar interests in traditional country music and started performing as a duo at jamborees.
The two quickly gained a following and decided to form a band. Calling upon high school band mates Sean Bruder and brothers Chris and Greg Eisen, a group was officially formed. In early 2000 the Settlers Creek Band played their first concert which became the primary musical focus for Rogerson for the next 10 years. The band toured relentlessly and expanded from small bars and fairs to being one of the top drawing bands in Ontario and playing at major festivals. In 2011 Settlers Creek Band released its debut album Line in the Dirt, co-produced by Rogerson, beginning the next stage of his life and a defining moment for the artist.
During the production of Line in the Dirt, Rogerson became enamored with the songwriting and record-making process. After its release, he went on to further develop his skills in the studio by producing other artists.
With the release of Streetlights in May of 2013, Rogerson embarked on a tour to promote the record, performing in mid-sized theatres around Ontario.
Written and recorded at his new studio in Drayton with a brand new band, Kaleidoscope was released July 1, 2014.
