Fresh off a win at the Edmonton Global Country Star Search and playing a showcase at the Canadian Country Music Awards in Halifax, Kelowna-based country artist Ben Kick is about to launch his new EP, Today, with two shows in the Okanagan.
Klick and his band perform at Okanagan College’s Kelowna campus this Saturday and at the Coldstream Coffee House in Vernon Oct. 17.
Klick’s new album was engineered and produced by Clay Krasner and RyLee Madison of 7-17 Music in Nashville, Tenn., and was released on iTunes Sept. 15. It has been climbing the country album download charts since.
“The process in Nashville was incredible. There is such a thing as southern hospitality, and having the top musicians in the town who have been on Keith Urban, Luke Bryan, Sam Hunt, and Big & Rich albums (just to name a few) play on my record was unreal,” said Klick.
A guitarist as much as he is a vocalist and songwriter, Klick says he was especially excited to sit in with one of the top Nashville session guitarists, JT Corenflos.
“He asked who some of my inspirations were, guitar wise, and when I named Brad Paisley, Keith Urban, and Vince Gill, he took a little of each of their styles and created some amazing solos and guitar melodies,” said Klick.
The ride isn’t over for the young artist yet.
Klick has also been nominated for seven B.C. Country Music Association awards, which will be handed out Oct. 25 in Coquitlam. But first he visits Vernon as the feature artist of the Coldstream Coffee House at the Powerhouse Theatre.
The open mic portion of the show will precede Klick’s feature performance. Admission is $5 with a concession by donation. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and the show starts at 7 p.m.
Klick will have autographed copies of Today available for purchase at the event.
