After a five-year recording hiatus, Juno award-winner Barney Bentall returns with his most personal record to date, a musical tour de force titled, The Drifter & The Preacher.

Bentall, who will open for at the Vernon Performing Arts Centre on Feb.24, hit the music scene as the lead man for Barney Bentall and The Legendary Hearts back in 1988, with his self-titled debut CD soaring to the top of the charts.

WATCH

(Barney Bentall performs Won害羞草研究所檛 Change The World (Featuring Jim Cuddy)

The last couple of years have seen Bentall translate his ability and deep introspection into his 10th studio album, which is considered an ambitious effort accomplished by one of the greatest storytellers of our time.

害羞草研究所淭his was written for my father-in-law. Bar none, one of the most interesting and intelligent people I have met,害羞草研究所� Bentall explained.

害羞草研究所淗e taught me many valuable things and gave me the best friend I have. He died with his boots on at the age of ninety-three. I wrote this at my ranch shortly after on a star-studded night.害羞草研究所�

The Drifter & The Preacher also features a collaboration with Cuddy on Won害羞草研究所檛 Change The World.

害羞草研究所淢y good friend Jim Cuddy jumped in on this one. I swear, that boy gets behind an old tube microphone in a recording studio and puts on a clinic every time,害羞草研究所� he said.

He will also pay tribute to John Mann, of Spirit of the West.

害羞草研究所淭he founding members of Spirit Of The West 害羞草研究所� Geoffrey Kelly and 害羞草研究所� became lifelong friends of mine in the early 害羞草研究所�80s. We made their first record in that studio and had a wonderful party or two. Along with our partners/wives, it was an unforgettable and cherished circle. I wrote this song about John and his ongoing courageous fight with early onset Alzheimer害羞草研究所檚.害羞草研究所�

Barney Bentall takes the stage of the Vernon Performing Arts Centre on Feb. 24. Tickets are $60.75 (allseats) and can be purchased online at www.ticketmaster.ca or by contacting the Box Office at 250-549-7469.

Morning Star Staff