Opry North Showcase Review: March 29, 2003

The Stampede Ranch, Guelph ONT

by Jeffrey "JR" Reed

Just when you think you’ve attended the best Opry North Showcase, another comes along and reminds you that there is an abundance of Canadian Country music talent based in Ontario. The March 29 Showcase at the Stampede Ranch in Guelph featured a diverse lineup of artists, all of whom made this monthly event a special one.

And, as always, The Bareback Riders were at the top of their game, opening the afternoon’s event with their polished sound. The lads were celebrating drummer Colin Connors’ birthday (it was steel guitarist Joe Allain’s birthday the week previous) with a large Saturday afternoon crowd, boosted in part by numerous friends and family of Neon Rainbow, one of the booked performing groups. With strong lead vocals from Kurk Bernard, the boys nailed Keith Urban’s tune, Somebody Like You. It was a great start to a wonderful afternoon of Country music.

The first guest performer, the lovely and talented Karla Crawford of Midland, Ont., sang five songs in a very fresh, easy-on-the-ears style. In fact, she led off with an original song from her CD, Single Girl. One verse from this catchy little ditty, entitled, Where’s The Fire (a Billy Lawson, Dale Dodson, Randy Boudreaux collaboration ready for radio release), and the audience was all ears.

A throwback to simpler times, Crawford is a modern woman with traditional Country roots. Her afternoon’s set attests to that fact, as her four remaining tunes included: a spirited version of Dolly Parton’s, Jolene; When You Say Nothing At All (Allison Krauss); Every Little Thing (Carlene Carter); and Don Williams’, Lord I Hope This Day Is Good.

A true-to-life Country girl, Crawford is more than just a pretty face. An athletics enthusiast, and self-professed "tomboy," Crawford has a natural, professional-sounding twang to her vocals, and real knack for songwriting, as is evident in her own tune, This Will Be, also from her CD released in 2001. She has opened for such artists as Michelle Wright, Jason McCoy, John Landry, Lee Greenwood, Chad Brock, Porter Wagoner, Brad Paisley, Amy Grant and Vince Gill. Influenced early in life by the music of Elvis Presley, Crawford now hopes to make her own mark on the Country music scene. Here’s wishing her success.

After the first intermission (featuring music from Tara Oram, Keith Thompson – in attendance once again to cheer on the troups – Heather Smith, Laura Rose, the Dixie Chicks and Desert Reign), Hamilton’s Neon Rainbow took the stage. Together since 2002, this New Country band features four musicians, all with interesting backgrounds. Their style of music lends itself to a party atmosphere, which is exactly what they brought to the Ranch on this afternoon.

Lead vocalist and guitar player, Rob Kirkham, is a relative newcomer to the local music scene, having been asked to join the band after singing at a karaoke club. Kirkham fell in love with music during his high school band days, and considers (how’s this for a combination?) KISS, and Garth Brooks his major musical influences. In contrast, bass player Buddy Wilks is a veteran of the Hamilton music scene, with roots deep within early Rock and Roll, Folk, Bluegrass, Traditional Country and now New Country music. Wilks was once lead vocalist with the Redhill Valley Boys Bluegrass group, before making the move to Country music in the mid-1980s. From 1986 through ‘87, he played bass for Pam Brooks & Country Connection. (Incidently, Pam’s new group, Bluegrass band, Lonesome Wind, played the March 1 Opry North Showcase at the Stampede Corral in Kitchener).

Neon Rainbow also includes guitarist Ken Farkas, another former member of Pam Brooks & Country Connection. A talented musician who began playing guitar at age 15, Farkas credits early influences from The Beatles, Rush, Gordon Lightfoot and Chet Atkins for his unique style. And drummer, Moonie, who began his career at age 13 covering heavy metal tunes with his high school band, brings tons of experience to the group. His diverse background includes the genres of Pop, Rock, R&B, as well as Jazz/Fusion.

Five songs from Neon Rainbow included: Daddy Won’t Sell The Farm (Montgomery Gentry); Toby Keith’s, Who’s Your Daddy?; Broken Heartsville (Joe Nichols); The Baby (Blake Shelton); and the popular John Landry tune, Bit By Bit. Neon Rainbow made a huge impression upon the crowd at the Ranch; we’ll no doubt be hearing a lot more from this talented group of artists in the near future.

A brand new group with a can’t-miss sound that is truly one-of-a-kind, The Shovels were next on stage at the Ranch, strutting their stuff with a familiar face handling lead vocals and guitar. Julie Toboggan (aka well-known artist, Julie Gibb) brings beauty, charm, experience and enormous talent to this Toronto-based quintet. With outstanding vocals and guitar from Todd Gallant, plus top-notch instrumentals from Jake Summers, Greg Monk and drummer Sean Dignan, and a solid sound, The Shovels represent an incomparable sound already making a lot of noise on the local music scene.

Preparing for their début CD release, The Shovels combine an arsenal of catchy original tunes, while leaving their own stamp on Country classics. Just one year on the scene, each member brings valuable experience to the group. Gallant has toured across the globe as lead guitarist for artists as legendary R&B performer, Andre Williams. Monk, with enormous talent on the steel guitar, is a multi-instrumentalist who has performed with artists like Rick Fielding and Cassandra Vassik. Dignan has spent the past several years working with bands including The Sadies, Sin Tones and Suckerpunch.

Julie, a polished performer with extraordinary vocals, is known in Nashville, New York and Toronto. So, what’s the story behind, Toboggan? Julie Toboggan was her nickname in high school. She’s using the handle as part of The Shovels. As for her solo career, Finding My Heart has hit the airwaves – congratulations, Julie! It’s time to shine. Guitarist Summers rounds out The Shovels with his own professional, up-and-coming style, important to the band’s now identifiable sound, which one could describe as, Johnny Cash meets Blue Rodeo.

The Shovels’ set included three originals: Kingston Prison Blues (which really showcases their style); One Night Stand; and Where Roses Don’t Grow. They also performed the Beatles classic, Help, in a style all their own; and the Johnny Cash-June Carter classic, Jackson.

Following the second intermission, featuring songs from Desert Reign, Jaclyn & Cassandra, Homestead, the Dixie Chicks, Amy Rose, and Julie Gibb’s, Finding My Heart, the last performer of the day showed why she is turning heads early in her career. A Brampton resident by way of Markdale, Jackie Richard is a tall, attractive artist with a big voice and tons of ambition. Like Rob Kirkham of Neon Rainbow, Richard started her climb to success after a karaoke appearance – at least, what should have been karaoke. In fact, she won first prize at the Cradle To Rave singing contest which had replaced karaoke during a visit to Nashville North one fateful night three years ago. Today, under the guidance of her cousin and manager, Dan Matthews (who convinced Richards to stay and enter that contest), Richards is still going strong.

Since her Cradle To Rave win, Richards has made many appearances, including Country Music Week in Calgary, and a performance at Owen Sound’s Country 93 Birthday Bash with Diane Chase, Gil Grand and John Landry. This summer, she’ll appear at Summerfolk in Owen Sound on August 15.

An accomplished dancer, and professionally-trained fashion model, Richards’ talents shine as a vocalist. Her set included an original song entitled, Fall (released to Canadian radio in March 2003). The release party for her début CD, Got On This Train To Ride, is slated for June 28 in Rocklyn, Ont.

Richards also performed, Let ‘Er Rip (Dixie Chicks); That’s What I Like About You (Trisha Yearwood); an old favourite, Blue (Patsy Cline); and Pour Me (Trick Pony). With an energetic style and bold vocals, Richards was the perfect artist to end the latest edition of the monthly Showcase.

So once again, Kim Jamieson and Wayne Tozzi face the task of producing yet another Opry North Showcase that will meet the challenge of providing quality entertainment from within the local independent music scene. With a seemingly endless wealth of talent available, and an unmatched work ethic by this dynamic duo, here’s betting the April 26 Showcase at the Stampede Corral in Kitchener passes the test with flying colours.