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Folk singers charged after arrest at U.S. border

Two Red Deer singers who embarked on a coast-to-coast North American tour last month are now facing U.S. federal charges for allegedly lying when attempting to cross from Canada into Maine.
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Folk singer Michelle Joly has been charged with making false and misleading representation after being arrested at the U.S. border earlier this week.

Two Red Deer singers who embarked on a coast-to-coast North American tour last month are now facing U.S. federal charges for allegedly lying when attempting to cross from Canada into Maine.

Michele Marie Bahrynowski, a folk singer who performs under the name Michelle Joly, and her backup, Carrie Ann Sadler, are charged with making false and misleading representation after being arrested earlier this week, says an Associated Press report on Thursday.

According to an affidavit, border agents in Calais turned back the pair at 2 a.m. Monday because they didn’t have the necessary work or performance visas.

The pair was arrested the next morning at another Calais border station after allegedly telling agents they were crossing the border to visit friends.

The affidavit says Bahrynowski later acknowledged she was scheduled to perform in New York, Illinois and Minnesota.

Agents found 459 Michelle Joly CDs and other merchandise in the pair’s van.

Joly and Sadler both graduated from Red Deer College’s music program in 2001.

The pair teamed up to start touring June 1 in support of Joly’s debut solo album, You’re Not Alone, which is described as a soulful, jazzy, folk album.

Joly, who honed her songwriting, guitar and piano playing skills in Nova Scotia after leaving RDC, has been involved in musicals and choirs across the country, and now teaches voice, guitar and piano at 53rd Street Music in Red Deer.

Along with Sadler’s harmonic accompaniment, Joly is said to produce raw, sweet and unique vocals.

Joly was set to return to Red Deer later this month and perform at the Hideout in Red Deer County’s Gasoline Alley on July 28.

The pair was scheduled to perform at the fifth annual Central Music Festival north of Red Deer from Aug. 12 to 14.

ltester@www.reddeeradvocate.com

—with files by The Canadian Press