Half Hitch Brewing Company will be hosting an up-and-coming Blues, Rock and Roll and Country artist Devin Cooper on June 12. The 21-year-old Cooper, who is originally from Innisfail, has become focused with storytelling lyrics, encompassing the roots of blues, rock and country. He grew up listening to artists such as Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and ZZ Top. More recently, Cooper has been influenced by artists such as Kip Moore, The Cadillac Three, and Chris Stapleton. Cooper has also previously released an extended play record (EP) in 2013 and two singles in 2014 and 2015. April 2018 came with the release of a new single for Cooper, called Nothin’ on You. “I was incredibly excited to get back in the studio and record this song. As I continue to write, with many different co-writers, I can hear how my sound is progressively evolving," he said. On April 27, when the song was released, Cooper reached NO. 64 on the iTunes Top 200 Country songs charts, and was the only unsigned artist on the charts. In 2017, breaking into the country scene, Cooper hit the airwaves with a raw and emotional song No Chasing You, featuring a groovy head bobbing mid-section, with tasteful guitar licks influenced by Stevie Ray Vaughan, and powerful choruses. “We all took elements of our personal life where someone has left us high and dry, and brought them together to create this song," said Cooper. "It is something a lot of people can relate to and we felt like that was important." No Chasing You was recorded at OCL Studios, outside of Calgary, and co-produced by Spencer Cheyne, who produces for the likes of Brett Kissel, Jocelyn Alice and George Canyon as well as Justin Kudding, who has worked with Brett Kissel in the past. The song features Cooper on lead guitar and vocals, Russ Broom on rhythm guitar, Adam Dowling on drums, Brendan Waters on organ, Kudding on bass, and Annika Odegard on backing vocals. Cooper co-wrote No Chasing You with Calgary based singer-songwriter Aaron Pollock, and Kingston based singer-songwriter Amanda Sadler. Over the past three years, Cooper’s combination of blues, rock ‘n roll and country has led him to play on many different stages, with more than 200 shows across Canada and the United States since the summer of 2013. Following the release of No Chasing You, Cooper showcased at Canadian Country Music Week on the Diamonds in The Rough Stage in Saskatoon in September 2017. Kicking off summer 2017, Cooper was the main entertainment on the Stampede Float, leading the Calgary Stampede Parade during the televised event. Cooper was direct support for rock legend Lou Gramm (Foreigner) at the Rock 104.5 Birthday Bash in Olds after releasing his single Cross the Line in 2015. Cooper was nominated for Blues Recording of The Year at the 2016 YYC (Calgary) Music Awards. In 2014, while 17-years-old, his first single, Till the Morning Comes, hit NO. four on the iTunes New Blues Releases charts. Cooper's show starts at 7 p.m. and is free to the public. Half Hitch will also be hosting the 18th Annual FunnyFest: Brewing Up Big Laughs on June 7 from 8:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. The show will feature three performances from Saskatchewan-born and raised Kelly Taylor and two of his funny friends. Taylor is an every day man with an incredible story telling ability, combined with offering ridiculous self-deflating ridicule. Taylor is featured on the CBC’s The Debators and on his one hour television special hosted on The Comedy Network. Tickets for FunnyFest will be available for $20 on eventbrite.ca.
