The country music industry in Alberta has developed a wide base of loyal fans who are wildly passionate and respectful of the songs and performers.
Local and national country singer-songwriters who are always searching for avenues to play, have jumped at the chance to perform at the 2nd annual Heartstrings & Honky Tonks concert series in the coming months.
Heartstrings & Honky Tonks is a blend of Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry and The Bluebird Café. It is designed as a “guitar pull” style songwriters' series where musicians sit around in a semi-circle backed by a live backing band.
“The Opry is the quintessential place where every country musician wants to sing. It’s something about the weight of the building and history of musicians that have played there, and to be welcomed into the circle is special,” said St. Albert’s own Dan Davidson, a series organizer.
“Instead, the Bluebird Café is very stripped down and it’s off the beaten path. But you can see something special happening there too. The great thing is both places encompass a lot of stories, songs and fun. And that’s what we’re doing at Heartstrings & Honky Tonks – sharing those personal moments, sad stories, happy times and teaching moments.”
In addition to the live concert series, this year CFCW Radio will broadcast the concert in real time. Program director and radio host Jackie Rae Greening will attend each concert and do live reads between performances.
Close to 20 recording artists plus surprise guests, whose names are currently kept under wraps, are slated to perform at five venues in different cities and towns.
Aaron Goodvin, Dan Davidson, Jake Mathews, Kelsi Mayne and Oliva Rose launch the first concert on Feb. 9 at Sherwood Park’s Festival Place. Clayton Bellamy, Davidson, Morgan Klaiber, Patricia Conroy and Kory Wlos raise the roof March 19 at Fort Saskatchewan’s Dow Chemical Centre.
Bellamy, Davidson, Duane Steele, Hailey Benedict and Pat Kordyback of Delta Sweet sing at the Arden Theatre on April 4. Bellamy, Davidson, George Fox, Kalsey Kulik and Jessie Bird make an appearance April 17 at Camrose’s Jeanne and Peter Lougheed Theatre.
The final series concert takes place at Bonnyville’s Strathcona Performing Arts Theatre on May 3 with Bellamy, Davidson, Michelle Wright, Nice Horse, Callee-Rae and Hayzley Rivard.
To enhance the country vibe, “The set is like a farmhouse kitchen with the radio always on and it fits right in with what we’re doing. It’s reminiscent of a different time and it’s really cool.”
Heartstrings & Honky Tonks is Davidson’s brainchild, and it was conceived in an effort to perform more gigs during the winter months.
“Our agents are booking the big festivals for summer, but we wanted to do more in between. I talked to Clayton (Bellamy) about finding a better way and came up with the idea of a songwriters’ session. Then I talked to Chris Melnychuk, a bassist I’ve known for a long time and discussed my frustrations,” Davidson explained.
Currently the trio is the primary coordinator of both seasons of Heartstrings & Honky Tonks.
Concert prices vary by theatre. Visit heartstringsand honkytonks.com for more information.