Ponderings about space, time and the meaning of life are woven into a one-man philosophical, spiritual musical by Ryon Holmedal.
The Lacombe musician performs original songs he’s written over many years in his unique, meditative multi-media show, Tethers: A Musical Reflection of an Unfinished Journey. Poetic stories “about the uniqueness of the human experience” are told alongside projected images of our planet and the cosmos.
Holmedal’s changing presentation has been staged at the Nickle Studio, upstairs at Red Deer’s Memorial Centre, once or twice a month since January. And word-of-mouth about the musical — in which he sings, plays guitar and ruminates in his perfectly-pitched voice on what it means to be human in an “unimaginatively large universe” — is growing with each performance.
The next show is on Saturday, May 13. Holmedal and his wife Anna will once again provide coffee, tea, appetizers and dessert before and after the presentation as a way of bringing people together over food.
The musician, who works as a self-employed construction contractor, describes himself as an observer who’s sometimes concerned by what he sees. “People are driving their vehicles directly into their attached garages, then pulling the door down, and turning on screens in their homes to connect with something, when they have neighbours…”
He believes we all have a basic need to connect with other people. Although everyone is beset by a myriad of daily distractions, he also feels true contentment comes from learning to be present in the moment — for time is finite “and right now, you and I are sharing the only moment that we have…”
The theme of his allegorical storytelling centres around “the things we share uniquely as humans; love and loss, longing, desire, imagination, despair and triumph.”
A lifetime seeker, Holmedal went through a dark period in his 20s and travelled the world looking for answers to set him on a more positive course. One day he had a spiritual awakening, and began to see things in a new light.
Although his own experience was with Christianity, the father of two doesn’t want to lead anyone down any particular religious path with his introspective show, but rather to open up people’s minds so they can embark on their own personal journeys.
“I hope the story will connect with people in a way that lingers, maybe stirring reflection, maybe highlighting the things that really add value to life.”
Holmedal also hopes to help audience members realize that, in an ever expanding universe, “we are not without significance.”
For tickets to the 8 p.m. show (appetizers at 7:30 p.m.) please contact the Black Knight Ticket Centre.