Up-and-coming The Road Heavy headline fundraiser to raise a “barn”

February 5, 2016 · 0 Comments

With their sights set on raising a pole barn at Fiddle Park, Heather and Greg Holmes of Holmes Appliances came up with Pickin’ in the Park which began with approximately 85 performers in 2014.

In 2015, this weekend-long open mic, old time jamboree weekend long event saw over 100 performers take the stage. Currently, this event is being held on the Town of Shelburne’s portable stage with a very large tent covering a small area in front of the stage for dancing and spectators.

With an estimated cost of $130,000 to erect a structure at Fiddle Park, and an additional $75,000 still needed, the Shelburne Kinsman are contributing by holding a fundraising dance with hopes of seeing this dream become a reality.

That being said, the local Kinsman are proud to present three bands at the Shelburne Legion on Saturday, March 26.

Blackdog Ballroom are a Rock and Roll band whose sound is an electric mix of influences ranging from Pop to Punk, Mod to Motown, which has cultivated a distinct blend that is their unique sound.

Visual Negative, a fairly new band, will also be on hand performing covers of their favourite bands, such as AC/DC, The Muse, and The Headstones, to name just a few.

Headlining the event are The Road Heavy. Being together just over two years, the band has grown quite a long list of accomplishments.

This five member band consists of Pat James, Jules Cardoso, Ryan Blake, Andre DaSilva and Jeff Cox.

After coming together as a band after a series of random meetings through someone who knew someone, this band, after just one year of performing, won Local and Loud, a radio contest hosted by Barrie’s Rock 95, last April.

Since winning, the band has just completed a whirlwind of recording and touring with the likes of The Headstones, Jeff Martin of the Tea Party, Scott Weiland of Stone Temple Pilots, who recently passed away, as well as toured with Gilby Clark, guitarist of Guns and Roses.

They also recently won Favorite Single for their song Your Place or Mine as well as Favorite Up and Coming Band at the Canadian Beats Awards.

James and Blake of the band describe their sound as Southern Rock Blues type music and state that each member of the band brings their own unique influence and contributions, which helps with the creative process of writing their songs. James and Cardoso are both lead singers, and James is also the main songwriter for the band.

When asked what he does to come up with lyrics for songs, Blake quickly chimed in.

“Go for a ride with him in his car,” he said, to which James elaborated he “hops in his car and records melodies and lyrics that just come to him while driving.”

As for what they are doing now, James and Blake told the Shelburne Free Press they are brainstorming their path forward.

“After being so busy, we are currently taking some time off to plan for the future, record, and there are talks of a future tour,” they said.

Reviews of The Road Heavy say this band is what you get when you put miles and miles on the road, city after city, show after show and a “do it you own way” kind of attitude. While others state they play heavy and loud with a gritty and alluring sound with raw electric power.

This event is being held at the Shelburne Legion, Saturday March 26th, with doors opening at 8 pm.

There are limited tickets available so don’t wait to get yours or it could be too late.

Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at Tattoo Addiction, Holmes Appliances and from any of your local Kinsmen for only $15 and included a light buffet.

To see more of The Road Heavy go to their website www.hteroadheavy.com .

It takes a community to raise a barn. Let’s come together as a small town and make that happen.

By Michelle Janzen