Podunkian Music Club

April Wine-Sign of the Gypsy Queen

We run the risk of turning the Music club into a cancon factory this week, but we can’t help but note that the iconic Canadian band April Wine was in town this weekend for a couple of shows at the Underground in the Rupert hotel.

Long a staple of the radio in Canada, April Wine has been one of the most successful of bands in Canadian history, a touring monster of the seventies and eighties, they rattled off hit after hit during the halcyon days of Canadian rock.

The Canadian rock scene in the summers of the late 70’s and early 80’s featured a wide assortment of Canadian bands breaking out across Canada at the time. The Guess Who would tour, followed by April Wine, Bachman Turner Overdrive, Trooper and Prism to name a few. Each had its collection of fans, followers that bought all the LP’s, went to all the shows and clogged the radio stations of the day with requests.

No band had a more loyal following that April Wine, who originally formed in 1969 in Nova Scotia move westward in 1970 and based their sound out of Montreal at the time. The band conquered the nation with huge hits such as Oowatanite, Roller, You Could've been a lady, Tonight is a wonderful night to fall in love and our selection tonight, Sign of the Gypsy Queen.

As far as break out recordings, it was probably The Stand Back album of 1975 where the band moved beyond the bar band and cult status and into national headliner territory. It was a monster of an album that featured a number of hits and became a multi platinum seller.

The mid to late seventies would prove to be the key years for the bands acceptance, their albums were instant hits, the singles kept rolling out and the crowds were huge for their concerts as the Canadian music scene exploded from coast to coast.

The late seventies would also see the band attain huge International status, touring with then heavyweights such as Nazareth, The Rolling Stones and RUSH to name a few.

The band is still together, in a slightly reconfigured roster. Old time veterans Goodwyn, Mercer and Greenway still kick out the old faves and newer material as well, complimented by newcomer Breen Laboeuf.

They mark thirty six years and counting now, with the recently released Roughly Speaking the latest offering and a tour to bring the music to the folks that remember when and those looking to check out a legendary Canadian band.

For those that took in the shows in Rupert over the weekend, The April Wine website has a number of interesting things to check out. A must stop is the blog that Brian Greenway is keeping, a journal that should provide an interesting look at the band and the on the road lifestyle.

They seem to have enjoyed their stay in the city and we’re sure that the locals most likely had a good time at the shows as well.

Artist-April Wine
Recording-The Nature of the Beast