Growing up in land known for being flat has inspired a big, old country sound for the opening performer of a music series staple in Turner Valley. “Definitely, I think as an artist you are influenced by your surroundings — it definitely works its way in my lyrics and perhaps my sound too,” said Jolene ‘Little Miss’ Higgins. “There were lots of country stations where I lived when I was growing up — Loretta Lynn, Kenny Rogers, Merle Haggard. I wasn’t necessarily playing that style at the time but it was around me along with some other things.” Little Miss Higgins, who was born in Brooks, grew up in Kansas, spent some time in Saskatchewan and now calls Manitoba home, will open the 2018-19 Beneath the Arch concert series Sept. 29 at 7 p.m. at the Flare ‘n’ Derrick. “My music is rooted in that old country blues from the early 1900s,” Higgins said. “Music that I really appreciate and seems to suite my style and appreciation, root vintage things. “It’s a great canvas for me to be able to express things in my own way.” Although she lists a wide range of influences such as Memphis Minnie, Billie Holliday, Bill Big Broonzy, Joni Mitchell, Dolly Parton and Dylan, it will be 100 per cent Higgins on stage in Turner Valley. It’s worked. She is a former Juno and Maple Blues Awards nominee for the 2007 album Junction City, which won the Outstanding Blues Recording at the Western Canadian Music Awards. “I will be playing the different type of songs that I have written over the years, new stuff and even stuff that has never been recorded, but always in the live repertoire,” Higgins said. Some of those selections will come from her newest album My Home, My Heart. Possibly the opening track Put the Needle On — a tribute to those old stereos that took up an entire living room. “I do like that song,” she said with a laugh. “Some friends had gotten one of those old record players that is a giant piece of furniture as big as a couch kind of thing. “They didn’t have room in the house and they kept it outside, they had this little cabana. “We were playing records using this crazy old record player and that’s the song.” She’s not afraid to push the country envelope. Her album Bison Ranch Recording Sessions was recorded in a barn on a bison ranch in Manitoba. Check out Higgins’ video of Moonlit Picnic from that album and notice she’s got some brass to her country blues. “The music that I listen to is jazz, it’s blues, it’s country — it’s definitely not just country,” Higgins said. “Those genres all influenced each other back in the 20s, 30s and 40s. “My stuff is more along the lines of the Dixieland jazz and old country blues stuff that often has horn sections in it.” She will have a four-piece band in Turner Valley, consisting of Patrick Alexandre on upright bass, Jimmy James Fraser on trumpet and euphonium and Darwin Baker on guitar, banjo and harmonica. Tickets for Little Miss Higgins are $25 for persons over the age of 13 and $10 for 12 and under. They are available at Bluerock Gallery in Black Diamond or online at beneaththearch.ca. The full calendar of this season’s concerts is also available at that site. To check out Little Miss Higgins’ sound go to littlemisshiggins.com
