By Mark McMillan
What can you do nowadays for only $15? Where can you go to get three fun-filled hours of some of the best western entertainment in North America? Here’s the answer, get a ticket and head over to Martin Exeter Hall at either 2 p.m. for the matinee show or 7 p.m. for the evening show on Saturday, Feb. 10. Here you can sit in the incredibly acoustic friendly theatre and enjoy the 18th Annual 100 Mile House Cowboy Concert.
Western/cowboy music at its best with some top instrumental accompaniment. Cowboy poetry that will have you looking for a Kleenex to wipe away the tears of laughter.
Ed Peekeekoot will be back by popular demand. He last appeared at this concert in 2011 when he had the audience enthralled. Ed is not just a singer and songwriter but he’s an awesome instrumentalist. He can play both the banjo and the guitar parts of Dueling Banjos at the same time! A true, and amazing, entertainer.
Joining Ed on stage will be Bj Smith from Alberta and Matt Johnston from Clearwater. Bj Smith had a full career in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and now routinely guides groups of wilderness travellers on horseback through the Rockies. A winner of the Academy of Western Artists Will Rogers Award, his performances have been featured at Cowboy Poetry Gatherings and Festivals across western Canada, the USA and on Cruise Liners. His working career left him with many a story to share in rhyme, most of which are hilarious! Bj was at this concert in 2009 and was a big hit.
Matt Johnston has been in the area many times and is always well received, especially by the female part of the audience. This tall good looking working cowboy has a voice to match his appearance. Matt is a farrier, a leather worker, runs a trail ride business in Wells Grey Park and is pretty much everything cowboy, including being a very talented singer-songwriter.
This concert became so popular over the years that organizers had to either add a second night or do two shows in the same day. It was decided that a 2 p.m. matinee performance would be added to the 7 p.m. evening show. This gives people from out of town, or folks that don’t like driving at night, a chance to see the concert.
Another main reason for the concert’s success is the ongoing support of its sponsors. A lot of the sponsors have been onboard for all 18 concerts! The 100 Mile Free Press being one, and Larry Rode and Country 840 are the two major sponsors that have been involved since the beginning. Joining them as a major sponsor for the last few years is the Super 8 Motel, supplying rooms for the entertainers. As well as them there are a lot of very supportive and continuous sponsors – they’re listed on the 100 Mile House concert page at www.bcchs.com.
The proceeds from the event, raised through the low $15 ticket price, go to either student scholarships or to help support the BC Cowboy Hall of Fame. Tickets can be found in 100 Mile House at PMT Professional Chartered Accountants LLP, 100 Mile Feed, and Work n Play. In Williams Lake PMT Professional Chartered Accountants has them. For more information on the concert phone toll-free: 1-888-763-2221.