June nominees and two time CFMA winners, Sultans of String, kicked off the New Year with the release of their high octane worldbeat-symphonic mash-up, Symphony!

And fresh off that high note the Sultans of String will be appearing at the Key City Theatre on February 1. The acclaimed Symphony of the Kootenays will be joining them for this special evening!

Known for dizzying roots music jams, poly-rhythms and revved up riffs, the Sultans of String sound can’t be pinned down – it’s Sable Island meets the Silk Road, with detours through the Gypsy-Jazz coffeehouses of Eastern Europe, next an East Coast Kitchen Party, then over to the majestic Arctic and the bustling markets of Lebanon!

Fiery violin dances with kinetic guitar while a funky bass lays down unstoppable grooves. Throughout, acoustic strings meet with a symphony of sound deepened by world rhythms that inspire whole audiences to get up and dance.

Sultans of String’s symphony Pops show was developed under the direction of luminary John Morris Russell, (Conductor-Cincinnati Pops Orchestra), and was scored by illustrious arranger/composer Rebecca Pellett (Toronto Symphony Orchestra, IMAX & Hollywood film productions). They recently performed a triumphant eight show run with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra at Roy Thompson Hall for their Education Series, and have booked release concerts with symphonies well into 2015.

Kicking things off as a dynamic duo playing tiny cafes in 2007, this fiercely talented and hardworking indie act has been on a meteoric rise, with an astonishing number of awards and accolades in tow. Invitations to play world stages and with such legendary artists as The Chieftains and David Bromberg are recent highlights. The Chieftains’ very own Paddy Moloney also appears on Symphony!

Symphony! is distributed across North America by Red River Entertainment through the SONY Network. Bob Frank, chairman of Red River (former President of Koch/EI Entertainment) states, “We welcome the opportunity to work with one of Canada’s most innovative groups and look forward to expanding their music and footprint in the U.S.”

Acclaimed promoter and former A&R man David Wilkes (Emmylou Harris, Joan Baez, Jerry Jeff Walker) states, “I have worked with numerous top 10 chart songs and #1 Pop Billboard and Country music hits. In all that time, I have not worked with composers more talented than Chris McKhool and Kevin Laliberté from Sultans of String. Not only are they a superb writing team, they are also amazing arrangers and musicians. Symphony! is a gigantic leap forward.”

The band is led by JUNO-nominated six-string violinist Chris McKhool (Jesse Cook, Pavlo) who grew up in a Lebanese-Egyptian (Makhoul) house bursting with music and diversity. Growing up, Chris was fed a steady diet of delicious musicality alongside Middle Eastern cuisine and violin lessons.

When McKhool first heard founding guitarist Kevin Laliberté’s rumba rhythm, their musical synergy created Sultans of String’s signature sound – the intimate and playful relationship between violin and guitar. From this rich foundation, the dynamic duo has grown, featuring such amazing musical friends as second guitarist Eddie Paton (Robert Michaels), bass master Drew Birston (Chantal Kreviazuk, Amanda Martinez), and Cuban percussionist Chendy Leon (Parachute Club, Alex Cuba), as well as special guests such as folk pop darlings Dala, The Chieftains’ Paddy Moloney, ukulele giant James Hill, and others.

Classically-schooled McKhool thought “why stop there?” With Symphony!, Sultans of String have brought the glorious and majestic sound of a full orchestra to their feisty world-jazz compositions, to create the ultimate crossover recording and concert.

Sultans of String play Key City Theatre in Cranbrook Saturday, Feb. 1 at 7:30 p.m. and again on Sunday, Feb. 2, at 2 p.m. (a family show featuring Chris McKhool).

For more check out: official video.

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