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The Red Dirt Skinners show is coming to Meaford Hall on the April 22.

For fans of Pink Floyd, Supertramp, Simon and Garfunkel, Queen, David Bowie, and similar, this highly original multi-award winning, multi-genre band should be on your bucket list!

The Red Dirt Skinners are known and loved throughout Canada and the U.K. for their heartwarming stories and awe-inspiring concerts.

Theirs is a high-energy show of sublime musicianship. This act is the real deal and make genuine connections with their audiences wherever they play. Sarah Skinner sings backing vocals and plays soprano sax. Her playing has won her such accolades as Instrumentalist of the Year at the British Blues Awards and placed her alongside some of the biggest names in the Wikipedia list of notable soprano saxophonists.

Last August Sarah caught Covid and struggled to shake it, leaving her breathless and unable to walk more than a minute or two, let alone be able to play the sax. Sarah began recovering slowly, but in October her health took a turn for the worse, and she found herself unable to take deep breaths at all. Her doctor diagnosed her with long Covid and suggested that she begin looking for a new career. As someone who has been on stage since the age of six, this was a devastating blow to Sarah, and the Red Dirt Skinners began to hang in the balance.

Over the next few months, Sarah’s health worsened, and she began to suspect that something was seriously wrong with her lungs. From her talks with other long Covid sufferers, she found that people were slowly beginning to improve, whilst her condition worsened.

Eventually, she was referred to a specialist. CT scans showed a partial collapse of both lungs due to a bacterial infection, and she was given antibiotics.  Within two days, Sarah was out running, able to play the sax and feeling 100 per cent. The turnaround in her health was nothing short of miraculous. 

The Red Dirt Skinners show at Meaford Hall is the band’s first show back since Sarah’s health recovered, and the band are excited to be returning to the stage.

Rob Skinner (lead vocals and guitar) describes their relief.

“It’s the only job we have ever loved. Since Sarah has been playing again, I’ve seen her play with a passion and energy that is astonishing. We are thrilled to be returning to performing and cannot wait to bring our show to Meaford Hall,” said Mr. Skinner.

Expect to be taken on a musical journey that will stay with you for weeks after the concert.

The Red Dirt Skinners combine heartfelt storytelling with world-class musicianship and vocal harmonies that will steal your heart. Their latest album ranked in Music News Magazine’s Top 20 of 2021 (alongside Adele and Taylor Swift).

Tickets are available by calling the box office at 519.538.1060 or via the ticket website.

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source: media release, Red Dirt Skinners