Travelling Mabels to play Revelstoke Performing Arts Centre

Revelstoke music fans are in for a treat when Alberta’s Travelling Mabels play the Revelstoke Performing Arts Centre on Thursday, Feb. 23.

Get ready to sit back and enjoy folksy stories told by this veteran trio of vocalists and storytellers.

This spirited country and folk female trio is known for their three-part harmony vocals, which they use to tell engaging stories. The unique beauty of the Mabels is that they represent three generations of women.

The trio is Eva Levesque, known as Mama Mabel, on guitar and vocals; Lana Floen, or Purdy Mabel, on vocals; and Suzanne Levesque, or Baby Mabel, on guitar and vocals. They’re joined by band leader Keith Floen, known as Unstable Mabel, on keyboard and accordion.

They each take turns leading with stories of their own.

In an interview, Lana Floen said Mama Mabel leads the band in their musical storytelling, relating a lifetime of experiences on the road to the audience.

“We just weave in and out of stories that Mama Mabel is good at,” Lana said. “She really connects with the audience and takes them down the path of her life. We have a very diverse sound. We can do anything from Aretha Franklin to Sons of the Pioneers. [The audience is] going to get a wide variety, as well as three full-on vocalists all night.”

This family pairing has opened the door to a dynamic musical energy and rapport with the audiences.

“It’s a wonderful show full of good energy,” Lana said. “They’ll laugh, they’ll cry. It’s really worth seeing. We’ve been getting great reviews everywhere we’re going. The audience really seems to love it. They won’t be disappointed.”

The band has its genesis in the early 1990s, when Eva Levesque formed the Levesque Family Band, which performed together for 14 years. The Mabels formed in 2008.

The Mabels have garnered accolades. They were named the Alberta Country Music Association Group of the Year in 2011. Band leader Keith Floen was nominated for the Canadian Country Music Awards Keyboard Player of the Year award in 2012. They were again nominated for the Alberta Group of the Year in 2016 by the Alberta Country Music Association.

The Mabels draw influence from performers such as Emmy Lou Harris, Dolly Parton, Patsy Cline, early Sheryl Crow and Sweethearts of the Rodeo.

Event details:

Revelstoke Performing Arts Centre at 1007 Vernon Avenue on Thursday, February 23, 7:30 p.m. Tickets: $20 available online through the Revelstoke Arts Council or at the door.