One reminder to country music fans in
Another reminder: get there early.
“My former manager, Janice Starodub, was diagnosed with breast cancer. Around the time of the entry for the Kick It With Kissel Contest, Janice's cancer had spread and she was in the hospital going through radiation. (Suddenly), it became about more than winning a contest; it was about doing something for Janice at a time where it felt there wasn't anything I could do."
Nicole Rayy, who now resides in Alliston, first grabbed public attention in 2012 with her EP Only Everything.
“So many of the songs from Only Everything were pivotal to me because they were my start, they were me finding my way as an artist and in the music industry.
“I still remember hearing She Don't Know That Much on the radio for the first time while sitting in my kitchen playing board games with some friends. It was the first song that I ever sent to radio and the first time I heard it, and I remember feeling so accomplished it motivated me to work harder at this career.”
And four years later, came the album Dig, about digging deeper.
”I wanted to dig in deeper with these stories and really be as honest as possible. I wanted it to be raw, to have stories that people could relate to. I wanted people to feel that connection with these songs."
And her connection with Kissel?
“You can tell he is an artist who puts his life stories and experiences in to his music. Aside from being a talented artist, you can tell by the way he treats his fans he has such a big heart. He always goes above and beyond, whether it’s at a concert or reaching out to fans personally, that demonstrates how much he cares as a person."
Back to Kissel himself, he’ll be rocking Georgian with a set full of songs that folks sing along with, “songs that make you wanna roll the windows down and crank up the volume. Luckily, I’ve been blessed to have some very special songs that check off all these boxes. Songs like Airwaves, Started With a Song. 3-2-1, We Were That Song, and now Anthem.”
The newest offering, Anthem, is “a simple, feel-good, crank-it-up kind of song. We took a live-approach to this track, to make sure we could put as much energy into it as possible - and it’s become our favourite to play live on stage!”
Brett and Nicole will be performing in the shadow, as it were, of the new cardiac and mental health facilities now up and running at Royal Victoria Regional Health Care Centre, something which occupies Kissel’s mind and heart.
“I am always interested in what’s going on in each community I visit or perform in. As mental health initiatives gain popularity with each passing year, it’s very special to hear that there are new facilities in
Brett Kissel plays the Georgian Theatre, featuring up-and-comer Nicole Rayy, Thursday night, Feb. 22, starting at 7:30 p.m. To learn more, click here.
