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Clover Point Drifters next up in Pender

The Clover Point Drifters, a bluegrass band from Victoria, are set for a high-energy show next Saturday, March 8. Presented by the Pender Music Society, the concert is at 7 p.m. at the School of Music in Madeira Park.

The Clover Point Drifters, a bluegrass band from Victoria, are set for a high-energy show next Saturday, March 8. Presented by the Pender Music Society, the concert is at 7 p.m. at the School of Music in Madeira Park.

Clover Point Drifters' repertoire consists primarily of traditional bluegrass songs, with a sprinkling of country, folk, blues and pop melodies served up in the bluegrass style. Their songs feature close heartfelt duet and trio harmonies, backed by strong banjo, dobro and mandolin accompaniment.

"These fellows are able to nail the high, lonesome harmonies that make this style of music so compelling. In an unself-conscious way, the quintet captures the authenticity and honesty of old-time bluegrass music," writes Adrian Chamberlain of the Victoria Times-Colonist.

The band has been active since 2000, but the members each have a decades-long love affair with bluegrass music.

Mike Kraft (banjo, harmony vocals) is one of Victoria's secrets that don't involve underwear. Besides being one fine banjo player, he also plays guitar in a variety of country, rockabilly and blues bands and is a former member of The Chance Brothers.

Larry Stevens (resophonic guitar, lead vocals) has a gift for singing the country song, good times and bad, love and loss, the past and even further past. For many years, he lived in Vancouver and played the dobro with several bands, including the New Nash Ramblers, who were BC Country Music's Bluegrass Band of the Year.

Dan Parker (mandolin, lead vocals) is one of those people who, if given some new musical instrument, will spend almost no time at all making it sound like they have played it for years. And then he'll show you the tune he has just written for it.

Alan Law (guitar, lead and harmony vocals) is a rhythm guitarist, and his drive, passion and stamina are second to none. In a band of baritones, he enjoys the role of tenor singer, and he loves singing harmony more than almost anything you can imagine.

George Robinson (bass, lead vocals) has the longest pedigree in the band, having played bluegrass bass since 1977 when, by good luck, he obtained ownership of Duke Neilson's bass (who played with Don Messer and His Islanders, a Canadian musical institution if ever there was one). Other bands include Every Day Street Band, Cedar Hill and Back at the Ranch.

Tickets are $25 available at: Harbour Insurance, John Henry's Marina, Sechelt Visitor Centre, and Gaia's Fair Trade.

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