Bentall, Byrnes and Mann, Kay Meek Centre, Oct. 1, 8 p.m. Sold out.
Three legendary Canadian roots rockers will be taking the stage in a sold out show in West Vancouver Oct. 1. Barney Bentall, Jim Byrnes and John Mann are joining together for the first time onstage at the Kay Meek Centre. Bentall, of The Legendary Hearts, says the idea came from Bentall's former, and now Mann's current, agent.
"Debbie Peters, she lives in the Yukon, really great supporter of the arts and it was her idea to put this together," says Bentall. "I think we all just went, 'Oh yeah, this sounds like a wonderful thing to do' and I'm very thrilled to be part of it."
Bentall has worked with Mann, vocalist for Spirit of the West, before.
"I've known John since, probably since the early '80s," says Bentall. "I've known him well over that period of time and my involvement with Spirit of the West. Jim I've known in a casual sense but always admired the work he's done."
The musicians are taking stage to a packed house, but audiences unable to get tickets can see them at Artists Confidential, Sept. 30 from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. at the West Vancouver
Memorial Library, a free event where they will give an interview and preview of their concert.
Both events will be all the more poignant for fans of Mann after he announced on Sept. 8 that he was diagnosed with Early Onset Alzheimer's disease.
"I think John's been really courageous in going public in what he's dealing with, in terms of Early Onset Alzheimer's," says Bentall. "I think we all really think the world of John and his family, his wife Jill, everybody's affected and the support system there."
Bentall also has the highest regard for Byrnes, who lost both of his legs in a car accident almost 40 years ago.
"He's a guy that literally lost his legs helping somebody and profound effect on his life and you never hear him complain, he's just wonderful to work with," says Bentall. "These are great musicians, I feel really honoured to be doing this night with them, I feel very privileged."
The trio has had a couple of rehearsals already, says Bentall, with a back up band he has used before.
"They're just tremendous musicians and those guys all come in so prepared," he says. "You find those rehearsals are a pleasure."
This series of concerts is just one of many projects that Bentall is involved in. He also has a 12-piece ensemble, called The Grand Cariboo Opry, will tour in the fall to raise funds for charity; plays in a trio with Shari Ulrich and Tom Taylor; has a bluegrass band, the High Bar Gang, and of course still tours with The Legendary Hearts.
"Its one of those things, as you get older, you feel there's so much music to play, so many avenues to poke your head down and I don't know, it's just really enjoyable for me," says Bentall. "I'm certainly happy with all the various things that I'm doing and having a great time with it."
Bentall took a break from music from 2000 to 2007 when he went in with a few partners and bought a working cattle ranch.
"I had been very busy and travelling a lot, it was a combination of a desire to maybe step back from that and to explore the introverted side of myself a little bit more," he says. "I also was very captivated with that lifestyle, I love being outside, I love being in the country and probably on some level dreamt of being a cowboy all my life, I don't know."
It was upon returning to music full time after selling the cattle that Bentall decided to dip his musical brush in a variety of endeavours.
"I used to think touring and the grueling - quote, unquote - schedule of music was difficult and then you ranch for a while and you go 'well it's actually not too difficult, we actually had a pretty good life,'" he says. "Any job where you get up in front of people and they clap after you do what you do or somebody might be shedding a tear, you're being able to really get in touch with people on a deeper level, I think you're very lucky to be able to have that kind of work."
