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Rave On rips it up at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts

The Jiffy Lube Alberta Scotties Tournament of Hearts has curling fans from across the country visiting to watch which team of athletic women will represent Canada at the women’s world curling championships.
Although the foursome from Rave On: Todd Mansell
Although the foursome from Rave On: Todd Mansell

The Jiffy Lube Alberta Scotties Tournament of Hearts has curling fans from across the country visiting to watch which team of athletic women will represent Canada at the women’s world curling championships.

One recreational curler that’s particularly excited is Ed Cruse, guitarist and keyboardist for Rave On, a four-piece classic pop-rock that has been a staple on the music scene for more than 30 years.

Not only is the St. Albert curler-musician planning to catch some of the draws, but as part of Rave On’s foursome, he’ll be entertaining the crowds on Friday and Saturday night in the Owl’s Nest at the St. Albert Curling Club.

“It’s an honour to be playing at such a special event. The Scotties have never been held here before. They have such good quality professional curlers and to help entertain them is something special,” said Cruse.

“And having the event at St. Albert is a really good showcase for the city. It’s a great spectator sport.”

Cruse also hopes to meet several of the key curlers such as Chelsea Carey and Val Sweeting.

“There is some real talent here. They are the future of curling,” Cruse noted.

Rounding out Rave On are Todd Mansell (singer-songwriter), John Hildebrant (bass) and Mike Maxfield (drums).

As entertainers, the foursome has mastered more than 100 top covers from the collected works of the Eagles, Beatles, Rolling Stones, Tom Petty, Mavericks, Fleetwood Mac, ABBA, John Cougar Mellencamp and Bruce Springsteen to name a few.

To date they have recorded three albums. The most recent 238 Broadmoor Boulevard (2014) delivered a sophisticated recording technique with added sound effects. The 2008 Untitled projected a hard rock sound, and their first recording, The Green Room (2003), was a folk-rock-country mash-up.

Unlike many bands that release original works, Rave On (named after a Buddy Holly song) prefers recording covers that they know folks will listen to more than once.

“We really focus on playing to the crowd. We don’t play obscure music. We play music everyone has heard. And it’s danceable. That’s something we key on.”

Preview

Rave On<br />Jiffy Lube Scotties Tournament of Hearts<br />Jan. 27 and Jan. 28 from 9:30 p.m. to 1 a.m.<br />St. Albert Curling Club<br />#3 Tache St.

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