Monday July 6th at the EnCana Events Centre. Show starts at 7:30pm with the doors opening at 6:30pm. Tickets go on sale Friday May 15th at 10am. Get your tickets at www.livenation.com or www.dawsoncooptickets.com. You can also charge by phone, 1-877-339-TIXX. Tickets are $42.50.
In the short span of a decade, his name has become synonymous with Alberta, independence, and quality. Paul Brandt is the voice of Country Music in Canada. But these accolades haven’t come without a few twists and turns along the way. Ask Paul Brandt, and he’ll tell you they’ve been the product of years of give and take, faith, and grace, words from the first single, "Didn’t Even See The Dust", off of his latest album Risk. Paul Brandt was born in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. He had an interest in singing from an early age, influenced by the Gospel music he heard at the church his family attended. At age 13, Paul picked up the guitar, and immediately began writing his own music, playing the songs he’d write for family and friends. While pursuing his dream to be a doctor, Paul entered talent contests as a hobby, including the "Youth Talent Showdown" at the World Famous Calgary Exhibition and Stampede. On his third try, he was awarded first prize at that contest, and went on to garner attention from Warner Brothers Records in Toronto, Canada. Not ready to quit his day-job as an RN at the Alberta Children’s Hospital, the 22-year-old turned down Toronto’s offer of a record-deal, but told them he’d be interested in hearing what the Nashville office thought about his music. Paige Levy of Reprise Records in Nashville had flown up to Calgary to see Paul perform and offered him a record-deal, for which he accepted.
Within the short time frame of a year, Paul Brandt was making major waves internationally with his music. His debut album Calm Before The Storm was recognized as Billboard magazine’s Best Selling New Male Artist Album of 1996, and spawned hits "My Heart Has A History" and the #1 charting "I Do", which went on to become a wedding standard. In 1997, Brandt ventured out on his own forming Brand-T Records and delivering 2002’s ground-breaking live-acoustic album Small Towns & Big Dreams producing hits such as "I’m Gonna Fly" and the title track. During the rise in popularity of Small Towns, in 2003, the Paul Brandt/Steve Rosen penned song "For You" was recorded for the Mel Gibson epic movie We Were Soldiers soundtrack as a duet by rock superstar Dave Matthews and the legendary Johnny Cash. This event, and the success of Small Towns continued to confirm Paul Brandt’s relevance to Country Music culture, and his contribution to the rich history of the genre. Now considered by some in the industry to be a "Nashville outsider", such accusations only seemed to build Brandt’s popularity, especially with his rural fan following. The follow up, platinum-selling studio project This Time Around continued the landslide success for the start-up new label spinning off radio hits "Leavin’", featuring Keith Urban on guitar, "Rich Man", "Alberta Bound", and the re-make of the 1974 C.W McCall classic, "Convoy".
Both projects were co-produced by Paul Brandt and his long-time music partner Steve Rosen, and both went on to top honours in the CCMA Album of the Year category. In addition to Paul Brandt’s hard work and dedication, he received the Allan Waters Humanitarian Award as well as "Country Recording Of The year" for Risk at the 2008 Juno Awards.