An award-winning country singer is going to a drive-in for the first time since his youth to help support the health of the Foothills community.
George Canyon, who lives north of Okotoks, will perform three one-hour concerts at the Big Screen Harvest Party at the Sunset Drive-in in High River on Oct. 2.
“I’m hoping there are going to be lots of families there, because as a kid, going to the drive-in was a huge deal for us,” said Canyon.
Canyon and Aaron Pritchett will perform at the party, with proceeds going to the High River and District Health Care Foundation’s Greatest Needs project.
Those needs are identified by local healthcare heroes — doctors, nurses, hospital staff and public health professionals.
The concert is at the drive-in to ensure COVID-19 protocols can be followed.
Those local heroes have hit close to home for Canyon.
“The High River Hospital is very special to me,” Canyon said. “Madison, my daughter, was born there.
“We spent a lot of time in that hospital when our kids were little. It’s of vital importance to the community. Both my mom and dad were in healthcare and I was going to be a doctor back in Nova Scotia … Right now, we need to make sure our health care is of utmost importance, priority one.
“Getting to help out in any capacity, makes me happy.”
It will be a different scenario for Canyon to find out if the High River fans are happy when they hear him sing Speed of Life, or Johnny Cash’s Ring of Fire.
“It will be horns,” Canyon said. “I have played a lot of outdoor festivals all over the country, the world and not once have I had people honk their horns.
“I hope they honk their horns.”
Canyon and Pritchett will be live on stage with a video feed to the big screen and audio broadcast to car radios.
Canyon said the sound will be excellent.
“I am not worried about the sound, but it will definitely be like listening to an album on your car radio except it will also be on the big screen,” Canyon said. “It’s going to be so cool. I am hoping I can stick my head in our vehicle and listen to Aaron’s show just to hear what it sounds like.”
The High River gig will be one of Canyon’s first live shows since COVID-19 muted the entertainment world.
“Everything I have done has been online,” Canyon said. “Lethbridge will be my first show (Oct. 1) and then High River."
Canyon and Pritchett have known each other for decades — they toured in late 2019 and were going to tour in 2020 when COVID put a halt to those plans.
They will both have their bands with them, however, at sometime during the set, it is expected they will perform together.
Canyon is presently working on a children’s TV show, writing children songs.
He may play one of them at the High River show.
Show times for the performances are 6 p.m., 8 p.m. and 10 p.m.
Guests will be asked to stay within their vehicle and their parking stalls.
Cost is $80 per vehicle or $125 for a VIP stall.
The foundation is also holding an online auction and 50/50 raffle, both of which are open to the public, to go along with the event.
For more information about the Big Screen Harvest Party and auction click here.
