TISDALE 鈥� Singer and songwriter Jeffery Straker is returning to East Central communities as part of the Organization of Saskatchewan Arts Councils (OSAC).
He is coming to perform in Tisdale, hosted by the Tisdale Arts Council on Oct. 12.
Straker was originally from Punnichy, near Wynyard.
鈥淪ome of my earliest memories of experiencing live music was at my school, when the Organization of Saskatchewan Arts Councils brought in performers to do daytime school shows,鈥� Straker said. 鈥淥ver the years it has really been an assortment of people.鈥�
He has recorded for CBC Radio鈥檚 鈥楥anada Live鈥�, had a music video chart in the Top 10 nationally and has toured internationally in Peru, Chile and Mexico.
Straker would describe his music as 鈥渇olk roots鈥�.
鈥淚 generally perform songs I have written and a lot of reviewers who had reviewed my music described that it would fall into a storytelling style of music,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 do like to tell stories through songs and it seems like more and more over time they鈥檙e about people in places of Saskatchewan.鈥�
As Straker played rural communities, like the one he grew up in, he noticed many performers only playing in major cities.
鈥淭hey stop in Regina or Saskatoon mostly, but that鈥檚 not to say in these smaller centres there aren鈥檛 audiences that are really appreciative and really looking for a concert,鈥� She said. 鈥淚 found when I go there the concerts are great experiences, you meet some wonderful people. So that鈥檚 kind of where this tour came about.鈥�
During this tour, he will be performing his new single, One Foot on Main Street.
鈥淚t鈥檚 actually a song about a fictitious small-town person who moved out to the big city, but realizes how much the small town has been a part of them. This may or may not be me,鈥� Straker said, before laughing.
He said while it wasn鈥檛 planned to be released during his visit across rural Saskatchewan, he feels it鈥檚 a fitting first place to perform it.
鈥淏eing from a small town I鈥檒l be performing it for the first time in a small town.鈥�
During Straker鈥檚 tour will be performing with Jack Semple and Annette Campagne.
聽鈥淭hink of them as like guest soloists who sing some songs within the show and then we鈥檒l also do some performing together. I really enjoy their musicianship so I鈥檓 really looking forward to working with them a ton during the door.鈥�
Straker said he wants the audience to take away 鈥渉ope鈥� from the performance.
鈥淲hen people go home and think about it a week later, I think the message that gets taken away is a message of hope, I think,鈥� he said.
鈥淲e can all have a positive impact on what鈥檚 going on. As individuals we can all have an impact on what鈥檚 going on around us, therefore there is hope.鈥�
Straker will perform at the Maurice Taylor Performing Arts Centre in the Tisdale RECplex on Oct. 12 at 7:30 p.m.
