There are concerts… and then there are evenings like this.
April 9th, at the Mary Irwin Theatre, Barney Bentall opened his My Life in Ranching and Rock and Roll tour to a sold-out room and gave us something far deeper than a show.
Part music.
Part storytelling.
Part living memoir.
From reflections of a teenage boy discovering rock and roll… to a life shaped by ranching, family, and the courage to choose his own path every moment felt honest, grounded, and real.
With visuals of his Cariboo ranch and the people who shaped his life, the entire evening unfolded like a film quiet, cinematic, and deeply human.
A beautiful tribute to a life well lived. 🤍
📸 More from the night in this gallery.
#canadaislivemusic #welovelive #fortheloveoflive #kelownamusic
I will be doing a river cruise through the Douro Valley in Portugal. May 26th to June 2nd. My first one! I’ll be serenading the guests along with Jim Cuddy, Devin Cuddy and Anne Lindsay. There are only a couple of cabins left, in case you were wondering what to do after the May Long! Contact the Stewart Travel Group.
As mentioned in my last post, a week of contrast. From Nunavut to Ottawa. From workshops with kids in Kugluktuk to the Canadian Culinary Championships. From Moose meat spaghetti sauce and Arctic char to very fancy dishes that I’m not qualified to describe. Through it all… was music. It has been 8 or so wonderful shows over the fall and winter, honouring the music of Spirit Of The West. Last night was the finale. With my dear friend Geoffrey Kelly (I think it’s damn near 40 years since we first went into our little studio in a mill work shop to record their first record), Matthew Harder and Luke Doucet. Luke was ripping it up on the Gretsch Falcon and the bass! We missed ya Kevin Fox. The event put musical instruments in yet another school through Music Counts and will help indigenous athletes get the support and training they need through Spirit North. Thanks Canada’s Great Kitchen Party! Been a hell of a ride for the last 17
Years. It was Luke’s idea to start the night with the song Ohio. Heartbreaking, to see this song once again, be so relevant. 📸 Moseslawn
Hello. I’ve had a month or so of being at home and in one place, which has been needed and rejuvenating. It’s a challenge for so many of us to be positive and see the joy in a such a currently troubled world. Rest helps and productive work helps.
The first foray back on the road for me has been a remarkable and inspiring experience. A time of hearing hard stories and inspirational stories.
I went up with my son Dustin to Kugluktuk for the premiere of a documentary we filmed there almost two years ago called Signs Of Life. It was put together by James Raffen and Trevor Wallace. We were accompanied by geologist/educator extraordinaire Lynn Moorman. We were hosted by the kind and wonderful Susie and Joe Allen Evyagotailak who were also a big part of the film. We couldn’t have done all of this without the help of ArtsCan and Adventure Canada. Thankyou.
It’s a mixed and complicated situation in the Arctic where things from the south are all accessible in the northern communities. Be it drugs, social media but also instruments and musical influences.
We did workshops again with kids from the high school and it was fun and sometimes heartbreaking. We watched and participated in drum dances. I am always struck by how kind and generous the people there are.
I will let you know when the documentary is available and post a link.
In the meantime, hold on to compassion, empathy, integrity and most of all… love and forgiveness. I want to note, that Joe lent me his mitts while I was there for the -38 temps. It’s the second last photo. They have a number on them. It was what the government gave him a long time ago when they came to the land of his people. Only a number and not his name and all the history and survival and laughter that came before him.
I am off to play and the Canadian Culinary Championships in Ottawa with friends from Spirit Of The West and Luke Doucet. It will be a contrast from the last week to say the least but… I guess it’s what I do. Thanks for listening.
One more night at the Neat Cafe with the Devin Cuddy band tonight at 8pm. I think we can all use a little music tonight to celebrate the Blue Jays. An incredibly classy bunch.
The Cosmic Dreamers are playing The Ship in St. John’s tonight! It’ll be a combination of BB songs and Spirit of The West songs. It has been a wonderful journey over the last few weeks honouring the music of SOTW!
The gig itself… Always good to get a musical kick in the butt by the young’uns! Puts the paddles to the rock & roll heart. Thanks guys! It was a lotta fun. B 📸 courtesy of Bob Holtman
Two great nights of music with the Devin Cuddy Band. A big highlight for all of us last night playing before the Legendary Jimmy Vaughn at the Saskatoon Jazz Fest. A nice pic of Jimmy having coffee the next morning courtesy of Pat Phillips. Off to Harrison and Butchart Gardens!
