The son of Blue Rodeo’s frontman is taking a run at his own musical career — and his next stop is in Penticton.
Devin Cuddy, son of Jim Cuddy, is carrying a new torch out of the family business, and he’ll be taking the fire to the Dream Café on Aug. 6.
Finding the Canadian sound came naturally to Devin, having grown up in the Cuddy household.
“I didn’t know anything else. It was just what our dad’s job was,” he said. “It was certainly cool and allowed us to meet some really cool people.”
Cuddy, who’s now in his late-20s, said his dad’s influence became more rampant upon the start of his career five years ago. Reflecting back, Devin said growing up in the musical household didn’t seem any different at the time.
“It didn’t really occur to me at first, I didn’t know anything else it was just what our dad’s job was. It was certainly cool and allowed us to meet some really cool people.”
Having cut his teeth as an artist, it gave him a newfound appreciation for his father.
“You start to realize their offstage talents that they have as well; the ability to work very hard and put on a good show every night,” he said. “Professionally, I’ve taken more from my dad in the last four years than the 30 prior.”
He said he began embracing the country elements of Blue Rodeo’s music during his teenage years, and has blended in his own flavour of New Orleans jazz.
Cuddy has two full albums and is in the process of writing his third. He said the Dream Café performance is where audiences will have the first chance to hear some of his new songs.
“They’re a little different in that they’re maybe a little slower, and more introspective,” he said. “(The concept for the new album) falls from a few different styles. I’ve been listening to more new music and been trying to integrate that into the old sound.”
Just like his father’s band, Cuddy’s music is indicatively made in Canada. He said the Canadian sound is difficult to define sonically, but you know it when you hear it.
“A lot of the Canadian sounds comes from Americana, but what makes it Canadian is the perspective that it’s presented from … applying the Canadian experience to the sounds of the country and the people.”
Anybody who can enjoy a beat will have the feet stomping along.
“Even though there’s not a lot of space to dance people at least try to move around in their chairs as much as possible,” he said. “We’ve always prided ourselves in having an extremely diverse crowd, young and old — everywhere we go we always seem to have a pretty good mix of people.”
Cuddy leads his band on piano and vocals, and is backed by a drummer, guitarist and bassist.
“We put on a rather high paced show — we’re going to play lots of up-beat tunes which has been displayed on our first two records.”
The show begins at 8 p.m. and tickets cost $24. And for the first time, Devin Cuddy vinyl records are available for sale. Listeners can buy them for $20 and that also includes a CD.
