LAC LA BICHE– Toronto-based singer-songwriter Shawna Caspi brought her style of light folk music to the stage of the Sir Winston Churchill Provincial Park campground amphitheatre on June 28 for the latest instalment in the 2025 Music in the Forest concert series.
A large group gathered inside of the seasonal concert venue for the show, in which Caspi played a variety of songs from the albums Forest Fire and Hurricane Coming, her latest offering, which was produced and released in 2021.
These songs included ‘Ghost Town’, which is based on a trip Caspi made to Maple Creek, Saskatchewan, to play a concert, ‘Hope Lives’, and ‘Echo.’ The audience was also treated to new material that Caspi has been working on, including tracks such as ‘The Closing Bell’ ‘Best of the Best’ and ‘The Long Shot.’ She also performed covers of some well-known songs, including ‘Tennessee Waltz.’
Throughout the evening, Caspi shared stories about her life growing up in Ottawa, and some of the experiences that served as inspiration for her songwriting. Caspi is also a visual artist and had artwork for sale at the event.
Getting out on the road and playing live provides her with an opportunity to test out new songs. The last album, Hurricane Coming, she explained, was made during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“All of those songs were really born in the studio and then, I didn’t get a chance to play them for live people at live shows,” she said, explaining that playing in front of audiences makes a difference, as it provides immediate feedback for her.
The Lac La Biche concert is part of an Alberta tour she is currently on. Prior to coming to Sir Winston Churchill Provincial Park, Caspi played dates in Edmonton and Valleyview.
“Both of those were house concerts, so those were small shows, kind of the same, you know, intimate vibe as the show here in Lac La Biche,” Caspi said, adding that she enjoys playing small venues. “I love being able to be close to the audience, and to see everybody’s faces and to really be able to connect with people in an intimate way.”
When asked if there will be a new album in the future, one featuring some of the tracks she played at the concert, Caspi is unsure at this point. She explained that the process of making an album involves writing all of the songs, getting into the studio to record, and then going through the album release process.
“These days, things can change, because some people just put out one song at a time…I might do that…I haven’t decided yet,” she said. “Right now, I’m just playing them live.”
