CENTRE WELLINGTON – The Fergus Grand Theatre’s 2021-22 presenting series draws to a close with harmonica virtuoso Mike Stevens on May 15 at 2pm.
Mike Stevens created a place for the harmonica in Bluegrass with his explosive and expressive playing. In 1988, while appearing at a Bluegrass festival in Georgia, Stevens met Bluegrass legends Jim and Jesse and the Virginia Boys.
After they heard Stevens perform, the guys invited him to play their show. Stevens has now performed more than 300 times on the Grand Ole Opry stage and can count Roy Acuff – The king of Country Music – as one of his biggest fans.
Stevens lives in Sarnia and is the founder of Artscan Circle, a non-profit organization that builds relationships with Northern Communities across Canada and Alaska, using the arts as a tool for self-expression and joy.
“Mike is a great musician, and an even better humanitarian,” said Fergus Grand Theatre coordinator Eric Goudie.
“You will love his music, of course, but he also has a powerful story to tell. When I heard Mike talk about the simple, powerful way he began reaching out to at-risk youth, with nothing more than box of harmonicas and a hello, I knew that we had to bring him to our FGT stage.”
Organizers say Mike Stevens concert is a highly-original multi-genre explosion of ideas with a socially conscious message. Stevens incorporates his diverse influences and experiences, combining cutting edge looping methods with mouth percussion to create otherworldly sound paintings, states a press release from the theatre. The harmonica is a musical paintbrush with no limits, and each performance is a genre bending explosion of ideas, officials state.
Future shows at the theatre for the 2022-23 season will be announced at the Stevens’ performance, coinciding with the launch of ticket sales for coming lineups.
The coming year promises to be one of big names, exciting shows, and unforgettable experiences, as the theatre continues rebuilding and revitalizing the performing arts in Centre Wellington.
Tickets for Mike Stevens are $35 each, and available at the box office, by phone (519-787-1981), or by visiting: fergusgrandtheatre.ca.
