Celebrated Canadian singer-songwriters Murray McLauchlan, Marc Jordan, Cindy Church, and Ian Thomas are Lunch at Allen’s, a musical tour group coming to the Moose Jaw Cultural Centre on Wednesday, June 14.
These individual artists have written for and sung on over 25,000,000 albums, writing hits for acts like Chicago, Josh Groban, Bonnie Raitt, America, Santana, Cher, and Rod Stewart, among others. Together, they create an evening showcasing the unique styles and abilities of each member, with an informal, humorous, storytelling dynamic that draws audiences in.
“It’s a communal experience, and I think we’re still at the stage of feeling especially grateful to be together after COVID,” Marc Jordan told MooseJawToday.com. “Lunch at Allen’s is a show that everybody experiences differently, but we do it together.
“It’s a great vibe. I think human beings are meant to do things together. If we do it alone, does it really exist? But together, something good always happens.”
Reserved seating tickets for Lunch At Allen’s are $72.00 on Sasktix.ca, or by calling the Mae Wilson box office at 306-693-4700. The show starts at 7:30 p.m.
Marc Jordan has written songs appearing on more than 35 million records. He is a critically acclaimed singer-songwriter who has been captivating audiences since he began. He is married to singer-songwriter, producer, and actress Amy Sky. Jordan and Sky have both acted alongside and worked with icons like Olivia Newton-John, Diana Ross, and Anne Murray. Known for hits like "Marina Del Rey" and "Rhythm of My Heart," Jordan's contributions to Lunch at Allen's bring emotional depth and storytelling to the ensemble.
Jordan’s latest album, Waiting for the Sun to Rise, was released in April 2023.
“The way [Lunch at Allen’s] came about was that Murray was asked to put together songwriter’s circle for something or other,” Jordan explained. “And he said, ‘No, I don’t like songwriter’s circles, but I’ll do it if I can do it my way.’ So, he asked Ian and I to do it with him, but we would do it like a band, you know, everybody performing on everyone else’s songs, instead of the usual one-person-at-a-time, going-down-the-line thing.”
After that first performance, an agent in the audience asked the trio to make some more bookings. Realizing they needed another singer, Jordan, McLauchlan, and Thomas recruited Cindy Church — and the act has continued ever since.
“Murray’s idea was quite a brilliant one, because it made everything better,” Jordan said. “And as soon as we added Cindy, it was sort of like the Mamas and the Papas in a way. Her voice just blended with ours. You take Cindy’s voice away, and it’s not even close. She just transformed us.”
The members of Lunch at Allen's have combined many decades of professional musicianship and entertainment savvy to create their show.
McLauchlan is a revered Canadian folk artist with 11 Juno Awards to his name. Over a 40-year-plus career, he has played every major hall in Canada, circumnavigated the country in Floating over Canada,” was appointed to the Order of Canada in 1993, and has 18 albums to his name.
Thomas, an accomplished singer-songwriter, is currently working on his 19th album. He has had many top-40 hits in Canada and around the world, composed music for 22 films, done extensive voice acting, was a member of the Red Green Show for six seasons, and has authored two novels.
Church, one of Canada’s top vocalists and a multi-instrumentalist, has lent her voice to countless musical projects. Recognized for her work with Quartette, her solo career, and her versatility across genres, Church brings a captivating presence and harmonies that elevate the performances of Lunch at Allen's.
For more information and upcoming tour dates for Lunch at Allen's, visit their official website at lunchatallens.ca.
“I hope everybody can make it out, and I would say to just make sure you clap loudest for my songs,” Jordan laughed.
