There are entertainment and hospitality venues all over Prince George during the Canada Winter Games, but the one closest to Games Plaza is Cariboo House. Every night they have a slate of entertainers from rock to country to DJs to sports trivia events.
The act that gets to open the festivities is tonight's headliner, Canadian country music star Julian Austin. The man knows sports - he is a regular in the weight room and he's been known to climb on the back of a bull at the rodeo - and the man knows music. He has been to the top of the charts with singles like Little Old Kisses and he earned gold with his records like the Games athletes will be earning with their athletics.
"I have seen the best of Canada, especially back in the heyday with the boys in the band on the bus," said Austin from his house just outside of Winnipeg. He has also called Calgary home and he was born Sussex, New Brunswick. He is the national blend of east and west, coast and open prairie, modern and traditional, country and rock. And he never forgets his Canadian manners.
"I have been really blessed," he said of the career arch that has opened the world up to the small town boy. There have been ups and downs, everything from getting his own line of electric guitars to suffering severe bullriding injuries, but he has always come through stronger and more channeled into his music.
"We were always playing something new, meeting new people, travelling to new places," he said. "The very first tour I did was 1997 - Michelle Wright (at the peak of her stardom) and I did 43 shows in 47 days. We had four days off. As the opening act we had a cube van set up with bunk beds and a couch - we paid our dues on that trip. We got to see Canada from one end to the other, and I got blessed to see that again and again. I'm so grateful for the music and the fans."
Austin, like Wright, was the vanguard of what was then called New Country and has evolved into the stuff of Chad Brownlee (see him at Games Plaza on Feb. 22), Madeline Merlo and Tim Hicks (they are together on the Games stage Feb. 26) and Aaron Pritchett (the Cariboo House closer on Feb. 27).
"I am the veteran grandfather now. I'm not the oldest fossil out there, but we're still given 'er," Austin said. "It has been a great family for me. I grew up playing metal and rock in the '70s and '80s but I found country music has a different breed of fan - very loyal, very appreciative. If you're straight with them, they're supportive of you and I have been blessed."
He has given back to the fans, with original material that's catchy and fun, some tender ballads, songs with stories, and a liberal dose of rocky favourites like his version of ZZ Top's Legs, Rod Stewart's Maggie May, and a bright duet with fellow Maritime music star Melanie Doane doing the classic Kenny / Dolly hit Islands In The Stream.
"It's still a great way to make a living. When you get out on the road, well that's what its all about," said Austin. "We will be there a day earlier just to chill out, get ourselves together, we do a show in Quesnel to warm up, and then we get to kick off the Canada Winter Games at Cariboo House. That's a real honour, and we're going to give 'er."
Austin takes the stage tonight at 10 p.m. Get tickets at the eventbrite.ca website while they last.
