Shari Ulrich bringing show to Phoenix
If you’ve lived on Gabriola Island for any portion of the past 15 years, you’ve likely been to the Phoenix Auditorium at The Haven and heard Shari Ulrich. Maybe it was with BTU with Barney Bentall and Tom Taylor; maybe it was on fiddle with Barney in the High Bar Gang; maybe it was with the wacky Pied Pumkin; or maybe it was the first time her daughter Julia accompanied her in concert on violin when she was just a shy 12-year-old.
But her trio with Julia and Julia’s McGill classmate and Nanaimo resident, Ted Littlemore, is Shari at her best.
Now 22 and a McGill graduate, Julia has become an integral part of the show adding accordion, mandolin, guitar, piano and vocals as well. This is their second summer touring as a trio.
“The best band I’ve ever had!” remarked Shari. “The three-part harmonies are heaven, and they’re simply a delight on and off stage. I can’t believe how lucky I am to work with them!”
Ted and Julia were in piano class together on Bowen Island when they were just five years old, but “Teddy” soon moved to Nanaimo and they lost touch until a chance meeting with the family in a Nanaimo mall when Ted was en route to McGill.
Ted’s trio with his brothers opened for Shari and Julia in Parksville in 2010 and the idea was hatched to invite Ted to bring his remarkable piano skills and beautiful voice to the trio.
He easily added accordion to his tool box and the trio has been performing non-stop whenever they’re not in school.
Shari’s long and colourful career has produced 19 albums altogether, including a dozen with other trios and groups (including those above and Ulrich Henderson Forbes and The Hometown Band), and lead her to work in theatre and television. She’s won two Juno awards and is a member of the BC Entertainment Hall of Fame. Her most recent is “Find Our Way” and contains some of her favourite compositions. Come to the Phoenix Auditorium at The Haven on Friday, June 29 at 8 p.m. (doors 7:30) to hear this iconic Canadian artist.
Tickets are only $20 if you purchase them in advance at Artworks and $25 at the door.