The Small Glories came together by accident鈥攁 happy accident that is.
The Winnipeg folk duo of veteran Canadian singer/songwriters Cara Luft and JD Edwards was created by chance.
They were paired together at random to create a song for the 25th anniversary of Winnipeg鈥檚 West End Cultural Centre, a venerated venue housed in a century-old church at the corner of Ellice and Sherbrook. As part of the 2012 celebration, Winnipeg artists were matched up and asked to perform something they had never played before. They chose 1000 Stars by Nova Scotia-born, Winnipeg-based singer/songwriter Greg McPerhson.
鈥淭hat really created a spark,鈥� said Edwards. 鈥淭here was a little bit of magic there. We enjoyed it and the audience enjoyed it.
鈥淚 often like to think back to that time when we were paired off for that show. It鈥檚 one of those happy accidents.鈥�
At the time, Edwards was fronting the JD Edwards Band and Luft was touring with her Juno award winning band the Wailin鈥� Jennys.
鈥淚 think we were both, in our careers, at this plateau,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e were wondering, what鈥檚 next? And the universe plopped us there together.鈥�
The two went their separate ways after that show, but the seeds of collaboration had been planted and the following year they reunited when Luft was awarded free recording time at a new analog studio in Kelowna, B.C.
Luft reached out to Edwards, hoping he鈥檇 add some backup vocals and instrumentation to her album, but when they started rehearsing together, they realized there was an opportunity for more.
鈥淚 think there鈥檚 a lot of spirit and soul that comes through us,鈥� said Edwards. 鈥淲e鈥檝e really tried to fuse our styles and our music together.
鈥淐ara makes me a better songwriter and musician and I like to think she feels the same way about me.鈥�
Edwards said he loves the music he created before The Small Glories, with its big electric sound, but right now he鈥檚 really enjoying the barebones vibe he and Luft have created.
鈥淚t鈥檚 all acoustic: banjo, guitar, harmonica and voice, but we still create a big sound,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 raw and I like that, when you hear the songs in that stripped down way you can really hear them.鈥�
The Small Glories鈥� record is called Wondrous Traveler. It was produced by 54-40 frontman Neil Osborne and can be purchased on the band鈥檚 website, .
To hear the duo perform, check them out at the Olive Bistro and Lounge on April 24.
Tickets are available in advance for $15 and at the door for $20.
Nicole Veerman
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