BARRHEAD – The Barrhead Arts Council (BAC) is preparing to host its 2022-23 concert series, the first complete series since the beginning of the pandemic.
Last year, the BAC held an abbreviated season, putting on just two concerts. However, with the loosening of public health restrictions, the BAC is confident they will not only be able to host the full series of four concerts but also fill the seats.
But so far, the reception has been lukewarm at best, said BAC president Jennifer Lechelt, but added they only recently announced this season's four-concert line-up.
"We want to start to attract younger patrons," she said, adding the BAC has been in operation for nearly 50 years, and many of their regular concertgoers are getting older. "With the artists we are bringing in, we believe it will appeal to a younger audience so they can experience the live music experience all without having to spend the time and expense of going into the city."
The BAC finds the acts they bring in by watching them perform live at a showcase event in Fort Saskatchewan, held typically on the third weekend of October.
"It is a tradeshow of sorts, for musicians," she said, adding, that the result is the BAC can bring in acts that traditionally play in larger, more well-known venues such as the Horizon Stage or Winspear Centre.
Although Lechelt said there is some government funding available, the bulk of the costs to bring the music acts to town comes from ticket sales which is why it is imperative to have good attendance.
This is why, she said, the BAC selected artists who they believe will appeal to all audiences, adding all the acts are Alberta-based musicians.
The first concert on Nov. 17 sees the Derina Harvey Band (DHB), a Celtic rock group, visit the Barrhead Composite High School (BCHS) theatre.
The band takes a fresh approach to traditional Celtic folk songs, and they have been likened to a “rockier” version of Great Big Sea, if they were fronted by Adele.
The next concert on Jan. 12 features Martin Kerr, a singer/songwriter who plays a variety of genres, including folk, hip-hop, pop, soul and even funk. His single, You Are Amazing, has been gathering international attention through radio play in Canada, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands. While the pandemic stopped many musicians from performing live concerts, Kerr launched his series of more than 400 ‘Stay Home Street Concerts’, performing from driveways, balconies and street corners.
The third concert in the series, on March 16, sees Over the Moon, an acoustic roots duo featuring Suzanne Levesque and Craig Bignell perform. The pair were nominated for a 2022 Juno Award for the Best Roots/Traditional album.
Closing out the series will be Steve Pinepo, a Calgary-based singer/songwriter who will be performing his Elvis show.
"He is not a tribute artist," Lechelt explained, noting Pinepo will be fronting a band, playing the guitar, slide guitar and harmonica, all while performing some of Elvis' most popular hits.
Tickets for the series are $100, while single concert tickets are $30. School-aged children are $10. Tickets are available at Comfort Corner.
"(The concerts) would be a perfect date night, and you don't have to spend the time and expense to go to Edmonton," she said.
