Mutual appreciation: Musician Barney Bentall performs at Salmon Arm’s Song Sparrow Hall

It was an evening of mutual appreciation shared between Barney Bentall and his Salmon Arm audience.

During his sold-out April 16 performance at Salmon Arm’s Song Sparrow Hall, the B.C. singer/songwriter was quick to develop a rapport with the crowd of approximately 200. Through stories and song, shared over two 45-minute sets, Bentall expressed his gratitude for the audience, while members of the crowd did the same in return through applause and interactions that included multiple sing-alongs.

While introducing one of his older songs, Bentall shared a story about once performing a dry-grad in Salmon Arm.

The concert, Song Sparrow’s first full house without health-related capacity restrictions, was organized by the Salmon Arm Folk Music Society and ROOTSandBLUES.

“It was magical night for the Salmon Arm Folk Music Society”, said artistic director Kevin Tobin. “From the capacity audience sing-alongs, to showcasing the talents of an iconic Canadian artist, and introducing the attendees to the beautiful Song Sparrow Hall, after a two-year hiatus from presenting live music it was a wonderful return!”

The Bentall concert was the first gig of 2022 hosted by the Salmon Arm Folk Music Society (SAFMS) outside of ROOTSandBLUES, which returns to the Salmon Arm Fairgrounds Aug. 18-21 for the festival’s 30th anniversary. On Sept. 11, the SAFMS hosts the Joel Plaskett Emergency at Song Sparrow Hall. The Juno Award-winner will be accompanied by fellow Juno winner Mo Kenney. Tickets are $35 plus tax. For tickets and info, visit rootsandblues.ca, or phone the festival box office at 250-833-4096 from Monday to Thursday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Coming up next at Song Sparrow Hall are Music of the Night (a musical celebration of Andrew Lloyd Weber) on April 26 and Canadian spoken-word artist Shane Koyczan, hosted by Acoustic Avenue Music, on April 30. Both shows are sold out. Next in the Acoustic Avenue series is Juno award-winning Afro-Cuban roots and jazz band Okan on May 7, followed by Heart tribute band Barracuda on May 14, the Celebrate Shuswap series of events May 19-28, Kym Gouchie on June 18 and KOBO Town on June 24. For information, visit songsparrowhall.ca/events.

Read more: Joel Plaskett Emergency to play Salmon Arm’s Song Sparrow Hall

Read more: Shane Koyczan to have a word with Salmon Arm in upcoming show

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