The John Wort Hannam Trio of Scott Duncan, Jason Valleau and John Wort Hannam will give a fund-raising concert in support of the Empress Theatre on Friday, Sept. 26 at Trinity United Church. Photo courtesy John Wort Hannam
KIMBERLEY BERRETH , GAZETTE CONTRIBUTOR
The John Wort Hannam Trio is supporting the Empress Theatre with a fund-raising concert on Friday, Sept. 26 at 7:30 p.m. at Trinity United Church in Fort Macleod.
The Empress Theatre is undergoing renovations that include refurbishing the seats with new cushions, springs and fabric, replacing the main auditorium floor and updating the washrooms to add additional stalls in the ladies’ room.
The fund-raising goal for the renovations is $250,000.
Wort Hannam, who is also the theatre’s programming director, is a folkroots songwriter currently living and singing about life and love’s victories and struggles in southern Alberta.
Wort Hannam has been on a roots-fueled troubadour journey for over two decades, spinning song writing gold from the chaff of the lives he has encountered and those within his fertile imagination.
More than 22 years into his career, Wort Hannam shows no sign of slowing down.
In fact, he appears to be gaining both momentum and a wider audience, winning two 2023 Canadian Folk Music Awards for solo artist of the year and contemporary album of the year.
Audiences and critics hear something special in his narrative, lyrically driven songs. Effortlessly mixing rich and clear timbered vocals with lyrics that tug at the heart, his sound is both unique and familiar.
Born on the island of Jersey in the UK, Wort Hannam immigrated to Canada at the age of nine, and like a lot of performers, began his singing career with the Calgary Boys Choir.
Wort Hannam later discovered the guitar and his knack for writing songs in his early 30s while working as a teacher on the Kainai Nation.
In 2001, Wort Hannam quit his teaching job and made himself a promise — he would try his hand at writing songs for 10 months or until his employment insurance ran out.
When time was up, he had a handful of songs. Those songs would become his first recording, Pocket Full of Holes, released in 2003.
Today, Wort Hannam is recognized as one of the best folk roots songwriters in the province. He has released eight full-length recordings and has a few feathers in his hat for his efforts, including a Juno nomination, three Canadian Folk Music Awards, a coveted Kerrville, Texas New Folk Songwriting Competition win and numerous other Canadian Folk Music Award and Western Canadian Music Award nominations.
When you add two of the finest Canadian instrumentalists — Scott Duncan on fiddle (The Wardens, Barrage) and Jason Valleau on upright bass (The PolyJesters, Blake Reid Band) — to the mix, you have the John Wort Hannam Trio.
With their three-part harmonies and intricate playing, it’s easy to see why audiences and critics alike hear something special in this trio’s narrative, lyrically driven sound.
Tickets to the John Wort Hannam Trio fund-raising concert are $42.50 each are and available at www.macleodempress.com, by calling 403-553-4404 (toll-free at 1-800-540- 9229), or at the Box Office on Main Street.
All Empress performances are supported by Alberta Foundation for the Arts.
