Zachary Lucky remains one of the hardest-working performers in Saskatchewan music, although he no longer maintains the rigorous travel schedule that he held for several years.
The country music singer, who recently moved from Saskatoon to Toronto, was at the Estevan Art Gallery and Museum (EAGM) on April 1 to perform for the latest show in the EAGM’s After Dark concert series.
He was joined in Estevan by upright bass guitarist Mitchell Thomson and pedal steel guitarist Ian Cameron. They played about 15 songs, including some of Lucky’s most popular tunes and a few new songs from his upcoming album.
The concert in Estevan was part of Lucky’s most recent tour that took him to several provinces and U.S. states.
At one time, he performed at more than 200 shows per year, but he has reduced his work schedule so he can spend more time with his partner and their 11-month-old daughter.
“Raising kids, in this day and age, is such a blessing, but it’s a huge responsibility no matter what kind of work you’re in,” Lucky told the Mercury. “Doing what I do, it’s definitely not easy, but we’re lucky to have a really great family and a really great support system.”
He has toured a few times since his daughter was born, and it hasn’t created too much strain on the family.
It is good to have a reduced travel schedule. He admits he was reaching a point where the travel was too much, and he recognizes there’s more to life than playing shows and making music.
“If you’re playing that much at barrooms all across Canada, you’re going to play to a lot more people than you would otherwise,” said Lucky. “Touring that much for three or four years put me in … the position I am now, where I’m lucky enough to go to most cities in Canada and play in front of a good room full of people.”
Lucky alluded to his arduous travel schedule several times during the concert. But he also noted, before playing his final song, Saskatchewan, that he loves coming back to the province, and he treasures every moment he plays here.
At one point in the concert, he told the audience he thinks a lot about those whose work commitments take them away from home on a regular basis.
He loves playing at venues like the EAGM because of the intimate setting.
“It’s a little more intimidating, because they are really zoning in and honing in on what you are doing,” said Lucky.
He performed at the EAGM for the first time in 2012. He also appeared as an opening act for the EAGM’s inaugural Duelling Pianos cabaret in 2013 at the Wylie-Mitchell building.
Lucky hopes his new album will be released in September or October. The nine-song, 45-minute recording features some songs that are longer with some pretty heavy stories.
“For the past few records, it’s been mostly guitars, fiddles and banjos, and it’s been very low key,” said Lucky. “And with this record, I wanted to do something a little bigger than anything I had done.”
There was also a guitar solo during one of his songs, which wouldn’t have been heard in his previous full-length albums or extended play recordings.
“I’m really proud of it,” said Lucky. “I think it’s some of the best work I’ve ever done, and I’m really excited about it.”
Songs such as Come and Gone and Wild Rose Country that he performed at the EAGM will be found on the album.
The next concert in the After Dark series is scheduled for May 6, when Sean Hogan will be appearing. It will be the final show in the 2015-16 season.
