For a new album that The Sheepdogs didn’t initially set out to make, Changing Colours is a stunning achievement.

Proud purveyors of guitar-driven modern-day retro rock, the triple Juno Award-winning Saskatoon-based quintet has expanded its sound on Changing Colours to encompass more styles and hues to enhance the Sheepdogs’ trademark beef-and-boogie twin-axe riffs, hooks, shuffles and long-haired aesthetic.

‘We identify strongly with rock ‘n roll, but there’s definitely some branching out,’ says Ewan Currie, The Sheepdogs’ singer, guitarist, songwriter and occasional – and yes, you’re reading this correctly – clarinetist. ‘The sounds we use on this – there’s more keyboards featuring Shamus and more stringed instruments. It’s still rock ‘n roll but there are more colours.’

It’s also great, passionate music born out of spontaneity: first resonating in the 17-song album’s euphoric opener Nobody and continuing to flavour such invigorating numbers as the electrifying Saturday Night and the driving I’ve Got A Hole Where My Heart Should Be, the record’s infectious first single.

But The Sheepdogs haven’t only stretched their sonic palate: they’ve also expanded stylistically, tastefully embracing other genres as well.

There’s the country-lite feel of Let It Roll, the Stax-soul aura of the mid-tempo anthem I Ain’t Cool that features trombone — and the resplendent Latin-rock vibe that fuels The Big Nowhere.

This is a 14+ show. Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult

Presented by Hey! Manchester.

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THE SHEEPDOGS

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The Deaf Institute

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