The promise they鈥檙e not rebuilding their railway heritage concerts, only fine-tuning them.
After two decades of delivering tales and songs about life on the railway to their ever-increasing fan base, you might wonder why they would want to mess with success. But for 2018, they鈥檙e introducing new songs, plus a surprise concert ending added to their shows.
Jack Godwin, the leader of the band, said they鈥檙e busier than ever.
鈥淲e used to just start playing in April and play through to September and October,鈥� said Godwin. 鈥淭he valley is now filling up in the winter with snowbirds. They鈥檙e seniors and they know trains because a lot of them are prairie people.鈥�
The Brakemen have two concerts booked already, performing for northern snowbirds wintering in the South Okanagan. On Feb. 24, they will be at the Osoyoos Seniors Centre, a concert that has sold out over the past couple of years. For more info about his concert, call 250-495-3211.
鈥淭hey sell out a week in advance,鈥� said Godwin. 鈥淲e started doing the same thing in Peachland. Then in the summer, we鈥檙e travelling around to music festivals.鈥�
Peachland is also already booked, for an afternoon concert on March 11 at the local seniors鈥� centre. Call. 250-767-2647 to find out more.
The number of places you can find the Brakemen playing is growing too.
About ten years ago, the Brakemen also started playing seniors鈥� accommodations, though only a few, since most couldn鈥檛 afford the band.
鈥淭hey were used to, in those days, having kids come in from the piano class and playing 茅tudes, and they would listen for a while,鈥� said Godwin, explaining that the kind of seniors鈥� accommodations opening up in the last five years or so have been radically different.
鈥淭hey have sound systems built in, they have seating areas,鈥� said Godwin. 鈥淭he people that are going to seniors homes nowadays are just a little bit younger than I am and they are wanting entertainment.鈥�
Plus, the modern homes tend to be wired and ready for professional entertainers.
鈥淵ou just show up, plug in and perform.鈥�
Godwin is also being mysterious about a new ending to Brakemen shows, saying that they鈥檙e not going to make the audience 鈥減ay鈥� for an encore this year.
No excessive applauding, cheering or foot stomping needed. The free encore follows the full Brakemen concert/singalong and they promise will finally answer one the most persistent questions asked of the band, according to their press release.
鈥淔or some reason, people love this, we鈥檙e all in on this encore joke,鈥� said Godwin, adding that for the encore they usually play a song relating to where they are performing, like Rattlesnake Rain if it was Naramata.
鈥淲hat we are doing this year is something completely different. It will still be the same Brakemen ending, but then there will be this little, added treat.鈥�
They have lots of their own original songs, but the Brakemen have been known to take some liberties with classic railroad songs, like Orange Blossom Special 鈥� specifically Johnny Cash鈥檚 harmonica version.
鈥淚鈥檝e adapted the lyrics, so it鈥檚 now called Cantaloupe Special. The first product they carried when they opened up the southern part of the Kettle Valley line in the 40s, was cantaloupes. They grew them down in Osoyoos and Oliver and there was a famous little train call 鈥楥antaloupe Manny鈥欌��
Beyond just appealing to the love of railroads in everyone, Godwin said their mix of humour, music and storytelling has a timeless appeal.
鈥淭hat combination of stories and songs really works. The first guys who were musicians and ever made money 鈥� or their food 鈥� made it by travelling from community to community, telling stories and singing songs,鈥� said Godwin. 鈥淭hat appeal still works for people.鈥�
Steve Kidd
Senior reporter,
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