Sheepdogs Play Mavricks to Help Give Kids a Christmas

How did five guys end up landing the name “Sheepdogs” as a handle for their band?

Drummer Sam Corbett says simply, “We put 30 names in a hat, and this is the one we pulled out.”

Now, the reporter from BarrieToday doesn’t claim to be on familiar terms with Corbett, or his mates Ewan and Shamus Currie, Ryan Gullen, Jimmy Bowskill, and couldn’t tell whether it was an “in” joke on their part. Still, the story could wash; after all, many a true word is spoken in jest.

The Saskatoon-based band invades Mavricks Music Hall in Barrie Friday, Dec. 1 for the benefit of Kool FM-Rock 95’s Toy Drive, bringing their brand of what Corbett calls, “classic rock vibes, with influences ranging from country to soul, Latin to jazz”, in short, enough to keep a diverse crowd happy as the days get darker and colder.

Nor is the Toy Drive the only charity about which the Sheepdogs care; Have Instruments, Will Travel, Will Help People, seems to be their philosophy.

“We feel very lucky do what we do for a living, so we're always on board to help out those who are less fortunate, no matter what the charity is. I have lots of great memories from around the holidays, so to think that we're helping create some of those happy memories with this toy drive, it really feels great.”

In their travels, Corbett recalls playing the Kee to Bala, and the guys do number playing Barrie as a special time. “We played on New Year's Eve in Barrie a couple years ago, and I remember that that show was awesome.”

The Sheepdogs have new music coming out; the album called Changing Colours drops on Groundhog Day, Feb. 2, but folks at Mavricks can get a sneak preview of the new CD. “We'll be previewing a few of the new songs at the show.”

As for what the crowd will likely most want to hear at Mavricks, “people seem to like I Don't Know and Feeling Good the best,” Corbett says. “We know we play those at every show, but I never really get tired of playing them, given the reaction they get from the crowd.”

The Sheepdogs play Mavricks Music Hall, 46 Dunlop Street West, Friday, Dec. 1, and show time is 9 p.m., for the benefit of the Rock 95-Kool FM Toy Drive. To learn more, click here.