How much do you think you know about piano history?
B.C. musicians Nico Rhodes and Patrick Courtin are bringing their Piano Heist tour, billed as "a divine quest to redeem the keyboard and reinstate its reputation as the greatest instrument of all time," to Okotoks on Thursday, Feb. 6.
Rhodes and Courtin, hailing from Wells and Ladysmith, respectively, are two lifelong friends that bring their chemistry and combined love for the piano to every show, explained Rhodes.
"It's music for everyone," he said. "Whether you're a classical music aficionado, there's gonna be some things you're gonna get a laugh at and enjoy, but even if you're just the kind of person that enjoys Elton John, Billy Joel, Ray Charles, Jerry Lewis, that kind of thing, there's some music there for you too."
Through energetic piano performances and some intense keyboard battles, the interactive show promises to bring plenty of laughs to audience members, whether they play the piano or just enjoy listening to it.
The show dives into the long and storied history of the keyboard instrument, spanning 300 years of artists from Bach and Mozart to Queen and ABBA, and doing so in a much more fun and engaging way than your typical history lesson.
"We're not playing your grandparents' classical music recital," said Rhodes. "We really pull from every era, every genre... whether it's one of us running around during a boogie woogie section, or if it's just us having a Wild West-style honky-tonk piano showdown, we bring the ridiculousness, so it's good for anyone at any age."
Audience members can "expect the unexpected," he continued.
"If you want to see two keytars rock out to Queen, or if you want to see Mozart done as a Wild West showdown, then we might be the night for you."
Piano Heist comes to the Old Church Theatre on Thursday, Feb. 6 from to
Learn more and get tickets on the Town of Okotoks website.