Life on the road is seen as a necessary evil to many music artists. But Edmonton’s Scott Cook, playing at Diamond Willow Artisan Retreat Saturday, admitted to embracing it as something he’s always known.
“My family moved around a lot when I was growing up,” Cook said. “I grew up all around the prairies and most of my family lives in Michigan so we’d quite often take really long family vacations. We’d drive across the country so I think I got that in my blood from early on.”
All the miles the musician has logged during his lifetime are stamped all over his stripped down, often playful, roots music. Cook’s most recent CD, “Moonlit Rambles” has some songs devoted to being on the road including “1000 Miles” and “Going Up to the Country”.
But no song has explained his life as a nomadic musician as aptly as the title track of his 2009 release “This One’s on the House”. The tune, also referred to as “The Hobo Song”, opens with the following autobiographical lyrics.
“I live in my van, and it's a fine place to live. I sleep where I please, and wake smilin'. There's no rent to pay and I change the yard most every day. From Halifax out to the Queen Charlotte Islands.”
Cook confirmed he has used a minivan as his home away from home for the better part of four years. While touring it has not only saved him the expense of hotel rooms but kept him out of most highway diners as well.
“These days I try to cook as much as I can,” he said. “I have got a stove in the van. I try to slow down my itinerary enough so that I’ve got enough time to actually cook good food while I’m on the road.”
The entertainer often performs alone with a guitar but for his show Saturday night at Diamond Willow Artisan Retreat just minutes west of Turner Valley he’ll be part of a trio along with long time musical friends Jesse Dee and Jacquie B. Tickets for the 8 p.m. show are $20 each and available at Bluerock Gallery in Black Diamond or by calling (403) 933-5755.
Cook, who plays many music festivals during the summer, also admitted to enjoying the Diamond Willow type house shows, which are concerts in small private places not necessarily designed as music venues.
“They seem to be catching on in a lot of different places,” he explained. “For me slogging it out in bars for a couple of years, I kind of reached the end of my patience with that. When you’re playing your own songs you want feel like it means something and it’s made a connection with people. It’s really hard to do that above all the conversation and distractions in a bar.”
Upping the intimacy factor, Cook chooses to play his house shows without a microphone or any sort of public address system.
For more on the roaming music artist go to www.scottcook.net
