It’s not every recent Cochrane High School grad who gets to swap songwriting tips with country music sensation Beverley Mahood or spend August long weekend chatting it up with Lady Antebellum.
But 18-year-old (as of next week) countrified singer/songwriter Kaleigh Jo Kirk continues to kick it as she gigs her way around the local country-pop circuit — only days away from taking her guitar and suitcase to begin her next chapter: pursuing her arts degree with a major in audio engineering technology at Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn.
Not a bad start to the next chapter for the local recording artist who is still climbing down from her most recent accolade: earning first place in the ATB Homegrown Talent Stage competition at last weekend’s big ticket country music festival, Big Valley Jamboree in Camrose, Alta.
The prize? The opportunity to perform one of her original songs, ‘One More Day’ in front of a crowd of 20,000 — right before Lee Brice and Lady Antebellum.
“It was definitely a big rush…but surprisingly I felt right at home on the stage,” said Kirk, over her biggest crowd performance to date.
As the songstress gets ready to transition to life south of the border, preparing to compile a nine-track EP release has been keeping her busy (long-anticipated follow up to her premier release seven years ago), following the release of each track as a single (which she’s been doing over the course of summer).
As she prepares to set sail in Music City, Kirk said she is looking forward to immersing herself into the country music scene in Nashville and the ‘homey feel’ she gets from the city.
Learn more about Kirk at kaleighjokirk.com.
