Rockin' at the rodeo

Get ready to buckle up. There's a 48-hour countdown to St. Albert's Rainmaker Rodeo.

Every third weekend in May, the Rainmaker delivers three days of non-stop entertainment to visitors in the Botanic Arts City.

From adrenaline rushing competitions between rodeo athletes to outdoor concerts by national-class musicians, this annual western celebration gives fans a chance to honour rural traditions and kick up their heels.

One of the biggest parties in town, it runs May 22 to 24 at the Kinsmen Fairgrounds.

For its 50th anniversary, Kinsmen organizers have invited a vast array of artists bringing different grooves to the cowboy hat studded event.

This year's marquee headliners are rock band I Mother Earth and country stars The Road Hammers, two bands that accomplished what most groups dream of doing.

Friday's rowdy rock night pools the talents of I Mother Earth, Gob, The Glorious Sons, Oil City Sound Machine and Pigeon Park.

The ever-popular Saturday night features a stable of country artists highlighted with The Road Hammers, High Valley, Aaron Pritchett, Kira Isabella and Dirt Road Angels.

And on Sunday afternoon, High Valley returns for a one-hour engagement immediately after a planned breakfast and concert.

Below is a quick roundup of the weekend bands.

Friday night rock

I Mother Earth

I Mother Earth just released a new single The Devil's Engine in February and it's getting lots of cyber praise. A popular alt rock band from 1990, I Mother Earth enjoyed an eight-year hiatus before reuniting in 2012.

Instead of relying on their old sound to top up their bank accounts, Mother has put together an updated modern track that combines a wide range of influences from jazz and funk to progressive rock.

The great riffs, lyrics and composition also infuse whiffs of Rush, King Crimson, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Smashing Pumpkins and Santana to name a few.

With five albums to their name, Mother had most of their big successes in the first incarnation. But The Devil's Engine has once again tapped a new well of creativity and sparked curiosity.

Gob

The twice Juno nominated Gob, a punk band from Langley, B.C., is a trendy alt rock band that has always been welcomed with open arms in the Capital Region.

Over the course of a career that dates back to 1993, this outfit has recorded seven LPs. Apt 13, the latest album, released May 2014, is still full of the piss and vinegar attitude that brought initial fame.

Ripe with the foursome's signature energy and guitar-heavy take on punk rock, Apt 13 picks up where 2007's heavy metal Muertos Vivos left off. However, this album adds a more layered rock sound from past decades.

With a full slate of summer festivals and club dates, the Rainmaker is a great opportunity to get pumped at their live-action show.

The Glorious Sons

The Glorious Sons are on a frenetic rollercoaster of success. The Kingston rock 'n' roll band just released a new video for Lightning even as the single peaked at No. 2 on Canada's Active Rock chart.

Harv of 235 Films (Drake, Classified) shot the video visually showcasing the band's intense energy, a signature mark of their live shows.

"We had a great time filming the video," says Brett Emmons (lead vocals). "There were plenty of people, food and well, some drinks. It was a little cold shooting a video in a silo, but everyone was in the same situation, which made it easier."

After a breakthrough year in 2014, they wrapped up a 31-date American tour and received a 2015 Juno nomination for Rock Album of the Year for their debut CD The Union.

Last year they played 150 shows across Canada and show no sings of stopping with gigs planned from B.C. to Ottawa.

Oil City Sound Machine

Every year, the Kinsmen reserve at least one slot for a classic rock band. This year it's Edmonton's Oil City Sound Machine presenting the big Top 40 hits of classic rock and disco smashes from the '70s and '80s.

Since its genesis in 2008, the independent musicians have electrified the groove with their energy and personality.

"People connect with us. They love the music and have a good time," says keyboardist Robert Fernandez.

Sticking close to home, they've entertained audiences at the Grey Cup, Edmonton Indy and performed as a countdown band on New Year's Eve. And for five consecutive years, Oil City has been a big draw at Legal's Fête au Village.

Saturday Country Night

The Road Hammers

Strap yourself in. The Road Hammers are back and they're about to take fans for a pull-no-punches ride. The no-nonsense, kick-ass three-piece mixes country, southern rock and blues sings tunes about mavericks and the open road.

And fans are tipping the hat to Wheels, a CD that definitely celebrates those who call the highway their home with road anthems such as Roll on Down the Road and Wide Open.

Although Jason McCoy, Clayton Bellamy and Chris Byrne split in 2010 to pursue other creative projects, they reunited for the 2013 CCMA Awards in Edmonton.

"It was a reawakening. We were so lucky to have a second chance. We didn't know if fans would accept us. We didn't know if the radio would give us full on support. But the fans were fantastic. Radio was fantastic," McCoy says.

Their truckin' songs vary from Mud, an ode to extreme motor sports to I've Been Everywhere, a tune that absorbs the heartbeat of big rigs. There's even a romantic number in You're My Highway.

The last 12 months have been a blaze of glory. The single Mud went gold. They travelled across Canada on the Bands on the Run Tour and were nominated as the CCMA Group of the Year.

Come summer they head out to Montana to record a six- to eight-song EP of more rough and raw Hammer music.

"It's going to be titled Fueled by Rednecks. It's who we sing to and who we are. It's for folks like us."

High Valley

Hailing from Alberta's La Crete community, High Valley country music duo brothers Brad and Curtis Rempel grew up on a 1,400-acre farm. They worked on the farm, played hockey and made music.

In a short, but impressive professional career they enlisted country music's Paul Brandt to produce their self-titled Canadian debut album.

They've gained traction opening up for major acts including Brad Paisley, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, Alan Jackson and Reba McEntire. Most recently they even opened for Shania Twain at the 2014 Calgary Stampede.

High Valley's latest release Country Line brings together bluegrass, classic country and tinge of pop they describe as "pop-grass."

Aaron Pritchett

You can never keep a good man down. In fact, Aaron Pritchett is probably the single most popular act at the Rainmaker with invitations to perform every second year.

This year is Pritchett's 25th anniversary as a professional singer-songwriter. For an entertainer that got his start as a DJ at Rooster's Country Cabaret in Pitt Meadows, B.C., Pritchett is one of the most sought after in the industry.

On May 12, he brought his catalogue full circle. Pritchett released his first greatest hits album titled Body of Work: A Collection of Hits.

"For me it's amazing I got a greatest hits album. It feels only two or three years ago I started in the business. It's crazy to think this is my 25th year in the industry," Pritchett says.

"When I was 30 years old, I didn't think I'd have a single song on radio. I'd almost like to think it's a dream.

The 2006 hit single Hold My Beer was a "game-changer." It connected with crowds and cemented his image as the hunky bad boy of country.

But there's a lot more to Pritchett than great songs and an image. Proud of his son Jordon, 24, of the pop band Faber Drive, Pritchett invited him to perform on a cross-Canada tour.

And he's started up a new web series titled Outside the Music as a way for fans to see the behind the scenes man. Tune in to the first online episode at aaron-pritchett.com.

Kira Isabella

Ottawa-born Kira Isabella is coming out bold with her Caffeine & Big Dreams album. She sets the album tone right at the beginning with a blazing country rock tune Shake It If Ya Got It.

While the album is peppered with party songs and ballads, it also takes on weightier issues such as date rape on the lead single Quarterback. While it sounds like a typical boy-meets-girl, it's actually a cautionary tune about relationships.

The tradition of storytelling in country music has had the greatest impact on Isabella and it shows. In 2012, she received the CCMA Rising Star Award and in 2013 took home the CCMA Award for Female Artist of the Year.

Dirt Road Angels

From dirt farms to the main stage with no looking back. That's the mantra for Dirt Road Angels, Canadian country girls self-proclaimed "Spice Girls."

This awesome girl group – Dahlia Wakefield, Shawna Lynn, Shila Marie, Karen Claypool and former St. Albert singer Danita Lynn – know how to kick into high gear and seduce hearts.

The Angels' first single off their six-song EP Paint the Town Red was just released to radio. Titled Back Around the Mountain, it has finely tuned lyrics written by Nashville writers J.B. Rudd, Carl Vipperman and Joanna Cotton.

One of the greatest challenges in the business is receiving name recognition. However, Global Country Canada has assembled a pilot project where the gals provide mentorship to the Star Search winners.

They will be travelling to the North American Country Music Association competitions in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., and showcasing at various venues.

In addition to an EP, the quintet released a 15-track 2013 Dirt Road Angels Compilation. At the Rainmaker, they plan to shake out old favourites and ramp up new charts.

During the three-day event, a free Rainmaker shuttle runs every 15 minutes is available at Village Landing.