Local fans of Edmonton-based musician Martin Kerr have the chance to see him hit the stage in Cold Lake.
Kerr will be making the trip to perform at the Lakeland Inn on Saturday, Jan. 26 at 7:30 p.m.
This will be his second time playing in Cold Lake, and he's excited to return.
"I grew up in a small town myself over in England. I like the atmosphere of small towns where people have grown up there, know each other, and it's a bit more a friendly and intimate than (in Edmonton)," he said.
Kerr added those in attendance will hear "something familiar and something new," including his new single, You're Amazing, which he wrote about his wife.
"She's a very direct person who says exactly what she means, and she's been telling me since I met her 'Martin, you should really write something about about how amazing I am,'" Kerr recalled.
Kerr describes his music as contemporary folk or acoustic pop. He takes his inspiration from singers such as James Taylor, Cat Stevens, and Jack Johnson.
"I've always enjoyed songs that leave you with a really powerful feeling, and I try to tell stories that relate to people. Sometimes they're really personal stories, and other times it's more universal stuff," he explained.
His shows are about making a connection with the audience.
"We have a good laugh and we get everybody singing along. Usually, everybody cries at some point as well, but, we leave them smiling at the end," detailed Kerr.
By telling stories through his music, Kerr leaves a lasting impression. They often range from how he and his wife met, to a song about a family of migrant farmers in China Kerr met while travelling around the world,
"It's one of those horribly depressing true story folk songs, to the point where I wasn't sure if anybody would want to hear it or if I should put it on my album," Kerr expressed, adding the song, Mr. Laio, went on to become a fan favourite.
While he was surprised by the reaction, Kerr believes the connection people can feel with a stranger is one of the more powerful aspects in his line of work.
"That's one of the really cool things that music can do, is help people connect heart-to-heart with people they've never met... That's always what drew me to music, was the emotional connection it can create and the memories that it could dig up. I try to carry on that tradition in my writing and performances."
For more information, or to purchase tickets, visit kinosooperformingarts.ca/tickets.
