After a seven month delay, a Punnichy-raised songwriter will perform at the Marysburg Assumption Church.
Jeffery Straker has been looking forward to playing at the church ever since he heard about it five years ago.
“Everyone says the acoustics are so beautiful and also, it has a grand piano,” he said. “Not a lot of venues, particularly in Saskatchewan, have a grand piano, let mind amazing acoustics, so when you get both in the same room, I was pretty keen to do it.”
The pianist, singer and songwriter was booked to play at the church in April, but the events of that month made the organizing committee decide to delay. Now he’s scheduled to play Nov. 18.
“I think what people will like about the show is a fair number of my songs are Prairie related. Their inspiration comes from Saskatchewan or Prairie related themes and topics and I find there’s not a lot of that going on in songwriting these days,” the folk/roots musician said. “People find it quite unique. I think it leads to a show where people walk away saying I haven’t seen something like that before.”
Straker plans to do two sets for his performance.
“For this performance, I’m doing it has a trio. I’ll be at the grand piano with the lead vocal, my sister, Jill, is going to sing harmony vocals and I’ll have a double bass player with me too.”
During the show, Straker will talk with the audience between songs, telling them how certain songs came about, funny stories about being on tour and other anecdotes.
“I like to try to get to know the audience and let the audience know me because I find that if we build a relationship during the period of the concert, then it seems the people listen more closely and give them the chance to consider the two hours with me as a escape,” he said. “I like to take them somewhere else for the couple of hours they’ll be there.”
Straker travels all over the nation to perform, but he said he likes the ones in rural Saskatchewan because they are fun.
The Jeffery Straker Show will be performed at the Marysburg Assumption Church on Sunday, Nov. 18 at 2 pm.
