Though summer may be over, the music will continue in Golden with the announcement from Kicking Horse Culture that the Live Kicks series will begin on Sept. 26, with Juno Award winner Joel Plaskett and opening act Mo Kenney.
Memberships and tickets for the Plaskett show will go on sale at the Art Gallery of Golden on September 5.
His last time in the studio gave Plaskett a Juno Award and a Polaris Prize nomination. Scrappy Happiness is the latest release from the artist which take listeners on a journey of eclectic proportion mixed with his songwriting prowess and playful lyricism.
The mix of folk inflected tunes like “Harbour Boys” and “I’m Yours” mix well with the gritty guitar numbers like “Lightning Bolt” and “Time Flies.” Plaskett also mixes in a love for the kind of melodic rock that inspires songs like “Somewhere Else” and “Tough Love.”
The music of Scrappy Happiness is a fun experiment for the listeners which pays homage to an older mode of record production while forging ahead to new ways of engaging listeners.
Plasket said he still enjoys performing in front of an audience.
“What stays the same is my need to travel. It is a big part of my life. What changes is new cities. Playing Golden for the first time is one of the cool things about Canada,” he said.
He also said it is great for a town like Golden to have a place to stop and play.
“I have played Banff and Kelowna and other places near Golden,” he said. The opportunity for me to have the chance to spend the day in Golden which previously may have just been a stopping point on the highway is something I am looking forward to.
Executive director of Kicking Horse Culture Bill Usher said Plaskett is a great young Canadian talent.
“I have been hearing him on CBC now for a couple of years and the power that comes out of this guy along with the thoughtfulness of his songwriting is something I like,” he said, “he and David Myles are great performers who are so entertaining.”
The opening act, Mo Kenney, started writing music at the age of 15.
She said she had quite a few influences growing up, including Joel Plaskett.
“I actually grew up listening to Joel. He is one of my favourites artists for sure,” she said. “I did not think this (the tour with Plaskett) would happen. It is pretty crazy.”
Getting the chance to perform is what Kenney looks forward to.
“I love being on stage. Nothing compares to that. I love performing for people that is the best,”
Another thing Kenney is excited about is her first trip out west.
“I love going to new places and I have never been out west before so it will be nice to get out there for a couple of weeks,” Kenney said.
Plaskett, who worked with Kenney on her album, had nothing but praise for Kenney.
“She is just a natural talent. She is an arresting performer in a subtle way,” he said. “She is one of the few people I have watched and everyone quiets down. She just stops you in your tracks.”
To learn more about Plaskett check out www.joeplaskett.com or go to www.kickinghorseculture.ca to see more of the Live Kicks line up.
