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EPK
Sticks and Stone is a percussion trio from Edmonton, Canada centered on a marimba-band concept. They perform upbeat, feel-good music with groove including pop, rock, jazz, classical, video-game, Disney and world music. They share joyful music-making with a touch of humour, while playing on the "grand-piano of xylophones".
Sticks and Stone, founded by Stephen Stone, grew out of series of percussion ensemble experiments through time at the University of Alberta, Grant MacEwan, freelance performances and busking. The concept morphed into a regular band in April 2017 when Stephen was asked to play for the Ford World Curling Championship, the Edmonton Motor Show and the Festival City Winds Ragtime and Riffs concert. At that time, the group consolidated other regular members, Jayden Beaudoin, Dale Osbaldeston and Tristan Lahue. Jayden and Stephen had known each other through summer work with the Band of the Ceremonial Guard in Ottawa as early as 2009. Dale, Tristan and Stephen had performed together regularly while studying at Grant MacEwan University from 2014 to 2016.
Since that time, Sticks and Stone has performed at markets, schools, festivals, corporate events, community events and even birthday parties. Notable performances include the City of Edmonton New Year's Eve in the Winspear, the CBC Turkey-Drive wrap-party as the house-band, the Epcor Christmas Gala, the ATB/Telus Barbeque, the North Country Fair, the 60th anniversary of the Italian Centre Shop in Edmonton and Calgary, the Kaleido Festival, the Edmonton Fringe Festival, the Northern Alberta International Children's Festival and feature performances at Arden and MacLab Theatres.
When Covid became a concern in Canada in March 2020, Sticks and Stone kicked off livestreaming at the renowned Starlite Room in Edmonton, being the first group to host a stream there since the initial shutdown. At this time of writing, this is the furthest-reaching livestream from that venue on social media. The group then went on to pull off 30 Physically Distanced Community Concerts in communities across the Edmonton area through the summer.
Sticks and Stone released its debut album, "Marimba Around the World" on September 12th, 2020, which blends folk music of 15 nations with pop, rock and jazz. Beyond exciting performances and multiple music-video and creative projects, the group is working towards its second album "High Information Music for Children" .
CBC Radio Active Interview, with Adrienne Pan 11 Sept 2020
02 TsumaileRomani Traditional
00:00 / 02:58
09 Ey Yare JaniPersian Traditional
00:00 / 03:48
"Your performances at the city market this morning were awesome! As an international music examiner, I loved hearing you. My house guest is a fantastic percussionist from Indonesia and he was also very impressed. You play with such skill, enthusiasm and musical integrity. Wow!"
Dr John Hooper
"Sticks and Stone are an engaging percussion ensemble of talented musicians with a wide-range of repertoire suitable for most any occasion or audience from kids to adults. If you get the chance, do yourself a favour and check them out!"
Kent Sutherland, Edmonton Speech and Arts Festival
Rider (simple version)
Media
Starlite Artist of the Day Q&A
Edmonton Community Connections (article 3)
Short Bio #1 (58 Words)
Sticks and Stone is a marimba-band which has been bringing music to the streets, concert halls and celebration events of the Edmonton area since 2017. Through the rosewood warmth of the marimba, they share a joyful experience with audiences, frequently including humorous antics. They perform a little of every style of music, including world-folk, rock, jazz and Disney.
Short Bio #2 (152 Words)
Sticks and Stone is a percussion trio based on marimba-band concept which has been bringing music to the streets, concert halls, schools, birthday parties and celebration events of the Edmonton area since 2017. They play a little bit of every style of music and performances have included playing for the CBC Turkey Drive, the Edmonton Fringe Festival, the Epcor Christmas Gala, the North Country Fair, Taste of Edmonton and the City of Edmonton New Year’s Eve in the Winspear. Their 2020 debut album “Marimba Around the World” mixed folk music from 15 countries with pop, rock and jazz. They have played for audiences from ages 2 to 95 and might equally present as punk or polite. They most widely connect with audiences by playing covers of music they might recognize, including Disney and video-game. Through the rosewood warmth of the marimba, they share a joyful experience with audiences, frequently including humorous antics.
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