Paul Pigat has a wide repertoire when it comes to music.
The classically trained musician from Toronto dabbles in a variety of genres — from punk to country tunes — but, at home, “I’m listening to music that doesn’t fit with what I’m playing,” Pigat said, noting everything from jazz guitarist Julian Lage to the orchestral soundtrack from How to Train Your Dragon are on his current playlist, the latter courtesy of his nine-year-old daughter.
But, for his show in Port Moody on Feb. 22, Pigat and his longtime band Cousin Harley will stick to their traditional rockabilly and western swing set, with a hint of hillbilly influences.
Cousin Harley is the February offering in the Inlet Theatre Music Series, a program started by musicians Bill Sample and Darlene Cooper who have brought top acts to the city since 2022.
Pigat said he was pleased to get the invite from Sample to perform with Cousin Harley at the theatre, the same venue he played at last year when he opened for Ruzz Guitar’s Blues Revue.
For his upcoming show, Pigat said he will play on Gretsch guitars (he is endorsed by the company) and, perhaps, on a few guitars he’s handcrafted in his side-job as a luthier.
And the band that includes Jesse Cahill on drums and Keith Picat on bass will be playing original songs, tributes to Canadian rockabilly musician Ray Condo — as recorded on an album released last September — and tunes cut for a collection that will come out this spring via the Cellar Music Group, titled Cousin Harley Plays the Blues, Vol. 1 (some tracks are now online).
Pigat, who started playing classic rock and country music in bars at the age of 13, said he gravitated toward rockabilly because it binds most musical genres; still, his version of rockabilly doesn’t always fit into the traditional mould. “We like to experiment and have fun.”
"Cousin Harley is gonna light up the Inlet Theatre with their rockabilly meets jump blues meets bebop meets gypsy jazz. Not to be missed,” Sample told the Tri-City News this week.
As for the rest of his year, Pigat will hit Ontario for some dates with his other Cousin Harley rhythm section and, possibly, pick up a gig in Sweden, and play some summer festivals.
Tickets to see Cousin Harley at the Inlet Theatre (inside Port Moody City Hall, 100 Newport Dr.) on Saturday, Feb. 22 are now on sale online via Eventbrite.ca at $40 plus tax.
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