The next Home Routes concert will be at Paint Lake and hosted by Debbie Doucet and Kelly Davis. The usual hosts Tim and Jean Cameron are enjoying a holiday and asked someone to take over the March concert for them. “I had thrown the idea around before but I’m out at Paint Lake, so I wasn’t really sure what people would think., but we’ll try it and see how it goes,” Doucet mentioned.
This month’s performer is Ben Sures, who’s is a mix of folk, roots, and blues. Sures believes he learned most of what he needed to know while he was living in Manitoba. “I think you absorb the major lessons early on and then spend your life trying to learn them. Winnipeg had the most amazing music scene when I was there and it completely shaped my attitude and approach to music. I wouldn’t trade that for anything. I don’t think I have a geographic sound though I do have a bit of a prairie accent likely.”
In Grade 9 Sures really got into music because of regular lessons at school, but his love started at an earlier age of eight or nine when his grandmother wrote out some chords for him. He didn’t have a guitar though, so the enthusiasm for music had to be postponed. Since then a mandolin has also grabbed his heartstrings. “I’ve always thought of myself as more gifted as a creative person rather than as a musical person. So I’m mostly a guitar player. I do have a mandolin I pull out of the case when I have time, but it’s slow learning for me. I am not one of those people that have the super brain for picking up instruments. I have worked hard at the guitar, and I think in some ways my shortcomings have made my playing have its own personality.”
Now, years later, seven albums have been released. Not being able to pick his favourite album, saying much like children you can’t choose favourites, Sures enjoys different things about each record. “My second last record (Gone to Bolivia) on some levels came out closest to my vision for it and I really like all the songs. My last album Son of Trouble was a complete left turn and was really fun to make and I got to pay tribute to blues, African Blues and I sang in French and Spanish. A lot of it was done very live and in the moment and that feeling comes across and I think that is why people like it so much.”
Being part of the Home Routes concert tour means meeting new people, enjoying home-cooked meals, and seeing new places, all of those being why Sures likes this type of tour. “I get to do what I love more than anything in the world pretty much every night. So I look forward to everything it has to offer.”
The concert will be taking place on March. 7, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 at the door, and all funds go to the performer. Doucet says since this is her first time hosting a concert, depending on attendance, it may happen again in the future. “It’s always a good time. You meet different people, and the performers are awesome. The musicians are pretty top notch that come up here. We’re excited to do it.”
For more information call Debbie Doucet at 204-677-9671, or visit “HomeRoutes House Concerts Thompson Borealis Trail” on Facebook.
