A local musician is getting set to open for a member of Canadian rock and roll royalty.
Wade Fehr was announced as the opening act for Burton Cummings, who is performing at the E.A. Rawlinson Centre Thursday as part of his Up Close and Alone tour.
Cummings was the lead singer of The Guess Who, lending his voice and writing talents to hits such as American Women, These Eyes, Share the Land and New Mother Nature. His solo career includes hits such as Stand Tall and You Saved My Soul.
“It’s a huge honour,” Fehr said Tuesday.
“Thee is so much talent in this city and in this area. To be picked out of that whole crop of talent is mindblowing. I’m speechless.”
Fehr found out he had been chosen this weekend. He used a Saturday performance at the Bison Café to practice the songs he’s set to play in his set, “just making sure they’re exactly where I want them to be,” he said.
He’s planning to mostly play original music off of his new album, a mix of country, folk and blues.
“I have an old Burton Cummings record around that gets played every once in a while,” Fehr said. “I think everyone listens to him for sure.”
Over the weekend, Fehr posted a photo to Facebook announcing that he would be performing. In the photo, he was holding up the Cummings record.
“I’m getting all kinds of likes and all kinds of shared form people I don’t even know that have been listening to my music or who have seen me around town. An opportunity like this is something that can be on my musical resume my whole life.”
Fehr, who works full time as a City of Prince Albert firefighter, released an album all about family in April. Speaking to the Herald before the album release, he said that of the music he’s played and written for 20 years, the ones on this album are the most meaningful and heartfelt.
Fehr also appeared on the Chesterfest stage this summer. But he’s especially looking forward to Thursday’s performance.
“I’ve gone to lots of shows at the Rawlinson Centre and sat in the crowd and thought how cool it would be to play to a sold-out crowd there,” he said.
“This is an opportunity.”
While Thursday’s show with Burton Cummings and Wade Fehr is mostly sold out a handful of upper-row tickets remain.
Tickets start at $86 before fees and taxes and are available at the E.A. Rawlinson Centre box office.
The show is set for a 7:30 p.m. start.
