Jeffery Straker kicks off the 2025-’26 Empress Theatre Centre Stage Series on Saturday, Oct. 11.
KIMBERLEY BERRETH, GAZETTE CONTRIBUTOR
Jeffery Straker, a Saskatchewan folk singer-songwriter pianist, will kick off the Empress Theatre’s Centre Stage Series on Saturday, Oct. 11 at Trinity United Church.
Straker serves up a rootsy-storytelling brand of song that has been said to transport his listeners to another time and place.
With critical comparisons to the likes of Kris Kristofferson, Jackson Browne and Murray McLauchlan, Straker has twice been named Roots-Folk Artist of the Year at the Saskatchewan Music Awards and has been honoured with a Western Canadian Music Award.
The Saskatchewan Country Music Awards have named Straker keyboard player of the year for four years running.
Straker released his ninth recording Great Big Sky in 2024, steeped with themes of the Canadian prairies.
The album garnered him a 2025 Canadian Folk Music Award for Contemporary Canadian Folk Singer of the Year.
Proud of his prairie roots, Straker debuted Great Big Sky with a series of unique performances in grain elevators across Saskatchewan.
He followed that up with performances throughout Canada, in Nashville, the UK and Ireland.
Continuing to reach audiences in unique ways, last year Straker was selected by CBC’s The Current to perform in a live national radio broadcast sharing songs from the recording
Straker was also chosen to represent Canada in a week-long residency performing in Osaka, Japan at Expo 2025 earlier this month.
Straker recently received royal recognition from His Majesty King Charles III who was moved by a song on Jeffery’s new album that was penned for the 2023 Coronation celebration in Saskatchewan.
The King’s message about the song and well-wishes for Straker’s UK tour made national news across Canada.
Tickets to see Jeffery Straker are available at www.macleodempress.com, by calling 403-553-4404 or at the Box Office on Main Street.
All Empress Theatre concerts are sponsored by Alberta Foundation for the Arts.
