Scott Roos, Herald contributor
It’s been almost eight months since Regina-based country rocker JJ Voss was supposed to play a stripped-down cabaret-style show at the E.A. Rawlinson Centre For the Arts and, based on his recent appearance in a community video project which featured the Trews song of the same name, he’s been “Tired of Waiting”.
All jokes aside, it’s great to see Voss back in the game and even better to see that he’s able to make it back to P.A. after having his show cancelled due to COVID. He’s elated to get a second chance this Friday, Nov. 20th.
“I feel very fortunate to have been re-booked to bring my show to Prince Albert at the Rawlinson Centre. I had mentally written off 2020 for any type of traditional shows. When the theatre contacted me with the new plan to put on the show with a smaller capacity and new safety protocols, it really helped to take a bit of the sting away from a very tough year,” Voss
explained in a recent interview.
“Ya gotta give credit to all the management at the Rawlinson Centre for going the extra mile to try to be inventive and find ways to keep shows happening at that venue and do it in a safe way in order to keep the lights on and keep everybody in the game,” continued Voss.
Prior to COVID shutting down the world, Voss had booked a modest series of shows in support of his award winning recent full length outing entitled Come Along With Me which included a stop at the Rawlinson. Come Along With Me is a record chock-full of country roots rock stompers guaranteed to get your toes tapping and your hands clapping. The Steve Earle and Jason Isbell influences are sonically all over this latest release but it’s Voss’s unique approach in his lyrics that serve as a major drawing point. It’s a record about respect, love and positivity. In short, Voss is touring a message that’s much needed in this bizarre, and somewhat soul crushing time in history that we are living through and he’s bringing his “Damn Good Band” along for the ride.
“This show will be with my bass player Brian Kelly and Drummer/percussionist Jayson Brinkworth. We’ll be a trio. Both Jayson and Brian have been playing shows with me on and off over the past 17 years,” says Voss.
“Over the years we’ve been working together and we’ve got a pretty good chemistry. It’s kind of like a sports team you don’t even have to verbalize some things. You just read each other’s body language and you know where things are going without even talking about,” Voss continued.
At the end of the day, the Rawlinson has, with their “Live and Local” series of shows this season, staged a fantastic set of performers thus far filled with phenomenal Saskatchewan based talent. With Voss, the music starved locals of Prince Albert certainly have a rare opportunity to see a performer of his calibre grace the stage in a comfortable, safe, and intimate storyteller-style environment.
The show will get started at 7:30 p.m. Given the limited seating capacity tickets for this show will likely move very quickly. You can purchase tickets at the EA Rawlinson Centre box office or at www.earc.ca/jj-voss
