Rainmaker Music Festival parties with the old and new

Time to dust off your comfy old cowboy boots hidden in the back closet. The 52nd annual Rainmaker Rodeo is set to launch St. Albert's summer festival season with a rodeo, midway, lumberjack shows, the Dynamo Dogs and a petting zoo.

And of course the Rainmaker Music Festival on May 26 and 27 is set to sound off a broad arsenal of music with some of Canada's most-talked about rock and country entertainment.

For this two-night extravaganza, festival chair Patrick Dower has booked a blend of classic rock and contemporary country.

Friday rock night brings together three huge iconic hit-makers from the 1970s and 1980s – Harlequin, Prism and The Headpins.

Instead, Saturday country night takes fans through more contemporary chart-toppers with Brett Kissel, Washboard Union, Jeremy Dallas and Steve Newsome.

Below is a quick roundup of featured acts.

Friday Rock Night

• Harlequin

One of Canada's road warriors, Harlequin continues to criss-cross the country playing the infectious sounds that first caught the ear of Jack Douglas, the legendary scout and producer of acts such as Aerosmith, Patti Smith and John Lennon.

The award winning five-piece pop-rock band hasn't released an album since On/Q, a 2009 live compilation. Yet at live shows, fans continue to hang on every note pumping their fists in the air.

George Belanger, one of the original members and a major song-writing force, has never stopped writing songs. But he doubts the band will ever release an album of new music.

"I've gravitated to other stuff – blues and rhythm and blues. I still like rock, but this other stuff is not the kind of music people perceive as Harlequin," said Belanger.

So what songs do Harlequin's all-ages fans expect at any given concert?

"We do the 'Magic Seven' as we like to call them. There's Superstitious Feeling, Survive, Sweet Things In Life and I Did It For Love among them."

And while their older fans socking away money for retirement enjoy taking a trip back to their youth, the younger fans get a charge out of the catchy tunes.

"Make sure you show up. Our music is contagious and we go out to have fun."

• Prism

For the uninitiated, Prism is the Vancouver pop-rock band formed in 1977 that wrote Spaceship Superstar, the big hit that was chosen as the wake up song for Space Shuttle Discovery crewmembers.

"That song came out of a magical time. It was all part of those space songs. I wrote Flying. There was Rocket Man, Armageddon and Star Wars. It was all part of that era," said guitarist-singer-songwriter Al Harlow.

An active recording band, they've released 13 studio albums, three compilation albums and a live album.

"We stayed on the road eight months a year and didn't flinch as long as we found a Laundromat," laughed Harlow.

The band maxed out playing 250 gigs a year. Today they've tapered down to 40.

As Prism celebrates its 40th anniversary, the band's legacy is under debate.

"We do represent the era of the five-piece classic rock band where songs and performance were king."

There is no doubt Prism's songs energized the space rock themes popular several decades ago. But the band never really hit it big.

While Prism remained in the trenches, it is renowned as a launching pad for some notable careers including singer-songwriter Bryan Adams, record producer Bruce Fairburn and songwriter Jim Vallance said Harlow.

"All of us no longer have an agenda. We're very comfortable on stage and we enjoy the moment. Technology has made it easier and better and it's a more relaxed operation."

And if fans are lucky, they'll see Harlow performing one of his famous backwards somersaults.

"They're easier when you're holding a guitar."

• The Headpins

The Headpins have been around since the late 1970s when Chilliwack created the Canadian rock band as a side project.

But in the last 12 months, Headpins has undergone an interesting lineup change. Darby Mills, who was the female lead singer for 35 years, has moved on to solo projects.

Mills was known as the band's voice. Due to her prominence on stage, she was difficult to replace. However founding member and drummer Bernie Aubin brought in Kat Laurence.

"She plays drums and guitar. She writes music and has a great singing voice and we're very happy to have her," said Aubin.

Although the band has not written any new material since the release of their first three albums in the '80s, there is a definite revitalization among the musicians.

"She's positive, enthusiastic and brought a whole new energy to the band. We've learned more songs and worked on a whole new set."

"We had a reputation as the AC/DC of Canada. We had a big beat, heavy guitars and the chemistry was magical," said Aubin. "Music keeps you young, and people continue to enjoy the franchise for its nostalgia."

Saturday Country Night

• Brett Kissel

Alberta's son of country music has two terrific announcements. On May 3, he became the proud papa of Aria Kissel, a second baby daughter.

And on May 8, the word came through that the pride of Flat Lake, Alberta was awarded the 2017 International Artist of the Year Award at the Worldwide Radio Summit in Hollywood, California.

"What's special is that Canada voted for me," said Kissel noting that Adele and Ed Sheeran have also received the same nomination in previous years.

"I'm pretty proud to be up there with that company."

Wait. It gets better. On Saturday, May 27, the night he's performing at Rainmaker, Kissel will be celebrating his 27th birthday. Have the stars lined up or what?

"I don't think any party we do this year will be as big as what we have planned," said Kissel. Joining him is fiddler Tyler Vollrath, bassist Justin Kudding, guitarists Mattie McKay and Connor Riddell and St. Albert drummer Ben Bradley.

Both a Juno and CCMA Award winner, Kissel leads a seemingly charmed life, however getting to this point has been hard work since his first teenage appearances.

"It's hard to describe my life in the moment. My favourite place to be is on the stage. I stand and look at the crowd and it's such happiness. I'd never try drugs. It's (singing) such a high, so special. It gets addictive and you want to do more and more."

In the past four years, three of his singles have certified gold – Started With a Song, 3-2-1 and Airwaves. In addition, to stage appearances, Kissel is spending time in Saskatoon recording a new CD with trusted producer Bart McKay.

Although his Warner Music marketing team is keeping information about the album under wraps, Kissel plans to sing some new material at Rainmaker.

"It's going to be a great party especially so close to home."

• Washboard Union

Washboard Union recently returned from a tour in France and was gob-smacked by fan acknowledgment and appreciation.

"What we found incredible is that people knew all the words to our songs. To get that happening as an artist is unforgettable. It feeds the fire especially if you're still sitting around a table in a crappy kitchen in Tennessee writing songs," laughs Chris Duncombe.

The other members of the Vancouver-based trio are stepbrothers David Roberts and Aaron Grain (a.k.a. Brett Ellis).

A recipient of the CCMA Rising Star and Roots Artists of the Year, Washboard Union is in the throes of recording another album. Prolific singer-songwriters, they penned 45 songs before whittling them down to a dozen.

"Each one represents a snapshot in time," said Duncombe who adds that the trio is known for its smart song-writing and great storytelling.

"But we're really proud of our three-part harmonies. It's at the centre of what we do. And we work hard to feature it prominently. We put a lot of effort into what we do and we work well together."

This coming summer will be their heaviest touring schedule with 26 shows and festivals including Big Valley Jamboree.

"Thank you for caring and loving our music. We're honoured to be part of the Rainmaker and can't wait for it to start. And thank you to Alberta. It was the first place to take an interest and support our music."

• Jeremy Dallas

Originally from Prince Edward Island, Jeremy Dallas is a Calgary-based touring musician. A self-taught musician, with chops playing seven instruments, Dallas took a brief hiatus from music to work as a truck driver.

But in 2013, a relationship that went sideways brought him back to the fold and he's been powering the jam scene and club circuit since then.

Dallas performs primarily covers but he adds a few originals to each show.

His first single is being released to radio on June 5 and there's a second single in the works for the fall.

"My style is more modern country. I'm not bro-country, however, I still do a lot of old Texas style country. So it's a well-rounded mix."

• Steve Newsome

Steve Newsome is real country in every way. Born in Southern Alberta he grew up as proud rancher, a lifestyle that eventually influenced his singer-songwriter career.

Influenced by Merle Haggard and Waylon Jennings, Newsome uses his rough, growly voice to tell story-songs that have charted in indie categories.

He is set to release Lost on 22, an upbeat homage to Alberta's secondary highway also known as the Cowboy Trail.