A former Black Diamond cowboy is making his way home to perform some big gigs this summer.
Now based in Mazatlan, Mexico, singer/songwriter Brent McAthey will be making the rounds in his old stomping grounds around Alberta, performing at Ranchman’s on July 14 and 15 through the Calgary Stampede, as well as a few other big stops.
“It’s iconic, it’s Canada’s most famous country music club,” McAthey said. “It’s always an honour to be able to play there.”
The venue is a familiar one for McAthey, who performed there over 30 years ago, returning last year.
“Last year was a big anniversary for me and they’ve just been very supportive of me for years,” he said.
Reconnecting with his Alberta music circles each year is also a plus.
“Just having so many people come out that I don’t see for a long time, being in Calgary for only a month or so in the summer,” he said.
While down south, McAthey’s been making gains in Mexico as well, a fixture at Diego’s Beach and Grill.
“I had the best season ever in Mazatlan at Diego’s, set some new attendance records again this year, some days over 500 people,” he said.
Coming up July 29, he’ll be performing O Canada at Commonwealth Stadium for the Canadian Football League's Edmonton Elks game versus the B.C. Lions.
“That’s going to be a first for me, but I’m excited,” McAthey said.
“Edmonton plays B.C. that night and Commonwealth Stadium is one of the biggest in Canada, it’s televised nationally, and they expect 30,000 or 40,000.
“This is only one song, this is going to be the biggest crowd I ever sang for live, that’s for sure.”
While it’s his largest audience yet, the country singer is no stranger to big crowds.
“The biggest concert I ever did, I headlined at an international country music festival in Lithuania,” he said.
“There were 19,000 people in a big soccer stadium.”
While he’s got those on the docket, McAthey also looks forward to a more intimate concert at Kicker’s Bar and Grill on Aug. 19 at 7 p.m. in Turner Valley.
“Of course, I’m looking forward to playing Kickers again and having all the local people,” he said. “I have people coming from all over the place, from the United States and B.C. and Alberta for that show, bringing their campers.”
He’s got another single in the works, titled Sunsets and You.
“The song is about what’s important, and you know, it’s different for everybody,” McAthey said.
“As one of the lines says, everybody has different ideas of what happiness is, and for me it’s just if you get another sunset, it means you lived another day, and having somebody that you love besides you, those are the most important things.”
The musician also has five nominations for the International Singer Songwriters Association, with the winners announced Aug. 5.
While Mexico has been good to McAthey, he appreciates the bonds that continue to draw him north each year.
“It’s always great to come home, I was born and raised here in Alberta and even though Mexico is my home now, just coming back and between Ranchman's and the Turner Valley,” he said. “I’ve got friends that are still friends after 40 or 50 years, and you know just to have that connection with so many people, it’s pretty special.
“That to me, it’s priceless.”
