Rainmaker roundup comes to town

Saddle up. It's time to hit the trail for the 48th annual Rainmaker Rodeo where the City of St. Albert's Kinsmen Fairgrounds swirl in a haze of barbecued hot dogs and beer-soaked cowboy madness.

The three-day whoop-up from Friday to Sunday packs a screaming midway, a citywide parade, wild lumberjacks, zany clowns and lightning dynamo dog competitions.

It is the largest semi-professional rodeo in Alberta and one of the last frontiers where the Old West meets 21st century rodeo riders. Matched with the toughest bulls, broncs and steers in the biz, rodeo competitors gun for a $1,000 purse and some good old-fashioned cowboy bragging rights.

But as the curtain falls on the rodeo grounds and night stars speckle the sky, hopefully, urban cowboys meet Under the Big Top for a bold line-up of nine concert acts. They represent a broad swath of styles from hard rock to traditional country, from enduring heart-throbs to fun-loving upstarts.

Headlining Friday's killer rock night is The Trews, State of Shock, St. Albert's own Tupelo Honey and the free-styling The Bear Band.

Top billing on Saturday's country night goes to Dean Brody, followed by Chad Brownlee, Beverley Mahood, Katie Mission and Orchard.

Rockin' Friday night

It is hard to believe that The Trews last played at the Rainmaker in 2010, opening for California's Buckcherry. It was the year snow blanketed the entire rodeo weekend.

"If it happens again, it's nothing we can't handle," laughs guitarist John Angus MacDonald, also co-producer of their fourth studio album Hope & Ruin released in 2011. The self-titled single entered the Top 10 at Canadian Rock Radio within three weeks of its release.

When the Gazette caught up with them, the foursome, an entrenched part of the Canadian fabric, were buckled in their tour van en route from Atlanta to Nashville.

The five-time Juno nominated band is constantly on tour with concerts in England, the United States and most recently Australia. But it's the big sold-out crowds and massive following at home that are both a financial and ego-boosting support.

Hope & Ruin was born after The Trews third album failed to garner the American support they'd hoped.

"We made it a heavy personal, emotional and economic commitment," MacDonald explains. "We pushed hard to get it working in the United States, but it sort of stalled. We came off the road with not a clear vision of what we wanted to do and where we wanted to go."

Gord Sinclair of the Tragically Hip invited them to just go and jam at the Hip's Bathouse Studios and it was there that the band rediscovered their original love of rock.

"As we were writing a song, we put it down. We soon realized the demos were good enough and we got in the groove to make more. There was a flow of energy that reached a new level and it came quickly and effortlessly. We found the inspiration in the environment and we created the circumstances to make it happen."

Almost a decade and a half after their professional career took off, their re-animated love of rock will launch the Rainmaker.

One of the night's openers is State of Shock, a Vancouver fivesome with a little bit of rock 'n' roll and a whole lot of energy.

With their third studio album, Rock 'N' Roll Romance, out in September 2011, the band hopes to relive the golden success of the 2008 Life, Love & Lies, especially the debut single Money Honey.

The success of Life, Love & Lies even reached the ears of Aerosmith, Bon Jovi and Nickelback, who invited State of Shock to tour six months with them.

"It was surreal," says guitarist Jesse Wainwright describing the dream come true.

Together now for eight years, the Juno-nominated band has developed a niche with songs such as the driving Still Got Tomorrow and the passionate and haunting Innocent Girl.

"At the end of the day, we love to play music and when people download records, it allows us to do what we do and we thank you for it."

Wainwright is inviting every fan to a meet and greet after the show for an autograph signing or a hug. "We just want to say 'hi.' We're really very personable."

Tupelo Honey, performing in their second consecutive year at the rodeo, plan to make a frisky entrance from the adrenalin rush of winning two trophies at the 2012 Edmonton Music Awards.

"We were really excited. The one we wanted was album of the year and we got it," says bassist Steve Vincent.

Caught Up in the Excess debuted at No. 4 on the iTunes rock charts and had singles charting in the Top 40.

"What was cool about this event was how the media got all over this thing. We received congrats from other parts of Canada and it was nice to be recognized."

Although the EMA have helped to increase demand, Vincent acknowledges, "In Canada we have a very humble financial playing field."

However, last Sunday night, Vincent learned the band's fortunes had increased. Sunkist had picked up their song We Are for promotional purposes. It aired twice at the Billboard Music Awards. In return for the song, the band receives a lump sum payment and performance royalties.

"For Canadian musicians, getting in the publishing world is one of the few avenues where you can still make money."

Saturday night country groove

With model-like good looks, it is no wonder Dean Brody charms arenas full of swooning teenage girls. He was recently in this neck of the woods headlining Legal's Small Town Saturday Night as part of a promo tour for the 2012 release of his third album Dirt.

Although the promo tour involved daily appearances at breakfast shows and radio interviews followed by an evening performance, Brody is never too tired to talk about Dirt.

"It was simple. Nothing says country more than dirt," Brody says in explaining the chosen name. The Nova Scotia-based, B.C.-bred singer/songwriter remembers playing in the dirt as a kid. Later at 15, Brody landed his first labour job working at a Jaffray sawmill.

The singles Canadian Girls has landed some pretty solid airplay and It's Friday is a stompin' party tune that connects with everyone.

And Dirt was partially inspired by his father, a heavy-duty equipment operator and ranch hand.

"It's a fun song that reminds me of how a little boy might sing it in a laid-back way."

Dirt is essentially about creative characters experiencing their journey of life, much as Brody has. In fact, he once lived in Sherwood Park for two years and made a living at Walmart unloading trucks.

"I'm excited to come back to Edmonton. It's almost like coming home."

Skating in as an opening performer is former Idaho Steelheads defenceman Chad Brownlee, who after a series of injuries turned his attention to music.

"Music was a hobby, a release from my true passion – hockey. But the love of the game diminished and my love of music took off," says Brownlee who plays guitar, piano and tenor sax.

The B.C.-based artist released a self-titled debut album in 2010 followed up by the 2012 Love Me or Leave Me, an exploration of love in all its forms.

A commanding performer, he can turn up the heat with his edgy outlaw vibe with songs that come straight from the heart as he once again breaks the confines of country.

The only two women slated to perform at the rodeo are Beverley Mahood and the Edmonton-based Katie Mission, 26. With an album still in production at Nashville's Grand and Gee Music, Mission plans to stake her claim in country.

"The theme of the album is light-hearted and peppy. I was in love at the time I wrote the songs and I'm still in love, and it was a very exciting time," says Mission.

She just released Jumpin' Right In, co-written with Patricia Conroy that advocates, "letting go of your inhibitions. Don't worry about expectations. Just jump right in."

That's pretty good advice for anyone debating whether to attend the Rainmaker. Free park and ride is available from St. Albert Centre to the Kinsmen Fairgrounds until 2:30 a.m.