Scott Shea is coming into his own.
After years of working in and out of the music industry, the Canadian singer-songwriter will promote the launch of his first solo album Let it Storm with a performance at the McMillan Arts Centre this Friday.
“This is very folk-roots based,” he said. “That’s me… I like real intricate stuff.”
Shea will be joined by two musicians 0n his tour: on guitar and mandolin will be Adam Dobres and Blake Palm will play upright bass.
“We sound like 10 people,” said Shea of the trio.
In fact, Shea is so pleased with how the touring band sounds that he plans to record a second album with them sometime in the fall.
However, the essence of Shea’s music isn’t the sound, he said. It’s the songwriting.
“I’ve been writing songs since I was a little kid,” he said.
Shea added that he still writes everyday and his work earned him a semi-finalist spot in the International Songwriting Competition, which boasts industry professional and artists, including Sarah McLachlan, as judges.
More than anything, however, Shea said he hopes the lyrics he creates connect with his audience.
Despite his love for singer-songwriter folk, the musician also has experience with other genres. Back in the 1990s, he played blues rock/pop music with his brother in a band called The Sheas.
They earned industry recognition during their run, which resulted in an album, a song on the soundtrack for Universal Soldier II and the opportunity to open shows for Blue Rodeo and Big Sugar.
However, when Shea’s partner became pregnant, he left the duo to get “a real job.”
“I had to support a family,” he said.
Shea found success building custom homes, and this career spanned over a decade.
He eventually made his way back to music, and on the path to his burgeoning solo folk career, the family moved to the Island a few years ago.
While Shea described his new sound as being like an unplugged version of Fleetwood Mac, the Eagles or Crowded House, the Canadian musician also said he doesn’t have any big musical influences. That also excludes his father, Red Shea, who played guitar for Canadian folk singers Gordon Lightfoot and Ian and Sylvia Tyson.
“I do my thing and it’s great,” he said. “My dad never taught me guitar.”
Nevertheless, Shea said that he did learn one big lesson from his father. “Whatever you do, do it the best you can,” he explained. And that’s exactly what he plans to do this Friday at the MAC.
Shea’s concert is on April 17, with doors opening at 6:30 p.m. and the performance starting at 7 p.m.
Tickets are $12 for OCAC members and $15 general admission, and they are available at the MAC. For more information, contact the arts centre by phone at 250-248-8185 or email at info@mcmillanartscentre.com.
