A night of music and comedy, adventure stories and songs, and wine and cheese is coming to Plamondon, and it’ s thanks to a visit from renowned outdoorsman Russell Thornberry.
A night of music and comedy, adventure stories and songs, and wine and cheese is coming to Plamondon, and it’ s thanks to a visit from renowned outdoorsman Russell Thornberry.
Thornberry is a famous former big game guide and outfitter, fisherman, and editor in chief of Buckmasters Whitetail Magazine and will be at the Plamondon Festival Centre on Oct. 20. He is also a singer/songwriter and humourist. He will be bringing his musical talents to the area for the event that was organized by Plamondon-born musician Crystal Plamondon.
Plamondon is also a singer and songwriter and has most recently produced music for television, including seven songs for the show Heartland on CBC. She recently moved back to her hometown and hopes to start a new tradition of bringing a show or two - like the one planned for the 20th - to the centre each year.
“I want to start slow and then maybe grow to doing something twice a year,” she said, adding she’ d like to keep it at the festival centre as theatre shows are her favourite. “I love theatre shows. You’ ve got the audience right there, it’ s like they’ re in your living room.”
Plamondon thinks Thornberry will be a good fit for the community with his country and folk-styled music and his experiences offstage as well.
“I thought asking Russell to come would be a great idea because it’ s something different, and because it’ s a big hunting and music community, what’ s better than having a big game hunter playing?” she said.
Despite originally being from Corpus Christi, Texas, Thornberry has many ties to the area due to his love of fishing, hunting and just generally being outdoors. On one local excursion, he was caught in a blizzard and forced to take shelter while on his first moose hunt northwest of Wandering River.
“He used to guide years ago in the back 40 of Owl River and Wandering River,” said Plamondon. “If you can imagine, what a small world.”
It’ s stories like the one in Wandering River that eventually got Thornberry started on a writing career, chronicling his adventures in the wilderness. Eventually he would go on to become Editor-in-Chief of Buckmasters Whitetail Magazine, the largest deer-hunting magazine in North America.
His writing career with the magazine as well as his eight published books means residents can expect to hear some great stories during the night, many of which Plamondon expects will be funny. And resident will be able to hear more than just what’ s said on stage.
“Russell will be performing during the first set of the show, after which there will be an intermission and meet and greet with him,” said Plamondon. “Then his daughter and son-in-law will be playing the second set of the show. They play more in a folk-pop style.”
Despite her musical career, Plamondon has decided to take a backseat during the event, however she said Thornberry has asked her to perform one song with them.
The show starts at 7 p.m. this Friday at the Plamondon Festival Centre and admission to the show is only $20. Plamondon said there is room available for 175 people. To book your tickets ahead of time, call either (403) 827-1902 or (780) 623-1422.
