Empress Theatre hosts Russell deCarle

With concert halls and venues re-opening across the province, singer-songwriter Russell deCarle returns to Alberta for a week of dates that will find him running through new material, selections from his three solo albums, and tunes from his Prairie Oyster catalogue.

This multiple Juno and Canadian Country Music Association Award winner will return with his trio that features guitarist extraordinaire Steve Briggs.

Having recently exited the studio where he was recording a new batch of tunes for release this coming year, deCarle kicks off this run at the classic Empress Theatre in Fort Macleod at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 2 and winds up at DanLyn Studios in Sherwood Park on Sunday, April 10.

Possessing one of the truly great voices of the Canadian roots music scene, deCarle’s passion, phrasing, and delivery is second to none.

To quote an east coast reviewer, deCarle’s voice is “a little bit of Dean Martin shaken with Willie Nelson and Bob Wills, while adding a little Stephane Grappelli garnish.” 

After working many theatre and festival dates in Alberta and B.C., including the Edmonton Folk Festival, Salmon Arm Roots and Blues, Pender Harbour Blues Festival, Canmore Folk Festival, and Big Valley Jamboree, in the years leading up to the pandemic, deCarle is looking forward to getting in front of fans.

Many of those fans have been listening to him since Prairie Oyster started charting in the mid-1980s with tunes like Man in the Moon and Juke Joint Johnny before owning those charts with hits like It Don’t Hurt Anymore, Will I Do, One Way Track and Such A Lonely One.

“We’ve just finished the lion’s share of a new album and I look forward to premiering some new material,” deCarle aid. “Two and a half years since I last played Alberta is far too long . . . but Steve, Russ, and myself are more than ready for this trip.”

The new album will follow his first three solo releases, Alone In This Crowd, Live at Loud Mouse Studios and Under The Big Sky.