Music

Sweet, Simple, and Lovely

Canadian folk duo bring their harmonies to UW-Stout

Hannah Mumm |

Dala is a dynamite duo.
Dala is a dynamite duo.

Amanda Walther and Sheila Carabine of Dala have making music together since high school – and it shows. Since debuting their first album in 2005, the best friends have released four more albums, toured across North America, appeared at several festivals, and won the 2010 Canadian Folk Music Award for Best Vocal Group of the Year. Whether exploring what could have been in “Life on Earth” or reminiscing about teenage obsessions in “Lennon and McCartney,” Walther and Sheila weave elaborate stories into every song. Their vivid imagery and narrative prowess establish them as folk greats. However, Dala cannot simply be categorized into a single genre. The duo draws from diverse influences including The Beatles, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, and Bob Dylan. Armed with only an acoustic guitar and two sets of vocal chords, the duo creates a striking sound that is surprisingly complex. Walther and Sheila Carabine meld bright melodies and ethereal harmonies to create stripped-down acoustic music that is a little bit folk, a little bit pop, and entirely their own. Head to the Mabel Tainter Center for the Arts on Nov.r 11, sit back, and let Dala’s intricate simplicity entrance you.

Dala, presented by STEPS and the MTCA • Nov. 11, 7:30pm • Mabel Tainter Center for the Arts, 205 Main St. E, Menomonie • $30 General Admission, $35 VIP • All ages • (715) 235-0001 • mabeltainter.org