It’s been three years since Juno award-winner Jim Byrnes played the Evergreen Cultural Centre.
And it’ll be his third time performing at the Coquitlam venue for its annual Music on the Grill series.
“It’s always great to get out there,” the blues musician told The Tri-City News last week. “Twenty-five years ago, I was playing downtown in the clubs and now my friends have moved out that way. I look forward to seeing them again.”
The American-born Byrnes hopes to make some new friends, too, when he takes to the stage Saturday with his stellar band that includes drummer Pat Stewart (The Odds, Bryan Adams, Matthew Good); keyboardist Simon Kendall (Doug and the Slugs); and Grammy award-winning trumpeter Terry Townsend (Ray Charles, Colin James).
For his part, Byrnes — who turns 70 next month — said he’s never sounded better.
Though the vocalist and actor never took singing lessons, he feels he now knows how to use his body without wrecking his voice, he said.
“I really feel I’m using my instrument and I’ve learnt what I can sing and what not to sing. I’m not trying to imitate people. I feel like, after 50 years in the business, I have found my voice.”
He promises to deliver “a good mix of songs” for his Coquitlam concert — not just blues, but also some 1960’s covers, R&B hits and country/soul tunes.
“I think people will be pleased with what we’ve got in store,” he said.
• For tickets to the final Music on the Grill show of the season, on Aug. 18 at 8 p.m. with Jim Byrnes and company, call the Evergreen Cultural Centre (1205 Pinetree Way) at 604-927-6555 or visit evergreenculturalcentre.ca. The barbecue portion of the evening (featuring Francis Henson of Vancouver) is now sold out; however, a limited number of concert seats are still available at $35 each.
