Fresh off the release of its sophomore album Dusty Roads, award-winning Ohio-based band Wishgarden brings its live show to Canton’s Centennial Plaza Friday evening at 7 p.m. If you’ve not seen Wishgarden, the band puts on a spectacle of a show.
With a roots rock vibe, fanciful and cinematic storytelling, the eight-piece band delivers the energy and production value of a national touring act in a more intimate setting. Its “Get On The Bus” show was created in the spirit of a big stage, multifaceted act to include videos, animation, and custom-made stage props that showcases Wishgarden’s signature exuberant spirit and easy-does-it groove.
The upcoming performance follows the momentum of the band’s successful album release show held at the Akron Civic Theatre last week. Wishgarden celebrated the arrival of Dusty Roads with a lively performance that highlighted the chemistry of the talented group, blending spirited musicianship with plenty of humorous antics, musical story-telling and sentimental moments. The set moved between original songs and familiar covers to rev the tone for what audiences can expect when “Get On The Bus” rolls into Centennial Plaza.
Jane Back, Executive Director of Access The Arts, who has booked Wishgarden previously and was in attendance at the Akron Civic Theatre, said: “Wishgarden brings high energy and great vibes to all of our concerts and festivals. ‘The Get On The Bus’ show takes the band to the big stage level.”
Now in its fourth year of performing together in its current configuration, Wishgarden has built a reputation across Northeast Ohio for its energetic performances and eclectic sound. Led by singer, songwriter and composer Tony Paparella, the band combines elements of roots rock, folk and Americana ignited by an instrumental lineup featuring electric guitar, flute, saxophone, trombone and djembe. Original material carries influences reminiscent of artists such as Bob Dylan, Bob Seger, Red Wanting Blue and Nathaniel Rateliff & Nightsweats while the band’s live sets sprinkle in a mix of crowd-friendly covers by Neil Diamond, Hootie & the Blowfish, Adele, Jimmy Buffett and more.
Paparella stands at the center of the Wishgarden experience; his animated yet easygoing narration gives the band’s performances a distinctly personal quality. A natural storyteller and “patron poet of the everyday person,” Paparella brings his songs to life through vocal variety, pacing and character, making each performance feel less like a traditional concert and more like a conversation with the audience. His storytelling is an extraordinary instrument in the band’s sound, giving the songs personality while guiding audiences through the highs, lows and unexpected turns of each tale. The accompanying band members bring vibrant harmonies, melodic arrangements, foot-stomping rhythms and an unmistakable effervescence to the stage.
Recorded at the legendary Fame Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, the recent album release adds another chapter to the band’s evolving musical journey, weaving together narratives of love, heartbreak, reflection and everyday life experiences. Featuring stories woven with an unfiltered sense of realism, every song plays out like its own chapter in the wandering, winding story that is Dusty Roads.
Songs from Dusty Roads will be spotlighted throughout the Centennial Plaza performance. The band will also revisit songs from its debut album and pull out a curated collection of fan-favorites. The varied set gives audiences a little bit of everything — original Wishgarden tunes, recognizable favorites, sweet harmonies and dynamic instrumentation.
Wishgarden’s “Get On The Bus” show heads to Centennial Plaza in Canton, Ohio, on Friday, Sept. 18 at 7 p.m. as part of the Centennial Plaza Summer Concert Series. From the opening video to the final note, the band’s message is simple: get on the bus, settle in and enjoy the ride.
