After nearly two years of not being able to perform, a 琉璃神社 band is ready to debut their new album and a new music video.

Under the Rocks features four 琉璃神社 musicians: Chris Baxter (mandolin, banjo, and vocals), Jordan Klassen (acoustic guitar and vocals), Drew Schulz (standup bass and vocals) and Chloe Davidson (fiddle and vocals). Klassen describes the band as four great friends who make and play music together and live life together.

The quartet released a new album earlier in April 2021, but due to restrictions on performances and indoor gatherings, they weren鈥檛 able to perform it live or even showcase it on a tour like they normally would have in the past.

Now six months later, they finally have a chance to play their new music for a live audience.

鈥淎t the time (of release), there were many restrictions on and we weren鈥檛 able to do a proper show, so we鈥檙e very grateful to be able to showcase this now officially and celebrate the release of the album and have a good time and put on a great performance for everyone,鈥� Baxter said.

Schulz said the long period of not being able to perform or tour had been very difficult for the four of them, but they found solace in knowing that they weren鈥檛 the only group going through it.

鈥淲e live to play live for the most part. That鈥檚 where a lot of the passion is,鈥� he said.

鈥淏ut we really got to spend some time hanging out and creating more music and dialling in with what we do have. So we鈥檙e ready to come out and play these shows at full force.鈥�

The band鈥檚 new music video titled Ocean Falls will feature the eponymous town, which used to be a thriving town on the central coast of B.C. but is now a ghost town after the local pulp mill closed. The song is based on Baxter鈥檚 grandmother鈥檚 experience of growing up in the town.

鈥淲e shot it in May鈥� we decided to go (to Ocean Falls), to shoot the video in the old town, walk the old streets, go in the old buildings that she grew up in,鈥� he said.

With a new album and a concert after a period of hiatus, the band hopes audiences will feel joy when they play their new music.

鈥淵ou can expect it to move you,鈥� Davidson said.

鈥�(The album is) a collection of songs that the four of us wrote and I think have a lot of meaning to us and hopefully, are something you all will connect with as well. I also hope that they get you tapping your toe and feeling good.鈥�

More information on the concert is available through the .

鈥淚t was quite an adventure and we鈥檙e excited to showcase it.鈥�

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twila.amato@blackpress.ca
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