Rock and blues act Devon Coyote is at it again, playing not one but four upcoming shows in Jasper.
鈥淟ast time we played in Jasper we did three shows in a row and it was so much fun that we decided to add on an extra night this time around,鈥� front man Devon Bjarnason said. 鈥淲e saw different people come out every night so we were really excited to come back.鈥� 聽
After releasing their third album鈥�The Wind鈥攊n 2015, the trio from British Columbia decided to take it easy, but after about a year, Bjarnason said the band was itching to get back on the road. They plan to spend the next few months touring Canada鈥檚 west.
鈥淲e toured all of Canada right after we finished the last album, so after that we decided to take a breather from the road, but we鈥檝e been writing a lot and we鈥檙e already working on our new album,鈥� Bjarnason said.
鈥淲e鈥檝e already got a few songs recorded, but there鈥檚 a lot more work that has to be done.鈥�
While The Wind embraces a heavier guitar and blues sound, Bjarnason said he hopes the next album will revisit the band鈥檚 original bluegrass vibe.
鈥淭he last album was very guitar-heavy so this time we want to step back and strip that sound down,鈥� said the front man. 鈥淚t鈥檚 going to be a lot of fun, but it鈥檚 definitely going to be more acoustic-based.鈥�
As excited as the band is to get back to its roots, Bjarnason added that the group is in no rush to put out its next album.
鈥淓very album we鈥檝e ever done has been on a timeline, but this time we鈥檝e decided that we don鈥檛 want to rush anything,鈥� Bjarnason said. 鈥淲e want to make sure we鈥檙e happy with every track.
鈥淚t could be out as early as the spring or it could be out some time in 2018鈥攚e just don鈥檛 know how it鈥檚 going to go yet.鈥� 聽
While the band is accustomed to performing in front of large crowds, sharing the stage with the likes of Blue Rodeo, Said the Whale and Dan Mangan, Bjarnason said the trio still loves playing smaller venues. 聽
All four of the band鈥檚 back-to-back Jasper shows will take place at the Whistle Stop Pub, from Oct. 23 until Oct. 26.
鈥淛ust the way the room is set up makes this a very intimate show so we鈥檒l tell stories and talk a little with the crowd. We鈥檒l also do a variety of genres from rock to acoustic bass stuff,鈥� Bjarnason said. 鈥淏ecause it鈥檚 such a small room we鈥檒l tone down the show quite a bit and then kick it up by the end of the night when everyone wants to party.鈥�
Each show starts at 9 p.m. and admission is free. 聽
鈥淲e鈥檙e three great friends who are just happy to be coming back to Jasper to share our music鈥攚e love that town,鈥� Bjarnason said. 鈥淲e鈥檝e never had a dead show in Jasper and we hope to see that continue.鈥� 聽
Kayla Byrne [email protected]
