Prairie musician Lizzy Hoyt loves making the rounds in B.C.
The Celtic-folk singer and songwriter last toured the province in December 2017 when she played six gigs spanning from Kaslo to Chemainus.
For her current tour, though, Hoyt has doubled the number of dates but she continues to reach remote places, most of which are new performance venues for her trio: Fanny Bay, Powell River and three Gulf Islands, for example.
“We’ll go wherever people want us,” Hoyt told The Tri-City News last week. “We love being close to the water, and the journey along the way.”
For her late winter/early spring shows in B.C., Hoyt will promote New Lady on the Prairie, her fourth recording that was released in 2014; however, she’ll also be testing out some material she penned for her next album, due out next year.
Hoyt said her new compositions stay true to her traditional roots, planted by her musician grandparents (who met in a dance band called The Silvertones) and her parents (both of whom are professional classical musicians).
But her new tunes also take on a more contemporary vibe.
That’s because Hoyt has gained more influences over the past couple of years, with the birth of her son (the 10-month-boy boy is on tour with her) as well as her opera performance studies, for which she earned a bachelor’s degree.
For the latter, Hoyt said she was encouraged by her sister to return to school. “It’s been a really interesting experience for me to explore my voice by using it in such a different way from folk,” she said. “It’s been a game changer.”
As for her Coquitlam show on Sunday, the Winnipeg resident said she and two other musicians will play from her catalogue and throw in some St. Patrick’s Day fare with Irish songs featuring Hoyt on the fiddle, harp and other instruments.
For tickets to Lizzy Hoyt on March 17 at 7:30 p.m., call the Evergreen Cultural Centre (1205 Pinetree Way, Coquitlam) at 604-927-6555 or visit evergreenculturalcentre.ca.
