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Blues and folk legend coming to Fernie
The Arts Station will be hosting a blues and folk treasure April 10 when Jim Brynes comes to Fernie.
For more than 30 years, Jim Byrnes has woven roots so deeply into the northern blues scene that it’s difficult to remember that this quintessentially Canadian icon was raised in St. Louis and that his instantly recognizable gruff as sandpaper, sweet as honey voice was not always an essential part of the country’s musical landscape.
Starting piano at age five, by age 13, Jim was singing and playing blues guitar. His first professional gig was in the summer of 1964. Over the years, he has had the great good fortune to appear with a virtual who’s who of blues history. From Furry Lewis and Henry Townsend to Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, Albert Collins, Taj Mahal, Robert Cray and so many others, Jim has been on the blues highway for 40 years. His evocative, smoky vocals are found in a truth that doesn’t come overnight. During the ’80’s, the Jim Byrnes Band released ‘Burnin’’ on Polydor, followed in 1987 with ‘I’ve Turned My Days into Nights’ and 1995’s Juno-Award winning ‘That River’ on Stony Plain.
In 2004, Fresh Horses on Black Hen Music was released. This recording was the result of a musical meeting between Jim and Steve Dawson (of Zubot & Dawson). Jim and Steve realized they shared common tastes in music and realized that a collaboration between Jim and the Zubot and Dawson band would be a refreshing and exciting project.
The goal of this project was to stay true to Jim’s roots and influences, but to take the music in some new and innovative directions, while keeping the sounds of the acoustic instruments front and center.
Whether he is working solo or with a band he brings soul, intensity and total commitment to the music he loves. Fresh Horses is a new chapter in a successful and varied career that still has miles to go.
Tickets available at Carosella, Freshies, The Arts Station, and Online (brynes.eventbrite.com). Show time is 8 p.m.
If you have questions about this event, or other Arts Station events please contact us at [email protected] or 250-423-4842.
The Arts Station
