Charlie Major performs an encore number during Wednesday night’s concert. – Stephen Dafoe Photo.
By Morinville News Staff
Morinville – Approximately 120 country music lovers came out to the Morinville Community Cultural Centre Wednesday night to hear Canadian Legend Charlie Major and his band perform a collection of songs that champion the blue-collar hero.
Major, whose career burst fourth 20 years ago with the release of his first album, has remained true to his roots and true to his fans, many of whom came out to hear the gritty lyrics Major has been known for through seven studio albums and two decades of performing live.
The evening showed Major’s fans a performer who has kept pace with all of the attributes that made him the recipient of seven Canadian Country Music Association and three Junos.
Local flavour added
Opening for Major were local musicians Justin Hogg, Debbie Burrill, and 12-year-old Abbey Kirchner. Accompanying the three local acts was Paul Smith who kicked off the evening with a cover of the Charlie Daniel’s classic – The Devil Went Down to Georgia.
The addition of local openers was something new for the cultural centre and well received by the audience.
Justin Hogg – Photo by Melodie Steele
Justin Hogg, who shared the poster spotlight with Major, has become a bit of a Morinville legend over the past few years with his cover and original material. Hogg performed a Hunter Hayes cover and three of his original compositions, including All in Good Time, a song the singer/song writer has recently recorded as part of an upcoming album project.
Debbie Burril – Photo By Melodie Steele
Debbie Burrill took to the stage to take the audience back to the earlier days of country music with three Loretta Lynn covers.
Abbey Kirchner – Photo By Melodie Steele
Burrill and Hogg’s mature vocals were well complimented by young Abbey Kirchner whose covers of Carrie Underwood and Racal Flatts seemed far more evolved than one would expect a 12-year-old’s vocal chords could produce.
The Morinville Community Cultural Centre will shift gears in March away from music to magic. Illusionist Ted Outerbridge will bring his high-energy stage show to town Mar. 15 for a Friday evening show.
