A Strathmore farmer with a flair for country will get folks two-stepping in the dirt on rodeo weekend.
Award-winning Canadian country music artist Drew Gregory and his five-piece band are lining up a combination of original and cover country and rock tunes for the Okotoks Pro Rodeo Dance in the Dirt Aug. 26 in the Okotoks Ford Agriplex at 9 p.m.
Gregory was named ACMA Male Artist of the Year Award in 2015 and Male Artist of the Year at the YYC Music Awards in 2016. His EP I Was There was named ACMA Album of the Year last year.
“I love cowboy-style events,” said Gregory. “I was in the corral for a lot of years growing up in a small town with the rodeo cabarets and the summer season was always pretty exciting for us, so I feel like I have a pretty good handle on what people want to hear.”
It’s about the right combination of rock and roll and country, said Gregory.
“We like to mix it up, stuff that people are a little more familiar with,” he said. “Some two-stepping stuff and some stuff for fans as well.”
Growing up on a farm in Standard, Gregory knows what it’s like to be country.
“I always love the songs that sit both in the country and rock and roll genres,” he said, giving examples of such classics like Sweet Home Alabama and tunes by Steve Earle.
Having grown up listening to rock and roll, Gregory knows a thing or two about rocking a stage.
“I lean a little more to the rock and roll because that’s what I grew up with,” he said. “Dad always had the record player on and mom always had the radio on. They were classic rock and rollers.”
Lyrically, Gregory has a country edge that draws from life experiences.
“Pretty much every song and the theme of every album is about where I’ve been at in my life,” he said. “Right now I’m reminiscing. There are a few songs about looking back and a few songs about looking ahead. We try to get something for everybody on the albums like we try to do with the show.”
Gregory is currently working on his next album. He plans to get into the studio following harvest and release an album this winter.
“We’ve got a bunch of songs we’re excited about,” he said. “With new music coming out it’s a very exciting time. I always like to have an album where none of the songs sound the same. I don’t want people to get bored by the third song because it sounds the same.”
Those planning to attend the dance will likely recognize Gregory’s latest single All About It, which has an upbeat, east-coast groove complete with washboard and spoons.
“It did really well for us across Canada,” he said. “That one always goes over well live. It gets everybody stomping their feet and clapping along. That’s been a crowd favourite.”
Gregory was a big hit when he performed at the pro rodeo dance in Okotoks last year, said marketing director Trevor Reidy.
“One of the things we always look for is if people are dancing,” he said. “That’s usually a good sign that they enjoy the performance. Last year we had more people dancing than sitting.”
Reidy said that’s not always the case.
He recalls one year when more people sat than danced. When the performer went for a break and played some recorded cover tunes, a bunch of people got on the dance floor, he said.
“We had a low period where we weren’t getting as many people as we wanted and were down to 300, 350,” he said. “Now we are back up to 600 plus. Drew Gregory has a bit of a following and that really helps, too.”
New to the dance this year is the venue. Reidy said the agriplex will be watered down and dirt will be added to create an authentic, old country dance floor.
“Their legs will be well built up by the time we are done,” he said.
Reidy expects the dance to be a hit this weekend, not only due to the performer and venue, but also because it’s the only pro rodeo in Canada scheduled this weekend.
He expects some competitors will stay for the dance because they won’t have to rush off to another rodeo.
“People like to be able to go to a dance and if they see a competitor they go over and have a chat with them,” he said. “If they have never done that before it’s a highlight.”
Tickets to attend the dance cost $10 at the door. Those with Saturday night rodeo tickets will gain free entry into the dance with their stub.
Drink tickets are interchangeable between the rodeo and dance, Reidy said.
The dance is open to adults only. Food trucks will be on site throughout the evening.
