Alberta’s irreverent cowboy singer Corb Lund will be saddling up for a Friday night show at Red Deer’s Centrium during Westerner Days.
Like many performers who’ve had to cancel tours because of the pandemic, Lund used his time off the road to craft an album that he’s been thinking about doing for years.
Songs My Friends Wrote was released earlier this year and features his interpretations of tunes written by some of his favourite songwriters. Lund has stated these somewhat obscure songs have spoken to him through the years — and many have even brought a smile to his face.
Although many will not be familiar to listeners, he hopes they will find these tunes similarly uplifting. Lund may launch into Ian Tyson’s Montana Waltz or Road to Las Cruces when performing at the Centrium. Or he might croon Spookin’ the Horses, by Fred Eaglesmith, or Big American Headliner by Mike Plume.
Of course Lund will have plenty of his own hits to draw on, including I Want to Be in the Cavalry, Long Gone to Saskatchewan, Horse Soldier, and The Truck Got Stuck, among many others.
The Taber-area native who grew up on his family’s ranch has won a Juno Award and several Canadian Country Music Association accolades.
After studying jazz guitar and bass at Grant MacEwan College in Edmonton, Lund went on to become a founding member of The Smalls, a hard rock, metal band started in 1989 and folded in 2001.
In 1995, he formed the country trio the Corb Lund Band, which eventually changed its name to Corb Lund and the Hurtin’ Albertans. The band has since toured the globe, performing at the Glastonbury Festival in the UK, as well as through Europe and Australia.
The group released 11 albums so far, including the award-winning Hair in My Eyes Like a Highland Steer (2005). That album was certified gold, along with Five Dollar Bill (2002) and Horse Soldier! Horse Soldier! (2007).
Most recently, Lund hit the news for his environmental advocacy.
Now a Lethbridge resident, Lund has spoken out against a provincial plan to open up the Eastern Slopes of the Rocky Mountains to coal mining. As well, he’s recruited other big names to the cause and hosted a protest rally.
Lund later credited a grassroots movement of regular Albertans for halting the government’s coal exploration and development plans.
For more information and to purchase tickets to his 8 p.m. show at the Centrium, please visit www.ticketsalberta.com.
lmichelin@reddeeradvocate.com
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