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High
Country News
March
1, 2007
Canadian
Charlie A’Court Comes to Hayes Center March 10Award-Winning
Musician Combines Blues, Soul & Songwriting
Story
by David Brewer
On Saturday,
March 10, Blowing Rock’s Hayes Performing Arts Center
will welcome award-winning Canadian singer-songwriter and
guitarist Charlie A’Court for a solo acoustic performance.
A resident
of Halifax, Nova Scotia, A’Court began developing
his musical pedigree with classical guitar lessons before
digging into his father’s blues-and-r&b-rich record
collection. A’Court succumbed to the power of the
blues, practicing for hours to hone his chops.
A’Court
not only fell in love with guitar slingers such as Eric
Clapton and B.B. King, but also with modern songwriters
of his youth including Tracy Chapman and Melissa Etheridge.
The variety of A’Court’s influences would manifest
themselves in the blues-tinged soul pop that has become
his signature style.
“A
lot of it comes from growing up listening to r&b,”
said A’Court. “It’s adult contemporary
with blues leanings.”
For
the last six years, A’Court has been burning up the
road in his native Canada, as well as becoming a headliner
in Europe with increasing forays south into the United States.
The 28-year-old musician attributes his increasing number
of performances in the South to 10 minutes of music he performed
in North Carolina at a conference a year and a half ago.
“A
lot of these shows that I’ve been doing in that region
came out of a showcase in High Point,” said A’Court.
“Going to those conferences is sort of planting the
seed.”
According
to A’Court, Toronto is Canada’s biggest musical
hotspot, with throngs of hopeful artists making the leap
to the country’s cultural center in search of wider
exposure and fame. Though he has considered the city’s
possibilities, as well as those of Memphis, Austin and Chicago,
A’Court enjoys the rich music scene in East Canada.
“I
haven’t succumbed to packing my bags and leaving my
roots behind,” said A’Court. “Every musician
and their dog goes [to Toronto]. It’s easy to get
lost.”
Though
it may seem strange, A’Court leads a dual existence,
cultivating two different musical personas on different
continents. In North America, A’Court spends more
time performing solo, songwriter shows. In Europe, however,
it’s another story.
“Blues
music over there is so highly regarded, you get this overwhelming
reception,” said A’Court.
A’Court
has been fortunate enough to share the stage with some of
blues and rock’s biggest names, including George Thorogood
& The Destroyers, the Edgar Winter Group, Procol Harum,
Mick Taylor and The Fabulous Thunderbirds.
At the
2007 East Coast Music Awards in Halifax, A'Court's latest
CD, Bring on the Storm,was named Pop Recording of the Year.
The multitalented A’Court received the E.C.M.A. award
for Best Male Artist in 2004 and Best Blues Artist in 2003.
For
his show at the Hayes Center, A’Court will perform
his music minus the din of an all-out rock band. Relying
mostly on his original material, A’Court said that
songs by Keb’ Mo’, Kris Kristofferson and Otis
Redding are likely to make their way into his set. A’Court
also peppers his solo shows with anecdotes about his life
and travels, as well as offering insights into his musical
soul.
“It’s
a good feeling to play for people who’ve never heard
me and walk away from the show feeling like we have this
connection,” said A’Court.
Tickets
are $12 for A’Court’s Blowing Rock debut. Purchase
tickets at the Hayes Center box office.
To hear
Charlie A’Court’s music, click to www.charlieacourt.com.
For more info about the musician’s upcoming show at
the Hayes Center, call 828-295-9627 or click to www.brcac.org.
Want
To Go?
Date:
Saturday, March 10
Time:
7:30 p.m.
Location:
Hayes Performing Arts Center
Cost:
$12
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