It was a beautiful evening to for some rockabilly in the park.
Summer Sizzler officially kicked off with the Chris Culgin Band in Civic Park on Jun. 15.
The Peterborough, Ont. singer has been touring Canada since 2013 and brought his newest record, Mind in the Sky, with him to Humboldt, along with bassist, Derek Bell, and drummer, Matt Greco, for the first week of their latest cross Canada tour.
This was Culgin’s second time in Humboldt and he enjoys coming back, so much in fact that he is coming back for a concert in July on his way home.
Shows like the one in Civic Park are Culgin’s favourite part of touring.
“Everyone’s having a good time, meeting people after the show, meeting new friends. Travelling is good for your spirit sometimes and makes you feel alive.”
Music wise, Culgin would describe his music as roots, rock and roll, with some alternative country mixed in.
Culgin was quick to recognize Trevor Ross for his sound work and Brian Grest for advertising for the show.
Grest, with Arts Humboldt, was pleased with the fantastic show that Culgin put on.
Grest says that Culgin’s second trip to the city had more of a “straight forward” rock’n’roll feel, much to his liking.
Grest says that he is getting more and more Ontario artists contacting him to do concerts in Humboldt.
When Culgin contacted him last year, Arts Humboldt was able to put together a concert in Civic Park last July.
Within 24 hours of Culgin contacting him about his second Humboldt show, Grest, along with Michael Ulriksen with the City of Humboldt, had Culgin set up for his Civic Park concert to kick off Sizzler 2016.
According to Grest, this rush of Ontario musicians all started with a VIA Rail train.
A friend of Grest was on a VIA Rail train going through the western provinces and spoke with the Ontario band, Wooden Horsemen, performing.
The band got Grest’s number and set up a Humboldt show for the Saskatchewan leg of their tour.
From then it became a chain of Ontario musicians telling their fellow Ontario musicians to give Grest a call to perform in Humboldt.
“All the sudden, Humboldt is becoming the stop for these bands from Ontario. It’s fantastic.”
So what is the appeal?
Grest says they roll out the red carpet for them.
“We don’t like to let anyone leave here regretting the fact that they were here.”
Grest says he hopes people keep embracing and supporting events like Culgin’s concert in the park.
“The more people come out, the more enthusiastic I get about putting them on,” says Grest.
For more information, visit Culgin’s website, www.chrisculgin.com and find his music on iTunes.
