Five guys with 12 instruments will be taking over Jasper’s Royal Canadian Legion next week for an interactive, tongue-in-cheek, hillbilly rock show.

This will be Ball Gag N’ Chain Gang’s second show in Jasper, having just performed here in July. 

Adam Zonnis, who sings and plays banjo, trumpet and harmonica in the band, said he’s excited to make the return trip.

“It’s a great venue,” he said. “It’s the nicest Legion we’ve ever been in.”

Ball Gag N’ Chain Gang has been playing together for four years. During that time, the five-piece band from Victoria, B.C., has created its own genre of music, called “Ho-Tonk.”

“One of the best descriptions that I’ve heard, and this is what we kind of describe Ho-Tonk as, is progressive hillbilly. It’s got this down-home roots feel to it that everyone really seems to enjoy,” Zonnis said.

“Predominantly it’s kind of a twangy, hoe-down, punk rock kind of feel, but there’s a lot of variety within that.”

Ho-Tonk isn’t all about the music, though, it’s also about the way the band interacts with the audience.

“For example, we have a song called White Guy Dance Party, it’s a funk song, and we dance really badly and get everyone else involved,” Zonnis said. “Then we give prizes to the best white guy dancer.”

And the audience participation doesn’t end there. Audience members can also expect to be screaming things like, “I love bacon!” or “Hell-ya-lujah!” And if they’re lucky, some bacon treats might even be passed around the dance floor.

Zonnis said the band has a large following in small towns around Alberta, so there have been a number of repeat tours and visits over the last four years.

Although the band is eclectic and different, Zonnis said their music is still accessible and fun.

“We never sound too weird or strange,” he said, although he does admit the band’s latest album, Bang, is a little crazier than their first.

“It’s a musical experience ... We’ve really discovered our sound.”

Ball Gag N’ Chain Gang will be at the Legion Nov. 10. The music starts at 9 p.m.