Canadian folk icons Pharis and Jason Romero love heading out on the road in Autumn. “It’s our favourite time of year to tour,” says Pharis, “because it’s so gorgeous.” October will see them perform two BC shows, and just one Alberta stop: Banff.
This tour is pure Pharis and Jason. “We’re playing as a duo on this tour. And that’s how we started: playing with just the two of us. We love playing with a band, but the intimacy of the two of us on stage is unique and special. We can work on new material, and perform songs that haven’t been recorded before. We dive back into our old catalogue, too.”
The duo’s first album, a collection of old time fiddle tunes, came out in 2009. Since then, they’ve put out an album every two years. That’s a big accomplishment, considering the Romeros have also been raising two children together, and growing a lot of their own food at their home in Horsefly, BC. Oh, and they also run a successful instrument-making business. There’s currently a six-year wait for a banjo created just for you by Jason and Pharis.
Achieving longevity in the music career is not easy, but Pharis speaks openly about the blend of luck and hard work that has led to success. “We’ve been incredibly fortunate. We work our butts off, but we don’t do album tours. We work to put out music that has integrity and a sense of ‘us’ in it. And I think that has been reflected in folks coming out to shows. It’s been amazing to be part of that.”
And, she adds, “We get inspired by the music we listen to. There’s always music in our house. I’m inspired by nature, and by hearing a ton of other artists. Jason is inspired to create different music—and different instruments. Music is all around us.”
When we remind Pharis that October is an important fundraising month for CKUA, she instantly becomes even more animated in conversation. “Oh man!” she laughs. “CKUA is a unique gem in the world of media, and not just radio. It’s listener supported, but also community backed. CKUA sees the importance of locally created music, and the local community. CKUA has hosts who have impeccable contacts and wonderful taste in music. The diversity of how and where people are creating music gives us a full landscape. It’s part of our artistic culture.”
Thank you for your kind words about CKUA, Pharis!
Pharis and Jaron Romero play live at Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity on Friday, October 4. Find tickets at https://www.banffcentre.ca/events/pharis-jason-romero-live-maclab
