“There’s two kinds of women you let in your life/ Exciting new mistress and boring old wife.” So sings Carolyn Mark who the The Jasper Heritage Folk and Blues Society is hosting (along with her band, The New Best Friends) at The Atha-B this Monday night (June 21) at the Summer Sound Off Solstice Celebration. 

This will be the first time Mark and the band have hit Jasper together, but she’s been here before.

“Those who have stuck around town long enough to remember the last folk festival in town, will remember Mark from her main stage appearance complete with a pick-up, off the cuff arrangement of talent who found themselves by her side at less than a moments notice,” said Scott Crabbe of the JHFBS.

Mark’s music is hard to define but there is twang, crooning and she lists Patsy Cline as one of her heros. It brings to mind back porches, worn-in upright bass guitars and banjos that look like they’re made of hubcaps. Her shows are also famous for their dirty sense of humour and off-colour jokes and she also found success in a recent partnership with NQ Arbuckle. She also has recorded an album with Neko Case, released in 2000.

According to Crabbe, the show itself will mark the first time the JHFBS has held a presentation at the Atha-B. Doors will open at 9:00 p.m. Things will kick off around 10 p.m. with Jasper’s own “Crooner of Cool,” Sam Heine.