The Museum of the Cariboo Chilcotin is tuning up for its annual Cowboy Christmas Concert on Saturday, Nov. 19 with not one but four acts on stage.
Singer-songwriter and western cartoonist Ben Crane from the Alberta ranchlands just east of Rocky Mountain House headlines the show.
Crane and his wife Sharmon have two daughters Stephanie and Jessica.
Jessica will be among the concert’s special guests that will include cowboy poet Frank Gleeson and the Cariboo-Chilcotin Youth Fiddlers.
Ben Crane finds inspiration in the outdoors for both his music and popular western cartoons, his biography explains.
“What I do beats the hang out of a real job,” Crane says.
His musical stylings are rooted in traditional country, with hints of bluegrass, jazz, blues and swing, and range from old cowboy ballads to recently-written songs of the western lifestyle.
Adding to the collection are straight-ahead gospel songs that pack a punch; all delivered with warm personality and conviction.
Over the past 25 years he has produced six of his own albums and many others in various capacities as producer, engineer, arranger, session player or vocalist.
Several of his projects have been nominated for awards in the U.S. where western music’s current resurgence is at an all-time high.
His albums are also receiving airplay as far away as Europe and Japan.
Ben regularly performs at a variety of functions; agriculture societies, rural community associations, 4-H fundraisers, gatherings and festivals, private and corporate functions, churches, and just about anything in between.
His shows are agriculture-oriented and full of clean rural humour.
Screen-projected artwork creates the most unique aspect of his show, while his daughter’s accompanying fiddle and vocals illustrate his family values.
The concert is set for Saturday, Nov. 19 at the Gibraltar Room starting at 7 p.m.
Tickets are $20 each and available at the Museum of the Cariboo Chilcotin, Margetts Meats and The Open Book.