The Grand Olds Opry will hit the stage May 2 and will be headlined by Canadian country artist Russell deCarle, one of the founding members of Prairie Oyster, a famed country band.
The show will be held at the Trans Canada Theatre and starts at 7:30 p.m.
It will be deCarle’s first time in Olds and he’s looking forward to his upcoming show.
“I’m excited about it. I love that part of the world and Alberta’s always great to me, it was so Prairie Oyster friendly and Russell deCarle friendly for decades,” said deCarle.
Speaking of Prairie Oyster, one of the exciting things about his appearance at the Opry is that deCarle, in a rare case, will perform some of the Oyster tunes.
“I’ve done that stuff for so long but it’s been so long now since I’ve done it and it’s kind of exciting again,” said deCarle.
The tone that audiences should expect is a comfortable one because deCarle is enjoying performing now more than he ever has before.
“This is my 47th year on the road and honestly I’m having more fun than I ever have,” said deCarle. “One of the great things about being older and doing this for so long is that you don’t sweat the small stuff. It’s much more relaxed and telling my own story.”
Grand Olds Opry organizer Don Jorgensen is excited to have deCarle come and be a part of the Opry.
“It’s an honour to be able to work with Russell; he’s someone I’ve looked up to over the years,” Jorgensen said.
When choosing the artists to feature at the Grand Olds Opry, Jorgensen says it comes down to a gut feeling.
“I’ve seen these artists or worked with them and I know how audiences react to them,” he said.
Jorgensen went on to say that he wants to capture that classic country feel without the show being a tribute.
What appealed to deCarle about the Opry was the chance to play with other musicians and having the chance to learn from them.
“It’s been really great to get to play with other people. It’s always inspiring, and you always learn something from other people,” said deCarle.
