The Big City All Star Band will again take the stage at this year’s Niverville Olde Tyme Country Fair. The band will anchor the mainstage on the fair’s opening night, Friday, June 10.
The Big City All Stars are just that: “a band comprised of the most talented performers in the city [Winnipeg],” declares Niverville native and bandleader Carlin Lemon. “The band was formed in 2013, and began with a core group of musicians discussing new concepts, deciding which singers we would most like performing with us.”
For large gigs, the band sometimes expands to as many 14 members. Lemon says that managing a group so large can produce some management challenges.
“Everyone is unique and brings their own flavor to the stage,” he says. “My challenge is always to identify the strengths and weaknesses of each individual performer and then give them the material and put them into a position that suits them best.”
Given the caliber and schedules of the talent he works with, Lemon says it is inevitable that performers will occasionally need to sub out. “Many of our musicians and singers also perform with other high-profile acts… When schedules conflict, I’ll replace that band member with another that plays with us regularly. Musicians may be chosen to play a gig based on the style of music we are required to play at an event, or because of client preferences, or just for the variety of changing things up a bit for audiences that have seen us perform multiple times!”
When the largest version of the band gets together, as it does for the Niverville Fair, it’s not always possible for a full rehearsal. When this happens, Lemon runs separate rehearsals, often in different locations—which can be quite a process.
“I will prep the lyrics and send out a set list with all the music charts a week or two in advance of the show,” Lemon says. “Everyone is always very professional in showing up prepared, which allows us to move through a larger number of songs very quickly, sometimes 40 to 50 songs in as little as two hours.”
And yes, this means that often when you hear a song on stage, it’s the first time it’s been performed by the whole band together in one place.
“We love performing at the fair and hope to get everyone dancing this year!” Lemon adds.
With almost 1,300 songs in their repertoire, The Big City All Stars certainly have the bases covered.
