Peter and the Wolves set to howl next month

By Dale Woodard - Lethbridge Herald on January 18, 2022.

Are you ready to rock it old school?

If so, Peter and the Wolves are ready to take you back with some slicked back ’50s style rock and roll at the Empress Theatre in Fort Macleod Feb. 4 at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets sales have just started, but the buzz is already on in the social media circles as Peter and the Wolves get ready to make their debut at the historic venue in Fort Macleod.

“I just looked at our Facebook page and there are about 10 comments, people are quite excited,” said Margaret Ann Bianco, theatre director at the Empress Theatre. “I think once people know more about it, they’re going to go.”

Lead singer, song writer, guitar and piano player ‘Howlin’ Pete’ Cormier and his Wolves perform original rock and roll as well as favourite classics.

Based in Calgary, the four-piece rock and roll band – including saxophone, upright bass, drums, and piano – has toured across Canada and has also played internationally at festivals including Viva Las Vegas and Italy’s Summer Jamboree. 

The band’s three albums of original 1950s-inspired rock and roll, recorded in the vein of artists such as Buddy Holly, Little Richard, Fats Domino and Gene Vincent, are mixed in with a few covers. 

Cormier started the band when he was 20-years-old, writing tunes in his Bowness childhood home.

“I know they have a huge following and people are quite excited,” said Bianco. “Certainly, the Empress will be hopping.”

The Empress Theatre was the site of the Ghostbusters premier back in November as renovations and fundraising continues.

“We still have our movies every night of the week,” said Bianco. “The renovations are in the future and any fundraising we’re doing will be continuous. Ghostbusters was terrific for us in that it got the whole community and southern Alberta aware that we’re looking forward to moving forward with the renovations. Because we are an historic building, everything we do has to be approved by the Alberta Historic Society. So we’re in the process of this. The Town of Fort Macleod owns the Empress Theatre, so they are mostly responsible for everything we’re doing moving forward. We have a building committee that is a part of the Empress Theatre board and we’ll be working in association with the town.”

Tickets for Peter and the Wolves are $30 and available at MacleodEmpress.com or by calling 403-553-4404 (toll-free at 1-800-540-9229). 

“The Empress Theatre seats 327 and we’re just at 70 (tickets sold), so we have a long way to go. But we have room for 327,” said Bianco.

The Empress Theatre is currently operating under the province’s Restrictions Exemption Program. 

Prior to entering the theatre, patrons must show proof of full vaccination and photo identification.

Masks must be worn to enter the theatre and the concession and bar will be open at the show. 

For information or details, contact empress@empresstheatre.ab.ca or 403-553-4404.

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