This weekend is what local country music fans have been waiting for all year.
The Roots and Boots Country Tour will be at Lac La Biche County’s Bold Center stage on Friday, August 16.
The concert will feature Sammy Kershaw, Collin Raye, and Aaron Tippin. (click for links)
Tippin — a long-time fan-favourite country artist, has a total of nine studio albums and two compilations, with six gold certifications and one platinum certification among them. The Florida-born singer and songwriter has charted more than 30 singles on the Hot Country Songs charts, including three number ones ... “There Ain’t Nothin’ Wrong with the Radio” in 1992, “That’s as close as I’ll get to Loving You” in 1995 and “Kiss This” in 2000.
Raye is billed as one of the true country hit makers of the 1990s. With 24 top ten records, 16 number one hits, and a 10-time male vocalist of the year nominee, the Arkansas-born star is known for his many country ballads, including 1998’s “I Can Still Feel You,” and “Love Me,” that was released in 1992. Both peaked at number one on Billboard County’s chart list.
Collin Raye
Kershaw is a best-selling country artist with six gold and three platinum albums.
Raised in Louisiana, the country superstar has more than 25 top-40 singles. He has 11 top ten singles, including two number one hits with his 1993 release “She Don’t Know She’s Beautiful” and 1999’s “Love Of My Life.”
While speaking to the POST last Saturday for a pre-show interview, Kershaw compared the future of country music to some of the industry’s modern genres. He said it takes hard-working musicians like himself, Tippin, Raye and others to keep the music alive.
“What do I think of the future of Country music? Right now, I don’t get much Country music. So, guys like me and Aaron Tippin, Collin Raye, Mark Chestnutt, Tracy Lawrence, we have got to keep the Country music going,” said Kershaw.
Despite the rise of other modern genres, Country had managed a significant comeback. Kershaw along with his fellow country musicians has seen a slight increase in the genre’s audiences. This has resulted in a busy couple years for the contemporary country stars with constant on-the-road touring.
“The touring has been great. We work every week. We are busier than ever right now. Country music has done well for us. The last year and a half, there’s kind of a resurgence in the 90s Country music,” he said, adding that he still loves the audience response to the live shows.
Recording albums or playing live? There’s no question, he says. “Live.”
The difference has a lot to do with the energy the musicians get from the live audiences, he says.
“In the studio, you’ve got to wait for so much sometimes, just to get something that can get some sort of reaction from the people. The live shows are automatic. They are right away. You get up there on stage and you get that instant energy. You don’t have to wait, so you know, we love doing the live stuff. Don’t get me wrong, we love to do studio recordings, and sometimes do videos and things like that but, the live shows are what we truly live for,” explained Kershaw.
Family support
As busy as work has been for the award-winning musician, Kershaw is also a dedicated family man. He truly appreciates how his family supports him and his on-the-road lifestyle. If it wasn’t for his family, his career would not have seen the success that it has seen for the past two decades, Kershaw added.
“We tour all the time… The boys and I love to play and we love to be on the road. We don’t turn down work… We have some very understanding families. They understand what we love to do. They make a lot of sacrifices for us to be able to come out on the road and do what we love to do. We have some great families.”
Aaron Tippin
When asked who has the best song? Who has the best line in a song, and who’s the most country amongst the three musicians who will hit the Bold Center stage, Kershaw didn’t need much time to think.
“I am — on all three questions,” he with a warm laugh. “And if those two boys (Tippin and Raye) don’t answer the same way, they are lying to you if they say any different.”
Some tickets still available
Tickets for the show that will feature more of Kershaw’s good-natured humour as well as the hit country songs through much of the 1990s are available at the TicketMaster website at www.ticketmaster.ca for $83.55. Tickets can also be purchased at the Bold Center, Lac La Biche Sporting Goods and Britton’s Independent Grocers.
Limited VIP Tables are also available as well. In order to book, call (855)720-8779.
