Edmonton based songwriter Scott Cook comes across as a pretty easygoing guy, though his new, fifth CD “ Another Time Around” shows his more melancholy introspective side.
He is excited about life and returning to southern Alberta to play the Twin Butte Store, June 4 at the Waterton Opera House the next day and the Slice on June 6.
“The tour is going great. We’re about three days into it, Cook said, relaxing in Vancouver.
“We’ve played everywhere from hotels bars to hotel rooms, to a 127 -year-old church in Banff,” he enthused adding people have been enjoying the new music.
He has a brand new, trimmed down band with him including Melissa Parker on vocals and stand up bass and Bramwell Park on banjo, mandolin, guitar, percussion and vocals.
“I figured the music was more traditional and more stripped down, which leaves more room. And I love them, which is great when you have to live with someone in a van,” he said.
He just received copies of the new record two days before leaving on the tour.
“CBC and CKUA have been playing it. I haven’t even done the college radio mail outs yet,” he said adding he will be using publicists for the American and European releases.
“The CD is more stripped down. There are nine originals and a cover by Greg Brown. And there are only one or two instrument on the song like a piano, dobro or fiddle,” he described.
“When I went to record this, I only had nine songs, so there weren’t a lot to pick from,” he continued.
He noted the lyrics are very introspective.
“There is a lot about hope and despair and about the state of society today,” he said.
He noted another similar theme is looking back on his own life, growing up an becoming a singer/ songwriter.
“ There’s a lot about questioning things and trying to find beliefs and thoughts as I approach the middle of my life,” he said.
“ I’ve been doing this full time for six years, so I’ve been starting to question things,” he said.
He is excited about returning to the Slice, where he will be playing guitar, banjo and ukulele with his band backing him.
“ I’ve got the new line up and some new songs. There will be lots of harmonies and lots of different instruments,” he described.“ I love that town.
“It’s been a favourite of mine for the past 10 years. I get a lot of support from the college radio (CKXU 88.3 FM) there,” he said.
The show begins at 9:30 p.m. June 6 at the Slice. There is a $10 cover.
