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Taylor Centre Presents ROYAL WOOD / JEFFREY STRAKER – THE PIANO MEN TOUR
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Tuesday, March 19, 2024
Two of Canada’s most compelling songwriters, Royal Wood and Jeffery Straker will take to the stage for an exceptional evening of music at the Bella Concert Hall. As part of The Piano Men Tour, the renowned pop/rock artists have come together to bring their rootsy-storytelling, energetic piano and unique songwriting to audiences across the country.
Two of Canada’s most compelling songwriters, Royal Wood and Jeffery Straker will take to the stage for an exceptional evening of music at the Bella Concert Hall. As part of The Piano Men Tour, the renowned pop/rock artists have come together to bring their rootsy-storytelling, energetic piano and unique songwriting to audiences across the country.
Singer-songwriter pianist Jeffery Straker grew up taking piano lessons in a small Saskatchewan farming town on the Canadian prairies, raised by a church organist mother and an auctioneer father. He’s gone on to perform over 100 shows per year across Canada, Europe and Latin America. Serving up a rootsy-storytelling brand of song with rich narratives, his songwriting has the ability to transport a listener – out onto a lake in Canada’s North or to the main street of a prairie town. Across 8 albums to date critical comparisons have been drawn to the likes of Harry Chapin, Kris Kristofferson, & Jackson Browne while performances have seen him live on BBC radio in the UK, in concert with symphony orchestras and on festival and theatre stages.
His songs have been used in TV, film and stage productions and saw him named “Roots-Folk Artist of the Year” in both the 2020 & 2021 Saskatchewan Music Awards. He took home a Western Canadian Music Award in 2019 and has twice been named ‘Keyboard Player of the Year’ at the Saskatchewan Country Music Awards. Jeffery and his songs connect with audiences and to that end CBC Radio recently said: “He has a way of drawing us into his world and making us feel like we’re a welcome guest; an old friend he’s ready to catch up with”.
Since being proclaimed “Songwriter of the Year” by iTunes, Royal Wood has continued to evolve and hone his musical craft – maintaining an unmistakable identity while uncovering and reinventing his sound. Royal has two albums that have debuted in the Top 30, multiple JUNO nominations, a 5-time Canadian Folk Music Award-nominee, and a #1 added song at Hot AC radio. His songs have been heard on high-profile sync placements like Grey’s Anatomy, and Private Practice. His career finds him headlining world-class venues like Massey Hall and Roy Thompson Hall in Toronto, The National Arts Centre in Ottawa, and The Winspear Centre in Edmonton. It also finds him supporting artists like Bonnie Raitt and David Gray on their national tours. Now he is wrapping up his busy year by recording his new full studio album remotely in Toronto with Montreal-based producer Marcus Paquin (The National, Arcade Fire). The album features songs co-written with the powerhouse Linda Perry (Adele, Alicia Keys) and UK phenom Jamie Scott (Ed Sheeran, Justin Bieber). The new album will be released in Fall 2022
His songs have been used in TV, film and stage productions and saw him named “Roots-Folk Artist of the Year” in both the 2020 & 2021 Saskatchewan Music Awards. He took home a Western Canadian Music Award in 2019 and has twice been named ‘Keyboard Player of the Year’ at the Saskatchewan Country Music Awards. Jeffery and his songs connect with audiences and to that end CBC Radio recently said: “He has a way of drawing us into his world and making us feel like we’re a welcome guest; an old friend he’s ready to catch up with”.
Since being proclaimed “Songwriter of the Year” by iTunes, Royal Wood has continued to evolve and hone his musical craft – maintaining an unmistakable identity while uncovering and reinventing his sound. Royal has two albums that have debuted in the Top 30, multiple JUNO nominations, a 5-time Canadian Folk Music Award-nominee, and a #1 added song at Hot AC radio. His songs have been heard on high-profile sync placements like Grey’s Anatomy, and Private Practice. His career finds him headlining world-class venues like Massey Hall and Roy Thompson Hall in Toronto, The National Arts Centre in Ottawa, and The Winspear Centre in Edmonton. It also finds him supporting artists like Bonnie Raitt and David Gray on their national tours. Now he is wrapping up his busy year by recording his new full studio album remotely in Toronto with Montreal-based producer Marcus Paquin (The National, Arcade Fire). The album features songs co-written with the powerhouse Linda Perry (Adele, Alicia Keys) and UK phenom Jamie Scott (Ed Sheeran, Justin Bieber). The new album will be released in Fall 2022
