Chris Henderson has played his music in almost every public venue in his hometown, the Energy City, but his appearance at the Estevan Art Gallery and Museum on Dec. 5 will be his first in those cozy surroundings.
鈥淚鈥檓 really looking forward to it. I鈥檝e never played there and the more intimate concerts are something that a lot of musicians and singers appreciate. I know this one will give me an opportunity to try some of my new songs, and I鈥檒l pretty well know right away whether or not you鈥檒l like 鈥檈m,鈥� he said with a laugh.
Henderson is appearing as part of the EAGM鈥檚 ongoing After Dark Concert Series. The previous concert featured Regina/Toronto based singer/songwriter Jeffery Straker.
Henderson鈥檚 music is pure country and western and some of his recently released songs are receiving good air play, with three of them over the past couple of years rising into the top 50 play rankings.
The former Male Artist of the Year nominee for the Saskatchewan Country Music Awards came off a busy summer of appearances at the Craven Country Jamboree (main stage), Big Valley and Gateway Music Festivals as well as the Calgary Stampede. He recently completed a tour in Alberta that included stops in Calgary and Medicine Hat before wrapping up at the Canadian Western Agribition in his new hometown of Regina. Another highlight of the past summer was an appearance at the Boots and Hearts Festival in Bowmanville, Ont., one of the largest music festivals on the tour.
Henderson, who gave up a full time career teaching high school English, nine years ago, doesn鈥檛 regret the decision, especially since he still gets the opportunity to do some substitute teaching 鈥済igs鈥� in Regina, allowing him to keep his hand in that game, too.
鈥淚 left the full time teaching ranks in 2006,鈥� he said, willing to jump with both feet into the world of C&W music.
Direct release on YouTube for such tunes as My Turn and Don鈥檛 Miss Your Kiss Goodbye聽have garnered Henderson a lot of attention of late in the music writing and composition community.
鈥淲hen I first started out, I couldn鈥檛 get a lot of help on the collaborative side. Everyone was just too busy. Now, it seems I鈥檝e paid some dues, had some solid songs out there and these guys are phoning me and we鈥檙e working together on a lot of material.鈥�
Henderson said he鈥檒l spend a good part of the winter (December, January and February) in the recording studio as well as being hunched over his songs that he is crafting with the likes of well known collaborative songwriters like Troy Kokol, Willie Mack or Russ Brun who has won several awards for his lyrical stylings for Jann Arden.
鈥淭he EAGM concert will be a perfect environment to try out some of these new songs,鈥� he said, promising to also render his better known and familiar tunes for the local audience.
鈥淲riting these songs never seems to go the same way twice. Sometimes it鈥檚 the music I get in my head first and I鈥檒l just do the la, la, la, ya, ya, ya lyrical thing until I get the music right and then other times the lyrics come racing in and I try to match them with music. It鈥檚 interesting and that鈥檚 what I do a lot in winter because the touring schedules are slower now. But I see in March, April and on, I鈥檓 booked pretty solid so I鈥檒l be back on the road by then.鈥�
Henderson said that 鈥渂y January, I鈥檒l be listening hard to what will work. I鈥檒l be sorting through stuff, even recording things on my phone. All self-employed musicians are always busy and it can be fun because busy people want to play and write music with other busy people,鈥� he added with another laugh.
Henderson added that he has appreciated the fact that his music continues to receive good radio play with a growing fan base and radio audience in Eastern Canada.
鈥淢y next single will be my ninth, so I guess I have a pretty decent recognition factor out there now,鈥� Henderson noted. He has also recorded a couple of albums that have done well, even in the new world order of music.
鈥淚t won鈥檛 matter if there are eight people or 80 people at the EAGM on Dec. 5. I鈥檒l be there to play, to visit and have some fun, and I hope you鈥檒l join in.鈥�
Henderson鈥檚 appearance at the EAGM will be a solo acoustic evening, which will again, allow him flexibility as he tries some new arrangements in front of a live audience that he knows will be willing to give him some instant feedback. 聽
