Carrying the momentum of his 2012 Flesh and Bone release, Canadian music icon Barney Bentall will be putting on what he calls a “musical variety show” at the Bragg Creek Centre Nov. 30.
The famed Canadian pop-rocker of Barney Bentall and the Legendary Hearts of the 1990s will be performing with his favourite collective – Barney Bentall and the Grand Cariboo Opry at the end of the month.
The performance is a fundraiser for the Bragg Creek Centre, as the hamlet relied heavily on the Centre’s resources during the June floods.
“This event is really special for all of us,” said Bentall, whose sister and brother-in-law, Creekers Joan and Rick Godderis, are organizing the event. “The Opry is a great musical outlet. We get to travel all over.”
Joining Bentall on stage will be his son, Dustin Bentall, Kendal Carson, Ridley Bent, Wendy Bird, Angela Harris, Matt Master, the Gold Rush Allstars, Leeroy Stagger and Neil Osborne (of Canadian alt-rock band, 54-40).
After ten years of touring and recording with the Legendary Hearts, Bentall did an about-face and opted for the next natural progression in any rocker’s musical journey: buying a cattle ranch in the heart of B.C.’s Caribou country.
And the music never stopped.
Since 1997, Bentall has built a solo career out of his rocker roots and has carved out a space as a singer/songwriter, collaborating regularly with other iconic musicians such as Jim Cuddy (Blue Rodeo) and allowing time for his penchant for bluegrass and gospel – evident in his role with the High Bar Gang, with their recent Lost & Undone release.
Bentall also keeps busy with the Opry. With frequent performances and a rotating chair that allows for guest musicianship, Bentall et al. create a unique show that blends funny, poignant monologues with folk-roots music.
The Opry is also used as a fundraising vehicle – most notably for the Potluck Café Society, a society that seeks to improve the lives of the disadvantaged living in Vancouver’s East End through nutritious food and employment opportunities.
This fundraising vehicle uses a unique sponsorship model, which includes song, set and event sponsorships – with introductions of the sponsors being woven into the evening’s script with humour; this model is being used for the upcoming Bragg Creek Centre fundraiser.
“Matt (Master) is so funny,” laughed Bentall, of his co-host. “In fact, I’ve kind of become the straight-laced guy next to him.”
Tickets to the Nov. 30 show are $40 (no GST, no parking fee, no ticket processing fee) and are available at 403-949-4277 or by visiting braggcreekca.com.
Coupon booklets for discounts at Bragg Creek businesses are being handed out with each ticket purchased.
