Barry Coulter
It took him a little longer to get here than originally planned, but he finally arrives this week.
Kenny Rogers, one of the top Country artists of all time, brings his "Through the Years" tour to Cranbrook this week, Wednesday, June 11. The show was originally scheduled for last February, but had to be postponed and rescheduled.
The show at Western Financial Place will feature an arrangement where the stage faces the side seating, rather than end to end, as was the arrangement for the recent Charlie Pride concert. This will make for an up-close-and-personal evening, and Rogers is looking forward to it.
"You know, I'd actually rather work those kinds of (smaller) venues, because you can really feel the audience more," Rogers told the Townsman in an interview in February. "If you work big venues, what you have to do is play to the front two rows and acknowledge the back 10. But this way you get to see everybody — literally. I turn on the house lights from time to time and I get a chance to look around, and see who's there. It's fun for me to do that, to pick out people. There's always someone holding a sign that says 'Where's Dolly?'
"It's a totally different feel, but it's much more rewarding. There's a better connection in those conditions, and I just love it."
Rogers has had 120 hit singles and sold more than 100 million records over a 50-year career, and he told the Townsman earlier that concert-goers can expect a solid revue of that body of work.
"I got about 18 or 19 top 10 records, and I do them all. 'Lucille,' 'Coward of the County,' 'Daytime Friends...' All the ballads: 'Love the World Away,' 'Through the Years,' 'She Believes in Me,' 'Ruby Don't Take Your Love To Town' ... Åll those things, and I'm going to mix some new things in."
And the band that's accompanying Rogers?
"My band has been with me, most of the them, for the better part of 40 years. And they're great players and good friends, and they just get better every time we go out."
Also appearing with Rogers on Wednesday is Canadian Country musician Charlie Major.
Rogers' "Through the Years 2014 World tour, with special guest Charlie Major, touches down at Western Financial Place in Cranbrook, on Wednesday this week, June 11. Showtime 7:30 p.m. Tickets available at Western Financial Place box office, by phone at 250-426-SEAT, or online at www.tickets.cranbrook.ca