
Acres of Dreams
Whether by horse or train, car or plane, the modern history of Alberta was built by immigrants willing to brave the desolation of a prairie winter for the promise of “acres of dreams”.
In this world premiere event, four of the province’s most talented singer-songwriters – Kris Demeanor, James Keelaghan, Wendy McNeill and Edmonton’s poet laureate Cadence Weapon – join forces with Emmy Award-winning arranger Dave Pierce and the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra to craft a powerful tale of immigration in the Canadian West.
One night only!
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Music from Acres of Dreams:
Enjoy these rough mixes of songs by each of the participating singer-songwriters. Please note that the orchestration is electronic - the real orchestra will sound even better!
Kris Demeanor - Deerfoot
"The Blackfoot runner after whom Deerfoot Trail was named exacts revenge from the grave on the colonists who exploited him."
James Keelaghan - Sweet Grass Moon
"I wrote this the first time i moved away from Calgary, to remind me of where i was from."
Wendy McNeill - Owl and Boy
"In this song, a troubled 8 year old boy (one of more than 100,000 British children sent to Canada between 1869 and 1939) gets some good advice and consolation from a new feathered friend."
Wendy McNeill - Strangest Weeds
Cadence Weapon - One Pound One
"One Pound One (Hudson’s Bay) is a timpani-based club anthem based on the legend of John Rowand, a chief trader for the Hudson’s Bay Company and proprietor of Fort Edmonton."
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Acres of Dreams podcast:
Listen to an interview with Acres of Dreams artistic director and musician, Kris Demeanor: