Upcoming shows from Alex Shenton and Bastard Poetry

Bastard Poetry
Submitted photo

Justine Jorgensen

Pincher Creek's Alex Shenton is part of a four-piece band named Bastard Poetry that will be in the Pincher Creek area for a few dates in August. Their music is acoustic-based rock and roll; Shenton explained, "I'd say [it's] largely influenced by the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Rise Against. So rock and roll but with a kind of funky, groovy twist to it." The other three musicians all originate from small towns in Saskatchewan: bass player Cole Jordan, lead guitarist Jesse King and drummer Jim Hunter.


Shenton grew up on a ranch west of Pincher Creek. "I didn't really get into music until I went to school in the Lethbridge - I graduated and didn't really start playing until I was in post-secondary." He explained that Bastard Poetry was formed around a year and a half ago - Shenton had been working in Saskatoon and playing music for fun. "There was a band wars competition and I saw these guys playing, and I really liked the drummer and the guitarist together," he said. "They had really good chemistry and I asked them if they'd play on some recordings of mine." Shenton explained he had already recorded several acoustic songs: "More of them were like therapy than intended to be performed at any time, you know I'd just play them to myself. So I got them to play on the recordings and the whole band kinda just grew out of those recordings."

Shenton went on to say that the band's primary focus is delivering original music and the main point of their tour is to simply raise money and awareness for recording. Bastard Poetry will be playing on Friday August 8 at the Thirsty Bear in Waterton and at the Swiss Pub and Grill in Pincher Creek on August 15.