You’d be an April Fool to miss it. Prolific folk/country artist Fred Eaglesmith is coming to the Atha-B on Saturday (April 1) for one night of melody and mood.

Born in rural southern Ontario, Eaglesmith has built legions of fans in diverse parts of the world, people attracted to his soulful tunes about the life of everyday people. He and his band will be in Jasper as part of their “Rocket through the Rockies” music train experience, which brings the group from Vancouver to Jasper and back to the west coast by way of Prince George and Prince Rupert. It’s just one more week on what appears to be a never–ending tour of North America. Eaglesmith has been touring in Texas, Illinois and will head for points east after wrapping up the rail experience in April.

With 15 recordings under his belt, Eaglesmith has a large repertoire to draw from in his live performances, which according to fans and critics alike, are an experience not to be missed for those who appreciate of his genre of music. In fact, Eaglesmith draws a crowd of travelling fans that follow him from show to show in a given area and are dubbed “Fredheads”. You have the opportunity to join the Jasper chapter on Saturday. Doors are open at 8:30 p.m. and the band should take the stage approximately one hour later. Tickets cost $15 and are available in advance at the front desk of the Athabasca Hotel.

Tonight and Friday (March 31) performers of a different sort will be entertaining patrons at the club. The Populars, a Canadian trio made up of former members of the Mike Plume Band, bring their 

envelope-pushing combination of digital and conventional rock. The group is touring in support of their new recording, “The Vindicator.” The album is described by band member Ernie Basiliadis as “a throw down record” and a “call to arms” and somewhat sycophantically credited on the band’s website as an effort to “burn down the house that rock built, and rebuild with fresh intensity”. The shows start at 9:30 p.m. each night.