Bragg Creek Performing Arts, which has had a very successful spring with the likes of Fred Penner and Laila Biali hitting the stage, will be finishing off its 2018 Spring Season with a performance by Martin Kerr who will open up for Matthew and Jill Barber on May 5 at the Bragg Creek Community Centre.
MARTIN KERR
The year 2017 has been an incredible one for singer-songwriter Martin Kerr, whose soaring voice and intelligent lyrics connect with hearts of all ages and backgrounds.
His latest album, Better Than Brand-New, quickly went to number two on the iTunes album chart and hit the Top 10 on the Canada Album Sales Chart. That same week he opened for Sarah McLachlan at Rogers Place then was named Male Artist of the Year at the 2017 Edmonton Music Awards. Along with McLachlan, Kerr has already earned opening spots with Andy Grammer, Jim Cuddy from Blue Rodeo and Sean McCann from the Great Big Sea. Kerr, who was born and raised in the England, has travelled to 35 countries before settling in Alberta. Starting as a busker at a farmers’ market, he built his following one passer-by at a time, singing his way from street-corners to a sold out independent performance at Edmonton’s Winspear Theatre in May.
MATTHEW AND JILL BARBER
Jill Barber has garnered more than 30 award nominations including two JUNO Awards and has won multiple times at the East Coast Music Awards, Western Canadian Music Awards, Nova Scotia Music Awards. She was also the recipient of Jazz Artist of the Year from Sirius XM. She has also authored two best-selling children’s books. Her albums have sold over 100,000 copies and her album Mischievous Moon spent 13 straight weeks ranked number one on the Canadian Jazz Charts and debuted at number 12 on the US Billboard Jazz Charts. Her song Chances was also featured on the soundtrack for the hit series Orange is the New Black.
Matthew Barber has become one of Canada’s most respected and admired singer songwriters. Like his sister, Matthew has been nominated for multiple awards, including a JUNO. Through eight albums, he has stayed close to the folk and roots style.
In a magical evening at Toronto’s Massey Hall Jill and her brother Matthew sang the Everly Brothers classic All I Have To Do Is Dream on stage together. It was a culmination of a lifetime of collaboration and it was there, that Jill and Matthew decided to make a record together. The siblings poured through old records, making lists of their favourite songs. The Family Album touches on songs from Ian Tyson’s to Neil Young’s Comes A Time; they also delve deeper into honouring the song writing greats Bobby Charles and Townes Van Zandt. The album showcases the Barbers ability to interpret the works of others and craft their own songs that fit snug amongst the classics and their harmonies are sure to bring a chill and a tear.
Tickets for the show are available on ticketpro.ca or at braggcreekperformingarts.com. They are priced at $42 for adults and $40 for seniors. The concert will begin at 7:45 with the doors opening at 7 p.m.
