Lizzy Hoyt – Picture On My Heart from JayCin Creative Cinema on Vimeo.
By Étienne Thevou
Morinville – The Morinville Community Cultural Centre’s Centennial Concert Series opens next Friday evening with a performance from Edmonton-based singer, songwriter and fiddler Lizzy Hoyt. Those unfamiliar with the entertainer’s performance can expect far more than a fiddle show.
“In terms of a live show, it is certainly an energetic performance,” Hoyt told MorinvilleNews.com. “I try to sort of have a mixture in my show. I don’t just play fiddle tunes the whole time. I try to have a mixture between some instrumental numbers and vocal numbers.”
The performer said she mixes in some songs that people will recognize, some traditional Irish music along with songs she has written and a bit of step dancing.
Hoyt, the daughter of well-known Edmonton musicians David Hoyt and Janet Scott Hoyt, has been performing her own shows since 2007, but began many years earlier at the age of 15 as a side musician playing the fiddle for other performers. Several years ago, a musician friend of Hoyt encouraged her to release a CD of her music. When completed, Hoyt held a CD release concert and began booking shows.
“It just sort of developed from there,” she said. “I discovered I was much more interested in doing my own show than doing side work. So it was sort of a gradual transition.”
Performing her own shows for a few years now, Hoyt said what she takes away from a performance is ensuring the audience has a good time. “I do work very hard to entertain the audience,” she said. “I want them to have a good time. I want them to enjoy their evening.”
On a personal level the singer and fiddler said it really comes down to the music. “It is about the music. I’ve spent many, many years learning to do what I do, and I want to deliver a high-quality musical performance almost more so than being entertaining. It’s communicating through music. I want to share the music with an audience that moves me, and I want to be able to move the audience.”
Helping Hoyt move Morinville audiences in her Centennial Concert Series stop will be musicians Keith Rempel on bass, Robin Pelletier on guitar, Jeremiah McDade on whistle and Becky Moonen providing harmonies and harmonica accompaniment.
The Lizzy Hoyt concert takes place Sept. 30 at 7:30 p.m. at the Morinville Community Cultural Centre. Tickets are $25 for adults, $20 for students and seniors. Tickets are available at the Community Cultural Centre box office or at www.tixonthesquare.ca. For more info, call 780-420-1757.
