Olympic Symphonium are headed to the Olympics

  

Hibernation is not a word in Olympic Symphonium’s vocabulary.

While most people would rather take it easy in the winter months, eschewing the cold and bundling up inside, Olympic Symphonium has decided to get some serious work done during these winter months.

“Winter is pretty much the best time to record because you don’t really want to be touring as much in the winter.

[The roads] are kind of dangerous and the shows aren’t as good. The vibe of recording is a lot better in the winter. So, we realized we had two weeks free in January so we said, ‘Let’s get to it!’ says Kyle Cunjak, bassist for the band. Along with Cunjak the band is made up of Nick Cobham and Graeme Walker.

While Cunjak says that the decision to record was a little bit impulsive, he also says it was about time for them to sit down and record.

“Well, we had a bunch of new songs – we’re always writing new songs. And because the band has three different song writers, we get a lot of new material out pretty quick. So, we had a bunch of new tunes and we kind of looked at our schedules for the next six months, realized it was very quickly filling up and that we soon wouldn’t have time to record.”

And it’s not just recording a new album that’s taking up the band’s time this winter. The group also has a number of shows planned for the end of January.

They will be playing shows in St. Andrews, Fredericton, and Saint John on Jan. 21, 22, and 23. As well as opening for City & Colour when they play in Halifax Feb. 2.

As if a touring schedule and recording an album weren’t enough for the ambitious band, the group will be making a trip out to Vancouver in February to play at the Olympics.

“We’re playing at this Atlantic Canada House that they’re having on Granville Island in Vancouver. The Olympic Committee is organizing it and putting us all up. So we’re going to get to go to Vancouver for a bit in February,” explains an excited Cunjak. And the band will be in good company in terms of Atlantic Canadian music.

“Catherine MacLellan is going,along with Matt Anderson, Jill Barber, Samantha Robichaud from Moncton, Grand Theft Bus. Jenn Grant is going too.”

Cunjak is excited for a little more than the music though.

“I’ve always wanted to see bobsledding, so my dream is going to come true,” he laughs.

Don’t expect the band to take a break as the weather warms up though. The band will be taking another trip out west in late April and early May to tour with Catherine MacLellan.

Tickets for the band’s upcoming show at the Charlotte Street Arts Center with Catherine MacLellan on Jan. 22 are still available. Tickets can be bought for $20 at the door or in advance at Read’s or Backstreet Records. Doors open at 7 p.m., show starts at 8 p.m.