Kinsmen turn country star loose

Every year thousands of music fans trek to St. Albert's Rainmaker Rodeo concerts ready to kick up their heels and party until the crack of dawn.

After suffering through a long winter, fans are buzzing about the impressive line-up that features two major world headliners – Dwight Yoakam and Buckcherry.

With a history that dates back to 1965, the St. Albert Kinsmen have developed the outdoor rodeo from a small community event into a go-to destination at the Kinsmen Fair Grounds.

While in the past the Kinsmen have preferred to feature Canadian line-ups, the 46th annual Rainmaker Rodeo in partnership with Edmonton Event Centre has notched a new level of sophistication by nabbing Yoakam and Buckcherry.

"We're very pleased to showcase their talent. We've taken it to the next level, and this is a natural stepping-stone for St. Albert's 150th anniversary. We're just getting our feet wet," says Jim Oscroft, Rainmaker Rodeo chair.

From May 28 to 30 veteran rodeo cowboys test their mettle at semi-professional saddle bronc riding, steer wrestling, calf roping and a wild horse race. Throughout the three-day blitz visitors can check out a midway, petting zoo and market centre.

But once the sun dips in the horizon, line-dancing urban cowboys and cowgirls whoop it up at the concert arena. The Friday night hoedown kicks off with Yoakam leading a roster of country talent that includes Adam Gregory, One More Girl, Craig Moritz and Jo Hikk. Following on Saturday is a night of rock and roll rebellion with Buckcherry, The Trews, Social Code, Jerry Doucette and China White.

Friday's Country Night

There are few singers that have charted a colourful career such as the legendary Dwight Yoakam. Singing traditional songs that have sold more than 25 million records, it's hard to imagine the Kentucky-born, Ohio-raised honky-tonk thespian was once shut out of Nashville.

Back in the late 1970s Nashville was undergoing a love affair with pop "Urban Cowboy" music. The doors were closed to Yoakam's more traditional "hillbilly" sound, one influenced by Buck Owens and Hank Williams.

A pragmatic singer, he moved to Los Angeles and in 1982 put out his first self-financed E.P., Guitars, Cadillacs, Etc. It launched his career and his follow-up Hillbilly Deluxe was just as successful. Since then he's released 21 albums with hits such as A Thousand Miles from Nowhere, Crazy Little Thing Called Love and Turn it On, Turn it Up, Turn Me Loose.

Not one to pigeonhole himself, Yoakam has also displayed formidable acting chops in Sling Blade, Panic Room and The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada. He is also working on a new original album, a follow-up to 2005's Blame the Vain, scheduled for release in 2010.

Also on the bill is Edmonton's own Adam Gregory, 24, a voice on the country scene since he was 13. "It's a great honour to play with a great singer like Dwight Yoakam," says Gregory in a telephone interview from Nashville.

He recalls hearing Yoakam play at the now defunct Red's to an audience of about 2,000 fans. "He was playing with a full band, but it was more intimate than a stadium concert."

In March 2009, Gregory released his fourth album, Crazy Days in which he co-wrote just about every song. Gung-ho to promote the 12-track CD, he logged 400 shows last year.

At the Rainmaker, his local backup band will include Chad Melchert (drums), Mark Puffer (lead guitar), Robin Pelletier (guitar), Dustin Roy (bass) and David Aide (keyboard).

The sexy One More Girl has only put out one album, but already sisters Carly, 21, and Britt McKillip, 19, are on the fast track to fame. It helps that their father Tom, a songwriter and award-winning producer and musician, produced their hit album Big Sky and that their third single When It Ain't Rainin' hit No. 7 on the Canadian Country Charts.

Despite having a pristine blend of voices, lots of marketing potential and a strong team behind them, Carly says they are challenged by youth. "It's hard to be taken seriously when you're young. It can work in your favour, but we're competing with people who have been in the industry for years."

Both sisters have similar vocal tones, but while Brit hits the high register and produces the vocal gymnastics, high falsettos and fancy licks, Carly's lower, warmer voice evens out the harmony. Looking to deliver a crossover blend of country, pop and rock, the sisters simply "want to make music we like to listen to."

Craig Moritz and Calgary's Jo Hikk, on the other hand, have developed a blue collar, loud and in-your-face reputation as party bands and both groups will be road testing some new tunes at the Rainmaker.

Saturday's Rock Night

One band that primes the sales pump is the Los Angles based Buckcherry, the featured headliner for Saturday's rock night. The fivesome will release their fifth album All Night Long on Aug. 3. However, when their new single also titled All Night Long was offered as a free download on Twitter in early May, it overloaded from fan response and was temporarily shut down.

The ballsy rebel rockers fronted by Josh Todd have come through with monster hits Crazy Bitch, Lit Up and Sorry, which became Buckcherry's first Top 10 hit peaking at No. 9 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart.

Reminiscent of Guns N' Roses, the rock dogs have toured with Lenny Kravitz, AC/DC and Motley Crue. Their live album Live & Loud 2009 was recorded during their Canadian tour in Edmonton, Calgary and Medicine Hat.

St. Albert's Social Code, also slated for their debut performance at the Rainmaker, opened for Buckcherry last summer during an arena tour of western Canada. "They're raw. They're great. They have incredible talent. When they're on stage, you know they're there and everyone watches them," said Social Code bass player Logan Jacobs.

Social Code just released their single Satisfied to American radio stations in March and it peaked at No. 53 on the rock charts. "As you know, it's an ongoing battle and we're exploring opportunities to get on a tour and market the release."

Although Social Code is eager to join forces with Buckcherry once more, they have not performed with Juno nominees The Trews. This Antigonish, Nova Scotia-based foursome has put out three studio albums and recently released Highway of Heroes, a song inspired by the 2006 death of Capt. Nichola Goddard, the first Canadian female soldier killed in Afghanistan.

Opening the rock night is nostalgia rocker Jerry Doucette and Rainmaker house band China White.

With very limited seating, Oscroft encourages fans to bring their own lawn chairs. Park and ride is available at the St. Albert Centre Transit Station on Friday, May 28 from 4:30 p.m. to 2:30 a.m., Saturday, May 29 from 10 a.m. to 2:30 a.m. and Sunday, May 30 from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.