Kathleen Edwards is looking forward to her upcoming gig in Calgary. “I’ve always wanted to play Block Heater. I think I was asked if I would come play a few years ago, and the timing didn’t work out, so I’m thrilled that it worked this year. I’ve always loved working with the Calgary Folk Festival team. They’re such excellent people, and it’s so great that they put on a winter festival, too.”
Edwards is flying in with a full band. She’s been playing some shows as a trio, without drums or bass, but says her Block Heater concert will be “a big rock show.” She adds, “It’s fun to play in a band. It’s exhilarating in a way that is different from the quieter, acoustic shows.”
Her fifth album, Total Freedom, was well-received by listeners and critics alike, but Edwards notes that the timing of it (2020) was difficult. “If I’m being honest, it was not a great two years to be trying to make headway, or tour. Last year I was really busy again. There are so many factors that are beyond the artist’s control. There’s always something new to navigate, and at that time, we just couldn’t play shows.”
Now, Edwards says, she has new music to share. An album of cover tunes, simply called Covers, is available this week. It’s a gorgeous record, with songs by Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty, and John Prine in the mix. She also mentions another new album, co-produced by Jason Isbell and Gena Johnson, that will be available soon. “It’s been a busy 2024 and it’s going to be an even crazier 2025!”
Like many artists, Edwards describes touring as difficult and tiring, but she also notes that there are things to appreciate. “It’s an incredible gift to see the world. It’s an opportunity to meet people in different places. It gives me a lot more empathy for seeing perspectives that don’t seem aligned but actually are. I have something in my life that I love to do. Not everybody gets to do something that they love.”
She also enjoys working in the United States, and seeing her music reach new audiences. “I’m thankful my career is building. There’s a population in the US that makes it possible for me to pursue this thing that I do. I love the variety of places, and I have great relationships with people. There are so many opportunities for me in the US.” As her career gains momentum, she sees it benefit others as well. “I take my Canadian colleagues and bandmates to the States with me, and it becomes their opportunity as well.”
Before our phone call ends, Edwards adds, “I really love CKUA. I have for years, and you guys played me before I was even signed to a record deal. When I was 21 and had a little self-made EP! The station is so important in Canada. It’s really the unicorn of radio in Canada. We need more stations like CKUA in Canada to promote local events and local acts so that they can have bigger audiences. I commend your station for being ambitious and continuing to want to grow!”
Kathleen Edwards plays Block Heater on Saturday, February 15. Find info at calgaryfolkfest.com
Kathleen Edwards’ version of Tom Petty’s “Crawling Back to You.” This is a song that’s included on the new Covers album.
