The Bragg Creek Community Association is hosting a concert featuring decorated Canadian country music star Gord Bamford on March 12 at the Bragg Creek Community Centre, in partnership with Swamp Donkey Musical Theatre Society and the Bragg Creek Performing Arts Society.
Bamford, who will be performing an all-ages show for residents of the hamlet, has received 26 Canadian Country Music Association Awards and multiple Juno Award nominations. He is also a two-time winner of the CMA Global Country Artist Award.
The Alberta-raised artist has had 10 top singles in Canada, with other 85 million streams across the world.
Trisha Gizen, founder and president of Swamp Donkey – a local musical theatre company in Bragg Creek – said she was looking for a way to bring a fundraising opportunity to the community along with some live music in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
That is when she heard about Gord Bamford’s “Kick COVID in the A**” tour.
“I think at this point, any live music is great for Bragg Creek,” she said. “Gord is a friend of a friend and happened to be doing the tour at the same time we were talking about this opportunity, so it just seemed like a great fit.
“[Bamford] is also a country recording artist, who is well-beloved in Alberta and certainly in our little area. All the stars aligned.”
According to Gizen, Bamford will be contributing and giving back to the community, as the three organizations – Swamp Donkey Musical Theatre Society, Bragg Creek Community Association, and Bragg Creek Performing Arts – will split the entirety of the proceeds from the event to support community initiatives.
She added she thought it would be a good thing to team up with the two other community organizations in a collaborative effort to bring live music back to Bragg Creek.
“Your attendance will help support all three organizations,” she said. “We have a chance after two years to finally hear live music again and gather, and I think that’s a great opportunity.
“Gord is a fantastic performer, and we’re so grateful that he is coming to our little hamlet – that's just such an extraordinary opportunity to see great live music.”
Gizen added the COVID-19 pandemic hit the performing arts industry hard with public health restrictions making in-person and live performances near-impossible to put on.
She said Swamp Donkey had to pivot during the pandemic as well, offering online theatre courses and virtual performances throughout much of the pandemic.
“We went online. We recorded and did productions out in the parking lot in every kind of weather you can imagine, so we kept going and we’re really proud of that.
“But it wasn’t live theater before a live audience, so we’re incredibly grateful we’re returning to that,” she said.
When it comes to COVID-related protocols, Gizen said the Bragg Creek Community Centre will be abiding by whatever provincial guidelines are in place at the time of the performance, with no additional implementation of mandatory masking or a vaccine passport program as of press time.
Those interested in attending the performance can purchase tickets at gordbamford.com/tour/
