Brett Kissel – young singer with an old country soul

Photos By Stephen Dafoe

Morinville – Listening to country singer Brett Kissel belt out an old Merle Haggard number or an original song about the life of a cowboy, it is hard to believe the man at the microphone is just 22 years old. But Kissel, who grew up on a ranch in St. Paul, Alberta, is as comfortable with the country classics he grew up listening to and playing as he is with something a little more contemporary.

Morinville got an opportunity to hear this up-and-coming country act Friday night at the Morinville Community Cultural Centre. Kissel, who began playing at the age of 11, has sold more than 60,000 CDs without one of them ever seeing the inside of a music store.

The Friday evening kick off to the weekend-long Light Up the Night Festival drew about 175 country music fans to hear Kissel unapologetically mix the music of country pioneers with his own one-day classics about pioneer life, the importance of coming home to family, and a love song about how he met his wife.

Kissel has recorded six albums since first getting behind the microphone. His latest album is called Started With a Song.

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