The Edmonton Fringe Festival is full of surprises but few shows promise to be as spirited, immersive, and downright fun as Moonshine.
Moonshine is running August 14–21 at Waffle Bird Restaurant, Moonshine is part storytelling, part live music, and part Ukrainian kitchen party… if that kitchen party happened to take place in a fried chicken shop!
Created by Larissa Poho and featuring music director Jordan Welbourne alongside a talented cast of multi-instrumentalists; Billy Brown, Marissa K, Scott Shpeley, the show has been nearly a decade in the making. What started as a one-woman performance with a violin and a bottle of moonshine has grown into a five-performer, actor-musician experience filled with guitar, mandolin, ukulele, accordion, simbale and percussion.
A Story About Connection
While Moonshine is rooted in Ukrainian heritage, its heart is universal. The stories are inspired by Larissa’s trips to Ukraine to meet family and musicians, and they’ve sparked conversations with audiences about their own roots – whether Ukrainian or not.
“All cultures share community and a love for food, drink, and music,” says Larissa. “This show celebrates that.”
The Music
The Moonshine cast is as adaptable as they are talented. In addition to playing their primary instruments, members pick up new ones on the fly – sometimes learning them days before the show! Local singer-songwriter Marissa K even takes up the accordion for the first time, despite being an accomplished keyboardist.
During their visit to Raven Radio, Larissa and Jordan performed “Samohonka” (which means “homebrew” or “moonshine”) — a rousing Ukrainian song Jordan wrote just four days earlier. The in-studio performance, complete with rich harmonies, was pure magic.
Fringe Buzz
Tickets are already more than a quarter sold out – a rare feat before Fringe even begins – thanks in part to Alberta’s vibrant Ukrainian community.
So if you want to experience an evening of music, laughter, and connection, all while enjoying great food and drink, Moonshine should be on your must-see list.
🎟 Moonshine
📅 August 14–21
📍 Waffle Bird Restaurant, Edmonton Fringe Festival
🎧 Listen to my full interview with Larissa and Jordan – including their live performance of “Samohonka” — here:
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