No one is admitting which one is the roots and which one is the grooves, or which one is the music and which one is the laughter, but two of B.C.’s brightest music duos is coming for a concert visit, splicing those descriptive words together.
Rick Scott and Nico Rhodes will perform their Music & Laughter and their Roots & Grooves shows on Family Day in Quesnel. In honour of twos and pairs, they will deliver one matinee show for families and one evening show for adults. That’s how musically dexterous they are.
This collaboration has been decades in the making. At age eight, Nico Rhodes wrote Rick Scott a fan letter. Then, when Rhodes was 23, he orchestrated Rick’s music for symphony. Now, the two of them have an act together touring far and wide.
A master of the keyboards, Rhodes is in constant demand across Canada as a composer, arranger and musical director. He also has his own jazz trio, conducts choirs, and tours the with his renowed chanteuse mother Joelle Rabu.
When Rhodes first saw Rick Scott perform, Scott was riding high on being part of acclaimed B.C. “rogue folk” band Pied Pumpkin that toured and recorded through the ’70s. He also has a busy solo career dating back to that time. Scott has performed in 11 countries and released 18 recordings. He has been honoured with three Juno nominations, Parents Choice, Western Canadian and Canadian Folk Music Awards. After 50 years of making music, Rick is now playing to audiences from four generations. In 2019 he was inducted into the BC Entertainment Hall of Fame.
Forty years apart in age, they delight in being musical playmates, leaping effortlessly from folk to blues and ballad to boogie. Combining Appalachian mountain dulcimer, piano and vocals, they bring forward a musical conversation spiced with mastery, mischief and merriment.
At 2 p.m. they deliver the Music & Laughter in a free family setting at Bethel Church. Then, at 7:30 p.m., they take the same stage again but working with the Roots & Grooves instead. The evening performance is a presentation of Quesnel Live Arts and tickets are $25 regular or $20 for youth/seniors. They can be purchased by clicking here and following the links.
Scott & Rhodes go on after Quesnel to perform Feb. 23 in Burns Lake, Feb. 24 in Smithers, and Feb. 26 in Prince Rupert.