An idiosyncratic, multi-lingual journey through 300 years of vocal music and a homecoming of sorts
By Nelson Daily Editor
One of Nelson’s own is coming back, at least for one night.
Kevin Armstrong will make his much-anticipated return to Nelson at Bogustown
Town Pub on Friday, July 22.
Armstrong is on tour across Canada to prepare his show Opera for
Heathens for its premiere at the Edmonton Fringe Festival. A versatile and unorthodox performer, Armstrong has forged a career both in Canada and Europe, performing everything from traditional opera and musical theatre, to one-man-shows where he pairs his four-octave vocal range with his skills as a guitarist.
Armstrong’s latest one-man-show, Opera for Heathens, mixes opera with rock, showcasing his versatile and powerful voice with his dexterity on guitar.
An idiosyncratic, multi-lingual journey through 300 years of vocal music, Opera for Heathens is an opera, musical and rock cabaret for the 21st Century, from Mozart to Meatloaf, Rock to Rossini, Superstar to Styx.
Armstrong grew up in Nelson where he was exposed to all types of music, visual art and theatre. He started music lessons by age 10, and by college, had
already studied classical, jazz and rock guitar, drums and voice.
He began composing music for solo guitar and voice with a rhythmic, fingerstyle
technique that allowed him to be the guitarist, bassist and drummer, all on one instrument.
His first release, Untitled 1 (1994) made a splash in the southern BC interior, selling more than 300 copies, and getting airtime on local and CBC radio. It was around this time that Armstrong began classical voice training, and he discovered his love for musical theatre.
In 1996, Armstrong moved to Montreal to pursue music studies at McGill
University. While completing his Master’s Degree in Opera Performance,
Armstrong also released two more albums of original material Second Album (1998) and Sound Castles (2002).
This time he filled out the guitar and vocal sound with a full band, playing most of the instruments himself.
In 2002, Armstrong moved to Zürich, Switzerland, where he did an apprenticeship at the Zürich Opera House. Since then, he has enjoyed an international career in opera, concert and musicals.
Recent European engagements include the role of Pilate in numerous productions of Jesus Christ Superstar (including the ThunerSeespiele, the largest musical festival in Switzerland), as well as opera performances in Frankfurt, Wiesbaden and Zürich.
Armstrong also recently completed a 60-city tour of Germany, Austria and Switzerland with “Night of the Musicals” Europe’s longest-running touring musical show, as well as a recital tour of the BC interior with internationally renowned organist Robert Kwan.
Do N Notes will open the show at 8 pm, and Armstrong will take the stage at 9 pm. Admission is free.
