Experience of Lewis and Royal
Met in 1993 when Lewis began his apprenticeship at the Rosebud Theatre where Royal was working. They found that their voices blended well and soon they began bringing their own compositions together and arranging them. Together, they wrote the music for the musical “Chickens” which has been Rosebud Theatre’s best selling show to date.
Lewis and Royal have produced a CD “Ampersand” (the name given to the icon), a collection of ballads and stories with a rural prairie feeling. The icon defines Lewis & Royal’s musical relationship. They are not so much a duo as they are two friends getting together, performing their own works and inspiring each other. Ampersand ties them together as well as defines them as individuals.
About Lewis Frere: Lewis grew up in Trochu, Alberta and played in a family band for years. He has been fronting bands for the past ten years; Alias Jones, Rave On, and The Rosebud Rivervalley Boys being the most recent. He has performed on television and is a gifted composer and arranger, and one heck of a defenceman. When Lewis is not out performing or playing hockey, he is the sound engineer at Rosebud Creek Records.
About Royal Sproule: Royal, the scruffy-looking one, has been in the entertainment industry for nearly 20 years, as an actor and musician. He performs character driven stand-up comedy inventing such characters as “˜Paddy OFurniture”, an Irish Bricklayer on the dole, and “˜Boris”, a backwoods Slavic farmer who delights audiences with his simplistic take on things. Recent acting appearances include theatrical productions such as Tent Meeting, Little Shop of Horrors, Opal, Ten Little Indians and Chickens. You can also see him in the feature film The Claim where he plays a misguided prospector in the San Francisco gold rush. In addition to being a musician and actor, Royal is an accomplished pen & ink artist. His prints can be seen in many of the rural craft shops of Alberta.
Lewis & Royal have played across Alberta and BC. Recent and upcoming performances include opening a sell-out show for “Gary Fjellgaard and Valdy”, as well as double headers with “The Sheep River Rounders” and Juno Award nominee “Paul Hann”. Several of their songs have been featured on CKUA’s Folk Roots, and Ontario’s PEAK FM Inside Canadian Music program, where host John Nichols called “Dear Mother”, “a most powerful song”. The first cut on Ampersand “The Drought Song” won Royal The National Song Crafter’s Award in 1998. Lewis’ latest composition “God Bless the Innocent” honors the innocent lives lost on Sept 11, 2001. Released as a single in late September, this piece has already received airplay on several radio stations throughout North America, Europe and as far away as Australia.
Performance Style of Lewis and Royal
It’s difficult to categorize Lewis and Royal. They bring a rural charm to their show, which features tight vocal harmonies, storytelling through song, and spur of the moment offbeat humor. Is it Country? Bluegrass? Celtic? Comedy? Let’s be safe and call it – Folk. Their wonderful mix of musical theatrics and their collection of ballads and stories about rural life are truly original and highly entertaining.
Why hire Lewis and Royal?
Their material is accessible to all ages and brims with prairie images and character. Lewis & Royal are engaging performers guaranteed to have your sides splitting with laughter one minute, and dabbing tears from your eyes the next. With the combination of Lewis Frere’s amazing vocals and Royal Sproule’s comedic theatre experience, this duo creates the perfect blend of rural charm and humor that will have the audience laughing out loud.
Works Well in this Type of Event: Private Events, Corporate Events, Cruise Lines, Comedy Festivals, Sports Events, Casino Events, Charity Events, Conventions, and Trade Shows.
How to book Lewis and Royal
You can request information on our entertainment options through our on-line request form. Or, you can call us Toll Free at 1.800.693.6665
