The Fugitives present Ridge, a visceral music storytelling show centred around the Battle of Vimy Ridge that probes difficult, yet necessary, questions about how and why we grieve.
Often called “the battle that made Canada”, Vimy Ridge resulted in over 10,000 Canadian casualties. In Ridge, Brendan McLeod and The Fugitives examine misconceptions and varying perspectives around the battle, while drawing parallels to other formative events in our nation’s past.
The Fugitives perform their JUNO nominated 5th album Trench Songs to accompany the WWI storytelling and thought-provoking narrative McLeod provides. Based on the writing by WWI soldiers, the band wrote new melodies and music for these words. The result is a poignant and stripped-back collection of work that emphasizes the emotional content of the lyrics and continues the long tradition of folk music reshaping songs over time — the same way soldiers reshaped these songs in the trenches.
The Fugitives are an acoustic folk-roots group headed by songwriters Adrian Glynn and Brendan McLeod. They’re joined by banjo player Tim Loten (Red Fox Band) and violinist Carly Frey (The Coal Porters). Over their seven albums, they’ve amassed a JUNO nomination, six CFMA nominations, and toured extensively through Canada, Europe, and the UK.
A vivid, kinetic ride through history, as well as an intimate, personal examination of our connection to the past, Ridge is a visceral work that passionately argues against the exploitation of young lives.
