After more than 4 decades, the immensely popular group of Sharon and Bram are now on their Farewell Tour, and they will be making a stop here in Moose Jaw.

They began their final tour in Toronto, where it all started back in 1978 when they got together to record for the first time. Bram said they had only planned to do one recording, and then return to their personal careers. They didn't expect it to catch on like it did, and that "We'd never sung together before, which is kind of backwards. And it wasn't until the recording was heard on CBC Radio across the country. The feedback was fantastic and then we realized that we think we've got something started here."

Bram added that "We don't tour the way rock and roll bands do. We don't go out for weeks and weeks and months at a time. We go out, and do a few here, and then go back home and do a few more here. In this particular season, about 25."

Sharon said that touring is difficult, but that they will never stop singing or being creative. "We are singers at heart and there will always be some kind of singing from us. Just not touring."

The duo have been touring without Lois, but still consider her part of the family. Sharon said that "Lois stopped touring about 20 years ago, when her husband died. We were constantly in touch, we saw each other a great deal. And we're a part of eachother's lives. We're in touch with her son, and her grand daughter and we're very much connected to Lois and that history."

The decision to make this the final tour was a hard one to make, but they both agreed that it was time. "We had 40 really good years, we're into 41 now", said Bram. "But my health has been not great, and I've been finding it a big strain to do it, and I thought now's the time. I'm 78 now."

Bram said that to perform, especially as long as they have, it's about adrenaline, otherwise it looks limp up on stage. "And the fact that the children and their parents and their grandparents are singing with you, right from the first note of the first song. That energy just flows from the audience right up on the stage. And it's a combination of their energy and ours that makes it very very special."

"We're seeing generations now", added Sharon. "We see kids who grew up on us, bringing their children and coming back with their parents. And it's very very satisfying for us.
Our philosophy was bring really good music, good quality music that's accessible to the audience immediately and so that they take music into their lives. We're not trendy, it's all about music and making their lives richer through the music and I think that's why we've been successful doing what we do. It enriches their lives."
As they tour now, Sharon said, they are finding the audiences to be incredibly devoted to them and responsive. "The older ones come with or without their kids. We did a show in Edmonton a few days ago and we had the audience standing up for something. And I said 'I see a long line of adults there and no children with you, how many of you have come today without any children?' And a whole whack of people who grew up on us, were there to have that wonderful memory of their childhood. It just thrills us."

"This has been a fantastic unexpected long term career," added Bram. "This is not the final final ending, there will still be music, but we won't be hitting the road in the same way that we have in the past."

Sharon added that they will always find occasions to sing. It's part of who they are, and their creative outlets aren't stopping, just the touring. She said "we have great excitement as we have a new book coming out which is called Sharon Lois and Bram's Skinamarink. And it's a picture book. It's our beloved song Skinamarink with additional lyrics and and it's all about love. And giving your love to different kinds of people and places and circumstances. We'll be doing a book launch in the fall when that comes out."

The Farewell Tour makes a stop here in Moose Jaw Wednesday night at Mae Wilson Theatre at 6:30 pm. For more information and to purchase tickets, go to moosejawculture.ca.