LIVESTREAM TICKET ONLY - In-person tickets available via L'Astral Website

“Beyond Here” is inspired by individuals, actions and ideas that radiate out to change the world far beyond what is directly in front of us. Written almost entirely before the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, I was reflecting on how the world around us was shaped - how the needs and views of an individual, corporation, political entity or organization can turn the lives of others upside down. 

Although this album was mostly written (aside from “After the Storm”--which is a shred of hope for life post-pandemic) before COVID-19, we were already headed for a potential planet-wide crises. This included a race against global warming (“Running Out”), facing pollution-related catastrophes in water sources (“Tides”), global leaders influencing millions of people-- fueled by hate and discrimination (“Interlude: Human Malfunction”) against people of diversity. The album also is influenced by observing the ongoing cultural assimilation and fusions of cultural identities in developing countries (“Streets of Mexico City”), healing of relations between countries, affecting those with walls and impermeable borders (“From Divided to One”) and the ever-evolving tech race to replace humans’ roles in society (“Ele(ctro)phant”). 

The album also has tracks inspired by some of my own personal experiences (“Perspective”) in the last few years - including shifting and adapting to ongoing life changes (“Far from Familiar Ground”), learning to look at the big picture in order to maintain mental health (“Letting Go”) and stay grounded while the world around us seems to crumble. 

Beth McKenna - Saxophones, Flute, Compositions
Sarah Rossy - Vocals (Special guest)
Guillaume Martineau - Piano & Keyboards
François Jalbert - Guitar
Olivier Babaz - Electric & Upright Basses
Peter Colantonio - Drums