Canada's Maria in the Shower Brings High-Energy Folk to Rives Theatre

(L – R) Maria in the Shower's Martin Reisel, Todd Biffard, Brendon Hartley and Jack Garton. Photo by Bernadette Moore.

Maria in the Shower's Brendon Hartley (left) 

and Jack Garton. Photo by Pam Allen.

Hailing from Vancouver, Canada, Maria in the Shower has been a fixture of the city's music scene for a number of years. On Friday night, the band brought their unique blend of dance hall shuffles and cabaret style to Rives Theatre in a special performance presented by Piedmont Arts.

"Their sound is so unique and fun," said Pam Allen, who is Piedmont Arts' finance manager. "It's one of the best shows I've seen at Rives Theatre this year."

The four-piece group, consisting of Martin Reisel (guitar, voice, trombone), Todd Biffard (percussion, voice), Brendon Hartley (bass, voice) and Jack Garton (voice, accordion, trumpet) played to a crowd of around 70 people and inspired spirited dancing by audience members, including Greg Hackenberg.

"The Maria in the Shower concert was exceptionally entertaining and high energy," said Hackenberg. "I can't even describe how talented they were! Every note they played and word they sang captured the audience's complete attention. Piedmont Arts brought a truly world class act here to our local theater."

"We are thrilled that we were able to bring such incredibly talented musicians to Martinsville," said Bernadette Moore, Piedmont Arts' director of marketing, communications and design. "The show was amazing and we wish Maria the best of luck on the rest if their U.S. tour."

Maria played a show in Wilmington, N.C. on Saturday and will take a two week break before finishing their tour of the states in Raleigh on May 17.

Learn more at www.mariaintheshower.com.

Maria in the Shower's performance marked the last show in Piedmont Arts' 2013-2014 season. The lineup for the museum's upcoming performing arts season will be announced this summer at www.piedmontarts.org.