Enveloped in the humanity of his own songs, Old Man (Chris) Luedecke continues to ride the wave that has earned him two Junos and a place of his own in the Canadian roots scene.
Luedecke will be performing for the next Bragg Creek Performing Arts (BCPA) show at the Bragg Creek Community Centre March 8 at 7:45 p.m.
Opening act is local folk collective, Elbow River Band. Still reeling from the momentum of his last release, Tender is the Night (2012), the five-string banjo player said the core of his music remains his songs — fused with elements of folk, bluegrass and even pop.
“I would say my songs are my strength — there’s a certain sort of yearning quality…the humanity of what I do supersedes anything else that I do.”
The album was recorded live over four days at John Prine and Dave Ferguson’s Nashville studio with Tim O’Brien (producer, multi-instrumentalist), Mike Bub (bass) and Kenny Malone (drums),
The troubadour crafts songs rich in narrative that rely on a level of integrity he attributes to musical generations past.
“There’s a degree of honesty that’s really important to me that is maybe missing in a lot of music (today),” said Luedecke, whose 2012 release ‘muses on love, art and purpose’.
“I kind of sing for the other half…everybody loves success, but I feel like I’m not a natural success at what I do and that I’ve had to work at it.”
With a full plate of tour upon tour on both sides of the border, the Chester, Nova Scotia resident released his last album on True North Records, following a long run with Black Hen Music – three albums with multi-instrumentalist and producer Steve Dawson of Vancouver; Luedecke has five full-length albums in total.
“True North was a better place for the record to go,” he explained. “I loved working with Steve.”
Still confident in his current body of work, Luedecke is searching for some quiet time in his cabin in the woods — to spend time with his wife and three small children (all under age three) and begin work on the next record, as time sees fit.
“I just feel like I’m still running with the albums I’ve got…I’ve got some dandy tunes,” he said, adding that he recently recorded a three-track EP with East Coast producer and musician, Joel Plaskett.
“The central element is of my music is me — my voice and my songs.”
Luedecke, who has long championed in the solo vein, is enjoying his latest journey of performing as a trio. His Bragg Creek performance will see the accompaniment of Joel E. Hunt (fiddle/mandolin/harmony vocals) and Brian Kobayakawa (bass). Leanne Copithorne, front woman and rhythm guitarist of Elbow River Band said she and her band mates are excited for their upcoming opening slot for Luedecke.
“We are so excited to be opening for Old Man Luedecke in Bragg Creek,” said Copithorne. “We’re big fans of his music and we were delighted to be asked.”
Learn more at oldmanluedecke.ca.
Tickets to the show are available at braggcreekperformingarts.com.
