Barrage (group)

Last updated
Barrage
Barrage Logo.gif
Background information
Origin Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Genres Canadian fiddle, Jazz, World music, Celtic, Bluegrass, Rock music, Pop music, Calypso, Latin, Klezmer, Traditional, Folk
Years active1996 (1996)–2012 [1]
MembersAaron Young

Alicia Enstrom
Allison Granger
Annette Homann
Anthony Moore
Benjamin Gunnery
Bob Fenske
Brian Hanson
Carla Frey
Charles Bullough
Daniel Pentecost
Dean Marshall
Denis Dufresne
Errol Fischer
Hidayat Honari
Jason Graham
Jason Hurwitz
Jessica Hindin
John Crozman
Jonathan McCaslin
Joshua Zubot
Kiana Weber
Kristina Bauch
Leah Zeger
Lynae Oliver
Matt McDonough
Matthew Harney
Miranda Mulholland
Mitchell Grobb
Naseem Khozein
Phil Smyth
Pierre Cotê
Roxanne Leitch
Sarah Bennett
Scott Duncan
Seonaid Aitken
Stefan Defilet
Taylor Morris
Tim Harley
Tom Sidebottom

Tommy Emmerton

Contents


Website barrage.org/index_home.html

Barrage was a violin-based, modern worldbeat ensemble based in Calgary, Alberta. [2] The group employed a blend of eclectic violin music with high-energy physical choreography during their performances. [3] They released several albums, and their filmed concert specials were featured on television networks around the world. [4]

Barrage played a diverse mix of material from a wide variety of genres, including Celtic, swing, bluegrass, jazz, rock, calypso, pop, Canadian fiddle and Latin, as well as contemporary versions of traditional material from countries including China, Ukraine, and India. [5] [6]

The group released a statement via Twitter on May 9, 2012 saying that they were suspending their performance and touring schedule indefinitely, effectively disbanding. [1] In November 2015, the producers of Barrage launched a new project called "Barrage8", a string octet that is loosely based on the original Barrage concept. [7]

History

Barrage began as a musical entertainment concept created in Calgary, Alberta in 1996 by musicians Dean Marshall and John Crozman. Together with Jana Wyber, Brian Hanson, and Anthony Moore, they formed Barrage's executive production and creative team, known as "5 to 1 Entertainments". [8] Dean Marshall served as the group's musical director, composer, and arranger. [9]

Barrage originally consisted of seven violinists, along with a four piece backline made up of bass guitar, acoustic/electric guitar, drum set and percussion. In its early days, Barrage's performances concentrated solely on experimenting and exploring new musical ideas. The group initially gained attention for pushing the violin's musical boundaries in their attempts to change the public's general perception, at the time, of what was considered acceptable music to be played using the instrument. The seven violinists began incorporating choreography and several forms of dance into their shows while playing the violin at the same time, thus creating unique visuals to match the various music styles they were performing. Barrage quickly evolved into a hybrid cross between a theatrical music production and a musical ensemble show. [9] [10]

A second cast of Barrage was created by 5 to 1 Entertainments in 2000 and was based in London, England. For a short time, two entirely different casts of Barrage were simultaneously touring and performing the same show in different parts of the world. The two casts were later amalgamated, reverting to a single, eleven-member Canada-based cast. [9]

In 2006, Barrage added a major educational component to their show format and touring schedule, and frequently worked in American schools with their "Energize Your Strings!" program. [11]

Tours

Barrage embarked on three major concert tours during their existence, namely "A Violin Sings, A Fiddle Dances", "Vagabond Tales", and "High Strung". [12] These tours each spanned several years in length, and collectively played to audiences in 27 countries across Asia, Central America, Europe, North America, and Oceania,. [12] The group also frequently toured regionally in North America and Europe using the self-titled "'Barrage" show name. [13]

Barrage occasionally performed as a semi-permanent resident show at Epcot in Walt Disney World Florida, Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Park in Anaheim, California, and Chime-Long Paradise in Guangzhou, China. [14]

Media

Barrage released five studio albums, one live album, one greatest hits album and two concert DVDs. It was also the subject of a documentary.

In 1998, Barrage released their first album, Live in Europe, which was recorded live at multiple venues during Barrage's tour of Europe that year. [15] Their self-titled album Barrage, released in 2000, was the group's first studio album. Barrage's second studio album Vagabond Tales was released in 2003 in conjunction with the launch of the group's Vagabond Tales tour, containing many of the songs that were featured in the show. [16] In 2008, Barrage released Scrapbook, a greatest hits album containing popular and well known songs from the group's shows and previous recordings. [17] Also in 2008, Barrage's third studio album High Strung was released, containing music performed by Barrage during their High Strung tour. [18] Winter's Tale was released in 2009 containing a collaboration with Danish vocalist Stig Rossen. [19] In 2011, the group released its last studio album titled Soundtrack of the World. [20]

Barrage released two concert DVDs, The World on Stage (1999) and Vagabond Tales (2003), [21] [22] both of which were broadcast as prime-time concert specials on the PBS network in the United States. [23] A documentary titled Dig a Little Deeper, featuring arrangements of two songs, "Still Falling (For You')" and "Love Is Calling", written by Canadian composer Kevin Hataley, was broadcast in Canada on CBC in 2005. [24] "Still Falling (For You)" was released as a single video produced by Pyramid Productions in 2006.

Cast

Barrage included many different musicians throughout its history, all of whom were selected through worldwide auditions. The musicians came from a variety of musical backgrounds, and many countries--Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, New Zealand, and the United States, and included violinists Miranda Mulholland, Mitchell Grobb, Kiana Weber and drummer Matt McDonough. [25]

Discography

Filmography

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ABBA</span> Swedish pop group

ABBA are a Swedish pop supergroup formed in Stockholm in 1972 by Agnetha Fältskog, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, and Anni-Frid Lyngstad. The group's name is an acronym of the first letters of their first names arranged as a palindrome. They are one of the most popular and successful musical groups of all time, and are one of the best-selling music acts in the history of popular music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arrested Development (group)</span> American alternative hip hop group

Arrested Development is an American hip hop group, that was formed in Atlanta in 1988. It was founded by Speech and Headliner as a positive, Afrocentric alternative to the gangsta rap popular in the late 1980s. Baba Oje and frontman Speech met at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee when they were both students.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Subway to Sally</span> German folk metal band

Subway to Sally is a German folk metal band founded in Potsdam in the early 1990s. Their music has clear folk and medieval influences, later also adding gothic and metal elements. With their continuous inclusion of oriental sounds and elements of classical music and the use of instruments seldom seen in metal bands such as bagpipes, shawm, violin, hurdy-gurdy and lute, Subway to Sally has acquired the label of medieval metal. The band has released 12 studio albums, two live albums, and two live DVDs. Their fame is centered mainly in the German-speaking countries, having played only a handful of concerts outside of that area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Ball</span> English singer, presenter and actor (born 1962)

Michael Ashley Ball is an English singer, presenter and actor. In 1985, he made his West End debut as Marius Pontmercy in the original production of Les Misérables. In 1989, he reached number two in the UK Singles Chart with "Love Changes Everything", from the musical Aspects of Love, where he played Alex Dillingham. He played the role in the West End and on Broadway. His album Coming Home To You reached number one in the UK making it his 4th number one album to date. On 24 April 2020, Ball and Captain Tom Moore entered the UK Singles Chart at number one with a cover of "You'll Never Walk Alone", with combined chart sales of 82,000 making it the fastest-selling single of 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Haggard (band)</span> German symphonic metal band

Haggard is a German symphonic metal band founded in 1989. The group combines classical music and early music with death doom metal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">D-A-D (band)</span> Danish rock band

D-A-D is a Danish rock band. They were originally named Disneyland After Dark, but changed their name to avoid a lawsuit from The Walt Disney Company.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Caravan (band)</span> English band from the Canterbury area

Caravan are an English rock band from the Canterbury area, founded by former Wilde Flowers members David Sinclair, Richard Sinclair, Pye Hastings, and Richard Coughlan in 1968. The band have never achieved the great commercial success that was widely predicted for them at the beginning of their career, but are nevertheless considered a key part of the Canterbury scene of progressive rock acts, blending psychedelic rock, jazz, and classical influences to create a distinctive sound.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hammersmith Apollo</span> Live entertainment venue in Hammersmith, London

The Hammersmith Apollo, currently called the Eventim Apollo for sponsorship reasons, and formerly known as the Hammersmith Odeon, is a live entertainment performance venue, originally built as a cinema called the Gaumont Palace. Located in Hammersmith, London, it is an art deco Grade II* listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tony Sheridan</span> British musician (1940–2013)

Anthony Esmond Sheridan McGinnity, known professionally as Tony Sheridan, was an English rock and roll guitarist who spent much of his adult life in Germany. He was best known as an early collaborator of the Beatles, one of two non-Beatles to receive label performance credit on a record with the group, and the only non-Beatle to appear as lead singer on a Beatles recording which charted as a single.

<i>Best: Second Session</i> 2006 greatest hits album by Koda Kumi

Best: Second Session is the second greatest hits album released by Japanese pop-R&B singer Koda Kumi. It was released in March 2006 and contained all of her singles used in her 12 Singles Collection. It charted at number 1 on the Oricon charts, making it her second album to reach the spot, and stayed on the charts for 78 weeks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tomas Ledin</span> Swedish singer, songwriter, musician, and record producer

Tomas Folke Jonas Ledin is a Swedish singer, songwriter, musician, and record producer. He grew up in the town of Sandviken, Sweden and has sold 3 million records.

Celtic Thunder is an Irish singing group and stage show known for its eclectic, theatrical style show. The group is backed by the Celtic Thunder Band on their concert tours, and their live shows are known for the use of dramatic set pieces, visual effects, and highly choreographed staging.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yamaha Entertainment Group</span>

Yamaha Entertainment Group of America, is a division of the American subsidiary of Yamaha Corporation. It is based in Franklin, Tennessee and was created and developed in 2001 by Vice President Chris Gero. YEG is responsible for the development and advancement of Yamaha brand name through numerous artist-related activities worldwide, which includes endorsements, artist imaging, artist marketing, concert production, media operations, piano logistics, tour support, product placement, artist related publications, artist website development and strategic alliances.

<i>U2360° at the Rose Bowl</i> 2010 concert video by U2

U2360° at the Rose Bowl is a 2010 concert film by Irish rock band U2. It was shot on 25 October 2009 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, during the band's U2 360° Tour. The Rose Bowl concert featured a sold-out crowd of 97,014 people, breaking the US record for single concert attendance for one headline act. It was live streamed over the Internet via YouTube, and was later released on DVD and Blu-ray on 3 June 2010 in the United States, 7 June in the United Kingdom, and 8 June in Canada. It received generally positive reviews from critics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Gero</span>

Chris Gero is a Grammy nominated American music industry executive, concert producer, record producer, songwriter, film director and composer, founder of the Yamaha Entertainment Group of America, and Chief Artist Relations Executive for Yamaha Artist Relations Group. He is responsible for the management and branding of Yamaha's global roster, having signed more than 3,600 artists to contract to date. Gero oversees Yamaha's artist collaborations, including Elton John, Alicia Keys, Paul McCartney, Norah Jones, Josh Groban, Sarah McLachlan, Sheryl Crow, John Legend, and Ben Folds.

<i>MDNA World Tour</i> (album) 2013 live album by Madonna

MDNA World Tour is the fourth live album by American singer and songwriter Madonna. It was released on September 6, 2013, by Interscope Records as a full concert on all formats including a double-disc CD, DVD, and Blu-ray. Madonna had embarked on the MDNA Tour for promotion of her twelfth studio album MDNA. The tour was a commercial success although it courted a number of controversies. The performances at the American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida during the North American leg of the MDNA Tour were documented for video release. The recording was directed by Danny B. Tull and Stephane Sennour who included footage from other shows of the tour.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mitchell Grobb</span> Musical artist

Mitchell Grobb is a Canadian violinist and multi-instrumentalist.

<i>Hecho en España</i> (video) 2007 live album by RBD

Hecho en España is the fifth material release by Mexican pop group RBD, released on October 1, 2007 in Mexico and on October 2, 2007 in Spain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barry Wickens</span> Musical artist

Barry Wickens is a British musician, multi-instrumentalist and composer. Primarily a violinist and guitarist, he also plays mandolin, viola, Appalachian dulcimer (psaltery), dobro and keyboards. He is best known for being one of the longest-serving members of Steve Harley's rock group Cockney Rebel, and for being a former member of the pop group Immaculate Fools. He is also a violin teacher for Brighton & Hove Music & Arts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christian Hebel</span> Musical artist

Christian Hebel is an American violinist, songwriter, arranger and concertmaster. He has appeared on multi-Platinum, Gold, Emmy Award, Academy Awards, Tony Award, and Grammy Award winning recordings as well as film scores and Broadway theatre.

References

  1. 1 2 "Barrage (@BarrageMusic) | Twitter". twitter.com. Retrieved 2015-11-24.
  2. ↑ Demalon, Tom. "Barrage | Biography & History | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 2015-11-24.
  3. ↑ "A Barrage of music and dance: Canadian performance troupe brings 'Soundtrack of the World' to Maryville". The Daily Times. Retrieved 2015-11-24.
  4. ↑ "About the show". Archived from the original on 2015-11-10. Retrieved 2015-12-16.
  5. ↑ Martinez, Sergio (2011-07-16). "Fiddle Barrage: Is That An Orchestra?". socal.com. Archived from the original on July 16, 2011. Retrieved 2015-11-24.
  6. ↑ Belanger, Joe (2011-12-06). "String fling | Music | Entertainment | London Free Press". The London Free Press. Lfpress.com. Archived from the original on May 2, 2014. Retrieved 2012-01-08.
  7. ↑ "barrage8". barrage8. Retrieved 2015-11-24.
  8. ↑ Design and Production: Steve Nowlon. "Barrage - Back Stage - The Creators". Barrage.ca. Archived from the original on 2011-08-26. Retrieved 2012-01-08.
  9. 1 2 3 "Barrage Is a Force for Fiddling". www.allthingsstrings.com. Archived from the original on November 4, 2011. Retrieved 2015-11-24.
  10. ↑ Design and Production: Steve Nowlon. "Barrage - Official Home". Barrage.ca. Archived from the original on March 30, 2001. Retrieved 2012-01-08.
  11. ↑ Design and Production: Steve Nowlon (2010-09-20). "Barrage - Educational". Barrage.ca. Archived from the original on 2011-08-12. Retrieved 2012-01-08.
  12. 1 2 JOE BELANGER, The London Free Press (2011-12-06). "String fling | Music | Entertainment | London Free Press". Lfpress.com. Archived from the original on May 2, 2014. Retrieved 2012-01-08.
  13. ↑ "Barrage Tour Dates – Barrage Concert Dates and Tickets". Songkick. Retrieved 2012-01-08.
  14. ↑ Kaz Liput and John Frost. "Barrage at Disneyland". Laughingplace.com. Retrieved 2015-12-16.
  15. ↑ "Barrage – Live In Europe". discogs.com. Discogs. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  16. ↑ "Vagabond Tales - Barrage". AllMusic. Retrieved 2015-11-24.
  17. ↑ "Barrage (4) - Scrapbook". Discogs. Retrieved 2015-11-24.
  18. ↑ "Barrage – High Strung". discogs.com. Discogs. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  19. ↑ "Stig Rossens uofficielle fanside - Årets Julekoncert med Stig Rossen i Portalen". www.olinerne.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 2015-11-24.
  20. ↑ "Barrage Unleashes 'Soundtrack of the World'". CasperJournal.com. Retrieved 2015-11-24.[ permanent dead link ]
  21. ↑ "Music in Motion: Barrage: The World On Stage DVD". www.musicmotion.com. Archived from the original on August 2, 2014. Retrieved 2015-11-24.
  22. ↑ "Music in Motion: BARRAGE: Vagabond Tales DVD". www.musicmotion.com. Retrieved 2015-11-24.
  23. ↑ The New York Times Movies
  24. ↑ "CBC.ca - Program Guide - Programs". www.cbc.ca. Retrieved 2015-11-24.
  25. ↑ Lisa L. LaCamera. "International Sensation Barrage Electrifies the Stage with a Visual and Aural Extravaganza". My Wolf Trap. Retrieved 2012-03-13.[ permanent dead link ]
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.