Friends of the Drayton Festival Theatre will present an interactive concert experience with four Canadian country songwriters.
Patricia Conroy, Charlie Major, Duane Steele and Jamie Warren will share the stage in Songs and Stories at the Drayton Festival Theatre for two performances only, Nov. 8 and 2 and 8pm.
“The calibre of these artists is astounding,” says event organizer Ron Ellis.
“It’s a rare opportunity to see four recording artists interact together on stage, as well as hear the stories behind their classic country hits.”
The Drayton Festival Theatre, an intimate 1902 Opera House, contains 375 seats and boasts marvellous acoustics that will enhance the concert experience, organizers state.
Originally from Montreal, Patricia Conroy has had a life full of music.
Starting as a child with musical influences from family and friends, Conroy’s country career began with winning a “battle of the bands” competition that gave her the opportunity to demo original work. Since then, she has gone on to release six albums with more than 15 hit singles.
Conroy has won many awards, including the Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA) Independent Artist of the Year, two years in a row (1999-2000).
Charlie Major has had a prolific career that started when he made Canadian history as the first artist to have six number one hit singles on his debut album. When he continued to release nine more hit singles, he was soon signed by a major U.S. label.
The move to the States, and the changes to his music that were expected by this new record deal, were enough to send Major back home to his true Canadian fans.
While touring across Canada, Major has won three Juno awards and seven CCMA’s.
Spending summers with his cousins playing weddings and parties, Duane Steele’s Alberta upbringing was chock-full of music.
His first professional band, Rock ‘N’ Horse, toured and recorded for nine years, achieving 20 top singles and a Juno nomination. As his solo career took off, Steele worked full-time as a songwriter, eventually returning to the life of tours and recordings. His band was awarded a CCMA, and in 2001 Steele won the CCMA Independent Male Vocalist of the Year.
A native of Ontario, Jamie Warren resides in Kitchener-Waterloo where he attended Conestoga College for broadcasting.
After winning a regional talent show that sent him to Memphis, Tennessee, where he won second place at an international competition, Warren’s career goals changed and he set his heart on being a singer.
Warren’s album Just Not the Same earned Juno and CCMA nominations, including a win for Independent Song of the Year and Independent Male Artist of the Year.
Tickets are $30 for adults and $20 for youth under 20. All proceeds from the concerts go directly to charitable projects at the Drayton Festival Theatre.
Tickets may be purchased online at www.draytonfestivaltheatre.com, in person at the Drayton Festival Theatre box office or by calling 519-638-5555 or toll free 1-855-drayton (372-9866).
For more information about the Songs and Stories concert or the Friends of Drayton Festival Theatre please contact Ron Ellis at 519-638-3056.
