Barney Bentall to rock the house in Cardiff

Barney Bentall is a heck of a lot more than a rock ’n roller: A folk singer, an aspiring bluegrass player and a raconteur.

Known throughout the music industry as a salt-of-the-earth singer/songwriter, he’s a Canadian icon who quietly chooses philanthropic challenges dear to his heart.

The British Columbia-based singer rose to the forefront of the national scene with Barney Bentall and the Legendary Hearts and revived his career with The Grand Cariboo Opry show. Somewhere in between he’s hosted concerts for Vancouver’s drug-addicted east end.

And for the past four years he’s been part of Gold Medal Plates, a group that cycles across Europe to raise money for athletes. Cycling with his wife Kath and a host of musicians including organizer Jim Cuddy, the pack cycled from the French Mediterranean to the hills of Tuscany sampling fine food, savouring wines, socializing and entertaining crowds.

“I love Italy. I love the food. I love the wine. I love the people. I love the scenery,” said Bentall, who returned to Canada a few weeks ago.

Feeling fit and invigorated, he returns to the St. Albert area for a house concert on Tuesday, June 12 in Cardiff.

Prior to his trip, Bentall recorded a new album at Bryan Adams’ infamous Warehouse Studios in Vancouver and later stopped by Zed Productions in Bon Accord to have it mixed by Juno Award winning producer/sound engineer Sheldon Zaharko.

The duo have a professional relationship that goes back years, and when Zaharko asked Bentall if he’d be willing to perform at a house concert, the answer was an immediate yes.

“I don’t do a lot of house concerts,” Bentall said. “They’re friendly and it’s a wonderfully intimate setting. It’s up close and personal and I’ve lots of stories to tell. And I enjoy playing in a stripped down environment. You get a chance to get at the kernel of a song. And then you get requests from the crowd.”

Although the new CD doesn’t have a title, it will be released with 11 songs. On the surface, they are eclectic. Four Went to War looks at four brothers that enlisted in the American Civil War while The Ballad of Johnny Hook is a florid account of the man who homesteaded Bentall’s ranch. And Annabelle is drug-addict’s love story.

“To quote Joe Henry, you write the songs, put them in a pile and after a while certain songs start to create gangs,” Bentall said. “This album is about the past and the present. Some things are very modern in terms of scope like the East Side love story. And then there’s the song about my wife’s ancestors who fought in the Civil War.”

Ultimately, Bentall feels fortunate to have a solid reputation to lean on.

“I love music. I love writing songs and I get to pursue an art form I enjoy.”