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Minstrels in the Old Church

In the atmosphere created by the historic church, amid a rugged saddle, sheepskin chaps, a horse collar – the Western life.
14 Minstrels in the Old Church
Ed Brown and Sue Harris in Oak Lake’s St. Albans Church, Tuesday, September 13.

St. Albans Church on Oxcart Trail in Oak Lake came to life with music and poetry of minstrels in their own time, who teamed up, just for this performance.

Oak Lake’s own cowboy poet, Ed Brown, with “New Christy Minstrels” singer Sue Harris from Arizona played a full evening of music as a fundraiser with net proceeds going to the bike park in Oak Lake.

The two performers, both poets and singer-songwriters only get together a couple of times per year, but sound like they play together every day.

Some years ago, after performances in Stony Plain, Alberta, the musicians met. “We just hit it off and we’ve been best buddies ever since,” explained Harris in an interview.

She is known as a Culture Keeper in her home state, evidenced as she sang with her acoustic guitar, a melodic love song in Spanish. Brown’s intuitive guitar playing brought elements of Django Reinhardt, with jazzy, gypsy sounds, interesting voicing and complex chords.

This night Brown was playing a Godin semi-hollow body electric guitar. “It’s an interesting mixture of guitars. I like the nice long neck,” he states, and he makes full use of it.

“Quail Sisters” was a request from the audience and another Sue Harris crowd pleaser, painting a personification of the small quail in the Arizona dessert, wearing question mark plumes as they go about their morning feeding and visiting.

Ed Brown has several albums to his name and is known in some circles as one of the best Canadian cowboy poets.

Entertaining with songs and poetry wasn’t really his plan, but he says, “It just kind of crept up on me over the years. I was over 30 when I began to take it seriously and perform in public.”

Initially Brown was rodeoing and entertained around the campfire. He rode saddle broncs among other rodeo events, at one time. “I started out like everybody else, getting on everything. I never really got anywhere with it.”

Now, he plays locally for occasions and benefits but says, “I do a lot of work in Alberta.”

Most often a solo performer, his work with Sue is unique. He values the yearly connection and a relaxed concert like the Oak Lake evening. “It helps us get tight.”

And, tight they were. The only indication they hadn’t played together forever was Harris’ coaching what key she was moving to next.

“E flat!” responded Brown with a sardonic grin, “The guitar player’s favourite key.” And the tune took off smoothly down the runway.

It was about 15 years ago when Brown began rhyming off ballad poetry. What the Oak Lake audience heard was humorous, surprising and delivered with an intense, story-teller style.

You may hear Brown locally once in a while - he plays for some local occasions.

“The last thing I did was at a trail ride at Souris Bend the day before yesterday,” he says. “We’re going to a festival in Maple Creek after this.” Then it’s on to the Canadian Hemp Association annual meeting in Saskatoon, then High River and he possibly to Moosomin, after that.

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