The Wardens Bring the Canadian Rockies to Raymond!

The Wardens – Sunday Afternoon Live

The Historic Raymond Theatre, 323 3rd St, Raymond, WA

Sunday, Feb 19, 2023 at 2:00 PM

You may never have looked a grizzly bear in the eyes, or witnessed a harrowing helicopter rescue from a snowy mountainside. But if you’ve heard the songs and stories of The Wardens, you’ve come close. The Wardens are a trio of Canadian National Park Wardens—or rangers—who have been transporting audiences to the wild spaces of the Rockies since 2009.

They are current and retired park wardens who in their off-time have performed on stages from Alberta to California, from Alaska to Wyoming. The Wardens sing original songs written from the heart, giving listeners visual and aural images of “government cowboys” riding the wilderness trails through national parks. Their work as wardens has led them to those grizzly encounters, chasing elk out of flower beds with hockey sticks, assisting in mountain rescues, and clearing attics of “manic pine martens”. In short, The Wardens are first and foremost protectors of the wild, and their music reflects that work. Their upcoming performance is a really unique experience for Sunday Afternoon Live audiences. This band has been recognized by many music and entertainment associations, but The Wardens’ vision is so far beyond performing songs on a stage: They use their gift of music to bring the Canadian Rockies to us.

The Wardens are co-founders Ray Schmidt (upright bass, vocals), and Scott Ward (guitar and vocals), as well as “deputy warden” Scott Duncan on fiddle. In the lyrics of their original songs, these real-life mountain men have memorialized their own wilderness experiences as well as those of other legendary protectors of the Rockies.

The Wardens’ mission is to bring what they have lived, loved and learned about wild places to audiences who may never be able to see those places first-hand. They combine song, story, and multi-media visuals to make it real for us, and to take us “past the end of the gravel road”. So saddle up! We’ve got trails to ride!

The Wardens perform at the historic Raymond Theatre (323 3rd St, Raymond, WA) on Sunday, February 19, 2023, at 2:00 PM as a part of Sunday Afternoon Live’s Season 19. Tickets are $25 at the door (cash or check only), or may be purchased in advance for $20 by mail. Send a self-addressed, stamped envelope with check payable to Sunday Afternoon Live to SAL, PO Box 964, South Bend, WA 98586. Other methods of purchase are by phone at 360-836-4419; and by credit card at www.sundayafternoonlive.org. Tickets for individual performances can be purchased at South Bend Pharmacy and at Sagen’s Pharmacy in Raymond. Season tickets are still available and may be purchased in advance through the methods described above. Thank you!