PREVIEW
Rainmaker Rodeo Music Festival
May 24 and 25
Kinsmen Park, 47 Riel Dr.
Tickets: $35. Visit www.ticketmaster.caor at Crown & Pub
Friday Rock Night
54.40, Lee Aaron, Oil City Sound Machine and Alleviate
Saturday Country Night
Aaron Pritchett, Jess Moskaluke, Drew Gregory and Justin Hogg
Listen up, urban cowboys and cowgirls! It's time to dust off your cowboy hat and get ready to see some of Canada’s hottest bands at the 2019 Rainmaker Rodeo.
This year’s concerts, held May 24 and 25 in St. Albert, will feature a mix of eight rock and country bands.
Friday night brings together national rock co-headliners 54.40 and Lee Aaron. Opening for them is Edmonton classic rock band Oil City Sound Machine and Alleviate, St. Albert’s own rock and roll machine.
On Saturday night, Aaron Pritchett, one of country’s most dynamic entertainers is the marquee act in a lineup that includes Jess Moskaluke, Drew Gregory and Morinville’s Justin Hogg.
Friday Night Rock
54.40
Once one of the most important rock bands to emerge from the 20th-century Canadian landscape, 54.40 has released 14 albums, three that reached platinum and one gold.
The band’s latest release in 2018, Keep on Walking, the first in seven years, was about a band that had nothing left to prove. They’d done it all: signed a major label, played stadiums and booked crazy tours throughout North America and Europe. This time, they released an album that spoke of what was important to them.
“Keep on Walking was more about fulfillment and our appreciation for where we are. We used to do 140 shows a year and we took it for granted. Now we play 40. When we get together we’re genuinely excited and conscious of the fact you don’t last forever,” said bassist Brad Merritt.
There’s even talk of a new album in the future, one that is more eclectic and evolving.
“In our last record, we would shoot off in different directions rather than have every song sounding consistent. We feel less constrained by convention. Our music is more exploratory. It’s more fun.”
Lee Aaron
Back in 1984 Lee Aaron released Metal Queen, an album title track that was a hard driving anthem about female empowerment. It catapulted her to legendary status in the rock world.
In addition to a rock catalogue of multi-platinum sales, Aaron has displayed a versatile range performing jazz, blues and even opera. She briefly retreated from the music scene for more than a decade to raise her children.
During that time, she kept experimenting on her home recording studio and performed only a brief handful of dates. But now she’s back in a big way.
“I’m at a stage in my life where I can record what I like. I’m still part of the industry, but I don’t need to compete in pop culture. I have more artistic freedom and I can do what I want,” said Aaron.
In 2018, the singer-songwriter released Diamond Baby Blues, a 12-track blending hard blues, rock ‘n’ roll and hard rock, an homage to the ’60s and ’70s music scene.
“As an artist you have more creative control, but there’s a sea of stuff out there and the market is so saturated. It’s pretty crazy.”
Aaron and three-piece support band will perform a happy blend of past hits with newer material.
Oil City Sound Machine
After a successful gig at the 2015 Rainmaker Rodeo, Oil City Sound Machine is back by popular demand. The six-piece specializes in Top 40 dance material ranging from the classics of Earth Wind & Fire, ABBA and Donna Summer to the popular charts of Britney Spears, Rihanna, Lady Gaga and Kelly Clarkson.
“Most of us are from Grant MacEwan and we’ve played all our lives. We have great chemistry and take great pride in the craft we do,” said keyboardist Robert Fernandez.
As returning artists, Fernandez describes the concert atmosphere as “casual and relaxed. We love outdoor shows. There’s nothing better than playing outdoor shows. It’s a win-win for everyone.”
Alleviate
The St. Albert four-piece has a round of festival tours scheduled for the summer and one of the first stops is the Rainmaker Rodeo.
The band broke into the rock scene winning the 2015 Creekwood Chapelle Songwriter Contest with their debut single Creekwood Memories.
Two years later, they released their debut full-length album, Aggressive Grace, followed by Glass Habits, a new EP.
The foursome has just recorded a twist on Johnny Cash’s famous Folsom Prison Blues and will play it at the rodeo.
“It starts out similar to the original, but after the first verse we rock it up and make it a surprise,” said Chad Plamondon.
“Our stage show is very spontaneous and off-the-cuff. We’re well-rehearsed with material, but we have no problem going off in a different direction. We want to keep it authentic, real and in the moment.”
Saturday Night Country
Aaron Pritchett
Born and raised in British Columbia, Aaron Pritchett has deep country roots with influences from the likes of Randy Travis, Dwight Yoakam and Travis Tritt.
Now 25 years into a hit-making career with a whopping 30 singles, the majority reaching Top 10 status, Pritchett is a big draw.
He describes his success as “total elation – to have 20 plus years on radio airplay. It’s kind of surreal and you ask yourself if it’s really happening.”
“I never had a single until I was 32. I thought maybe I’d have five or six more years. When I did Hold My Beer, I thought maybe it was my swan song. But things just keep rolling and I wouldn’t want to do anything else.”
His new single Better When I Do from Out on the Town, his eighth studio album is on radio and on track as another Pritchett hit.
Not only does the Canadian Country Music Association Award multiple recipient sing and write great songs, he also matches the songs with great live performances.
Backed by a solid four-piece, Pritchett said, “We can’t wait to come and play. This show is a new show. It starts with a big bang and ends with a ginormous bang.”
Jess Moskaluke
A publicity agent’s dream, Jess Moskaluke is a contagious blend of talent, charm and beauty. But the Saskatchewan based singer-songwriter is more than just a pretty face with a strong belt.
She’s the 2018 CCMA Award winner for Album of the Year and was the first Canadian female country artist since Shania Twain to reach platinum single status with Cheap Wine and Cigarettes. She’s enjoyed three Top 10 hits with Kiss Me Quiet, Take Me Home and Drive Me Away.
Her latest EP, Past the Past was released in 2017 and her single Save Some of That Whiskey is now on airplay. With five albums to her name, Moskaluke sees the industry enduring a massive transition with records falling by the wayside.
“Much as we like to make albums, we still have to make a living. Putting out singles gives us a chance to write music more topically and release songs more often.”
The Rainmaker is Moskaluke’s first show on the summer circuit and she’s planning a high-energy performance.
Drew Gregory
Anyone searching for an authentic country singer should look no further than Drew Gregory. A grain farmer who seeds and harvests 3,000 acres in the summer, he is completely rooted in the family homestead in the rural community of Standard, Alberta.
When Gregory sings about hard work, hot sweaty days and battling mosquitoes, it comes from his own life and experiences. But he’s also a guy who likes simple things and having a good time.
But in winter, the CCMA winner boots it down to Nashville, to write more songs, play a few gigs and most importantly make new contacts.
“I loved music since I was a kid. My grandpa used to put on kitchen parties and he spurred the love of music in me. I couldn’t wait to pick up a guitar and take it on this journey with me,” said Gregory.
His love of the guitar ran so deep that while on a six-month back-packing tour of Australia he bought a stringed instrument down under to entertain friends at his hostel.
Gregory initially studied geomatics at SAIT.
“But I didn’t want to spend the next 40 years of my life doing something I don’t like.”
The Australian backpacking adventure sealed the deal. He returned to home with sights set on a music career.
Since 2009, Gregory has released three full-length albums and two EPs.
“We’re a little more honky-tonk than bro-country and little more rock ‘n roll around the edges.”
While one of his favourite songs is the romantic Smoke, the song with the highest YouTube video hits is The Bullshit Song, an energetic fun song.
“I love different styles. I don’t want every song to sound the same. I like to throw in a few curve balls.”
Gregory is bringing a four-piece supporting band to the rodeo concert.
“We’ll be a full band and we’ll definitely be rockin’.”
Justin Hogg
A professional musician for five years, Justin Hogg completed 75 live performances in 2018.
The Morinville singer-songwriter released a brand new single Suntans & Beer Cans, piggy-backing on earlier releases of Just Drive and Smoke Signals.
Just Drive, his latest success, climbed to the Top 100 Canadian Radio Chart Tracks Report.
“It was a huge stepping stone for me. It was picked up by 24 stations across the country and it opened up new doors for me,” said Hogg.
Suntans & Beer Cans is a summer song written exactly one year ago.
“I was working with my dad, but I just wanted to sit in the back yard and enjoy the weather. I had no intention of putting it out, but I played it with the band and we had so much fun doing it, I decided to release it as a single.”
Although this is Hogg’s first concert with Rainmaker, his affiliation with Rainmaker Rodeo dates back three years.
“I spent three years picking up artists from the airport and driving them to the Rainmaker. To get to play with them is very exciting.”
He vividly remembers Aaron Pritchett, a guy he describes as very cool, very down to earth.
“He knew I was pursuing a career in music and he was very receptive to my questions.”
Hogg is playing a 50-minute set with drummer Brad Durand, guitarist Josh Ruzycki and bassist Cody Mack.
