Brett Kissel will be hitting the stage for the Vic Juba Community Theatre’s Crank It Up Cabaret at the Lloyd Ex on Sept. 7. Suppled Photo
The very first Vic’s Crank it up Cabaret is coming to the Border City.
Brett Kissel is excited to be headlining the family-friendly show at the Lloyd Ex on Sept. 7.
“We’re playing it at the Ex because it’s the crank it up cabaret, and we wanna party. It’s an all ages show, and we’re going to have 1,000 people there,” said Kissel .
“So we want it to be a great party to say, thank you very much for supporting the Vic Juba, we hope you love my music, and let’s rock and roll.
“That’s exactly what it’s going to be—we are going to have a great time.”
Kissel also noted it’s been roughly six years since he’s played in Lloyd, and he’s looking forward to his return.
“We gotta make up for lost time, you know?” he said.
“Drink some beer, bring your cowboy boots, get ready to dance and get ready to party. It’s going to be a great one.”
Unlike concerts in the bigger ceneers, tickets will be more affordable.
“You can’t go to a concert in Edmonton or Calgary for less than $300. For $59 we’re going to put on an amazing show and have so much fun.”
Kissel, who is an Alberta farm boy at heart, said he enjoys playing in places like Lloyd.
“I love communities like Lloydminster, with hard-working blue-collar people who understand farm, understand ag, understand the energy sector—I love it all. That’s my favourite thing.”
Opening for Kissel is Jordyn Pollard, who is from Marwayne.
“She’s got a great career going on right now,” said Kissel.
“When someone local starts experiencing success, it’s hard not to take notice, and it’s hard not to be really happy and thrilled for them. I think Jordyn’s going to do a great job.”
Kissel said he’s played some great shows over the summer but has also taken some time off to spend with family and friends.
“So many great shows, but also a lot of time off to be with my family. We’ve got nine ducks and a bunch of chickens … it’s like this real farm lifestyle and I get to do all of that with my kids. It’s the right balance between some really great gigs on the weekends, but it’s been great having the week off to spend this quality time, and make some really great memories.”
Amidst all of this, it’s also a big year for Kissel’s career with his Compass Project continuing.
The project features four albums, all released this year.
“They’re each sub-genres of the all-encompassing umbrella of country music. And my favorite sub-genres that I sing on a regular basis,” said Kissel.
Two albums are already out. The south album, released in January, features some of his biggest hits yet including Never Have I Ever, It Ain’t the Same with 98 degrees, and Watch It, which was a top -10 song.
The east album, which was released in the spring, is an all-acoustic album.
“It’s interesting … we spent two weekends ago out at Turtle Lake … and I played a lot of those songs around the campfire for my friends and my family,” said Kissel.
“That is your singer-songwriter love songs, just straight from your heart … played on an acoustic guitar—that’s a beautiful part of country music.”
The next album to be released is the west album, which he describes as ‘super country.’
“It’s authentically country. There’s one song I wrote called Oil and Cattle and I think that people in Lloydminster would love, and it goes: ‘I come from a land of oil and cattle, hard work, blood, sweat and tears.’ I just love that song,” said Kissel.
The fourth and final album will be released near the end of 2023, and will of course be called the north album. It’s a live record.
“It’s my greatest hits … but it’s live. So one of my songs, Drink, About Me live from these drive-in concerts that we invented in 2020, and a song of mine called Anthem that we did live from the Calgary Stampede, or She Drives Me Crazy live from Boots and Hearts in Toronto, or it’s 3, 2, 1 live from Halifax,” said Kissel.
“So, it’s a live album, first one I’ve ever done … I can’t wait to see what my fans think about them.”
