Local tribute artist Laurie Sutherland brings Patsy Cline’s greatest hits
Patsy Cline’s greatest hits being performed live and in person by a talented local tribute artist, look no further than Laurie Sutherland.
Starting on Jan. 1 Sutherland took a mini tour hitting casinos in Manitoba. The final stop on this tour will be taking place locally with residents interested being able to ‘come on in and sit right down and make themselves at home’ at the South Beach Casino & Resort on Feb. 2.
“I did a series of casinos. Starting January 1, we were at McPhillips Station Casino for New Year’s Eve. Last weekend, we went to the Sand Hills Casino on Jan. 19 and 20. It was a two-day show out there. And then, on Feb. 2, we’ll be at the South Beach Casino,” said Sutherland.
Sutherland is not a newbie to the work that goes into being a successful tribute artist, the St. Andrews resident has been performing as Patsy Cline for about ten years now.
“I have sung for many years almost my entire life. I’ve always loved Patsy Cline, of course, and at one point, I got into it because of the persuasion of a good friend of mine who said that I sounded like her and I look like her and it would be really awesome to start performing as a tribute show,” said Sutherland.
She says that the transformation from herself into the iconic Patsy Cline means a great deal of rehearsal now she has a new band that she is performing with.
“[Working together with this new band is] allowing us to get into places like the casinos. It requires a band and we have a full piece now as well as backup singers. It’s going really well. It’s really exciting and it’s lots of fun. People are getting to hear the music of Patsy again, and her unique style and voice,” said Sutherland.
She says at the upcoming show that she will be singing over 30 of Cline’s songs.
“Some of her greatest hits, of course, and probably a lot of songs that people didn’t know were Patsy’s that I’ve brought out for everyone to hear once again and to be introduced to these songs that they may not have known,” she said.
After ten years, Sutherland continues to enjoy herself and works to get the songs just right.
“I get to share the songs with the audience. That’s really important to me that they get to hear what I’ve always heard. I’ve tried very hard over the years to reproduce her sound and it’s a unique sound and a unique way that she sang. It’s really fun for me to be able to do that and to sing those songs in the original keys and the original way that they were written,” said Sutherland.
The event at South Beach Casino & Resort is going to be a free opportunity to see Sutherland perform.
“Anybody that can come in and wants to find a place to sit or stand, you’re most welcome to do so. It’s a large area so there’s lots of room to wander and still hear the music. I’m always pleased and excited to see everyone,” she said.
Sutherland encourages residents to come to stop, look and listen on Feb. 2 at 8 p.m.
If you would like to book Sutherland and the band for a local event you can reach her at patsytribute@hotmail.com or by phone at 204-485-0188.
