YORKTON - Well-known Saskatchewan country music performer Blake Berglund is headed to Yorkton to perform at the Parlour Barber Shop.
While a show in a barber shop may seem a little unusual, Berglund said he actually asked to play the venue.
“I actually sought the opportunity out,” he told Yorkton This Week.” My wife, Belle Plaine, had performed at Parlour Barber Shop earlier in the year and returned home with such praise for the spirit in which the shows are presented.
“In fact, it excites me more to perform in atypical spaces. It introduces an element that I refer to as the sport of playing live. All external factors influence the show and when a space isn't an expected environment for live music, it offers a freshness to the preparation of the performance.”
Certainly a barber shop creates intimacy for a show.
“I anticipate intimate venues in a much different capacity than all other shows,” said Berglund.
“I obviously love the grand approach to larger rooms but with something as intimate as Parlour Barber Shop I get to lean into the nuances of storytelling and performing. Body language, facial expression and vocal tone are all put under the microscope in these types of settings. I thrive on it.
“Intimate performances also present a collective experience between myself and the audience that is hard to replicate in larger spaces.”
That said Berglund added he does adjust to the venue too.
“Absolutely and it's usually on the fly,” he said. “I can respond to audience engagement in an immediate manner with song/story choices. Again, in the sport of it all, I have my playbook but once you hit the field you are left with no choice but to adapt.”
When asked what does the venue offer audiences that is different? Berglund went for the joke replying “a haircut,” but then added such a small space creates something important too “trust.”
As for what new Berglund has been creating of late that might be part of show, Berglund said it will be lot of trusted material.
“Following the release of my album in the spring, I had to choose between releasing a farming record and hitting the road to talk and sing about it - or releasing a farming record and actually go farm,” he explained. “I chose the latter.
“Spending that time working alongside my siblings gave a deeper insight into songs that were already recorded. This was the catalyst in developing the new live show - I've always been story based in my performances but the choice to walk the walk has taken it to a new level.”
Berglund’s show is set for 2 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 24.
