Country-rock singer living the family dream at 46

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 24/12/2010 (5760 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

2222222″My grandma was Victoria Nault and she was asked to go to Nashville to record when she was 38.” But, a little while later, she was widowed with eight children, so she couldn’t go anywhere. “Now I’m living her dream, and mine too,” she says.

The session band for Lester’s Nashville project boasted musicians who’ve played with Randy Travis, Kenny Chesney, Willie Nelson, and Shania Twain. “Now I want a contract,” says the blonde in sequins and cowboy boots, who released an album last year called Take Me Away. Sometimes, especially at Christmas, you get what you ask for!

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KIM MITCHELL: “What else would I do on New Year’s? I’m so used to playing. I don’t want to go out and get drunk and end up in a snowbank,” laughs Canadian legend Kim Mitchell. Mitchell will be rockin’ the McPhillips Station Casino New Year’s Eve with his band, and host/comedian Jon Ljungberg.

The singer/guitarist is best- known for mega-hit Patio Lanterns, and for music from former incarnations Zooom and Max Webster.

Mitchell says he’s excited about coming back to the ‘Peg.

“Winnipeg’s an excellent rock ‘n’ roll town, and my drummer Chris Sutherland is actually from there.”

The Kim Mitchell band is now a trio —- and he’s been 27 years with bass player Peter Fredette. “That’s longer than my marriage and two of his marriages put together!”

Fans might remember Mitchell with the long hair and baseball cap. “It was cheaper than a transplant,” he says. But Mitchell finally shaved his head after a friend sat him down to talk about his outdated hair-don’t.

Got earrings to go with the look? “After 40, do you really want earrings? I don’t think so,” chuckles the 58-year-old singer who’s also a Toronto area deejay for Q107.

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SPOTTED ON PROVENCHER: A sign reading Free Dance Lessons for Men. No, not ballroom or even stripping lessons, gentle readers. It’s JIGGING, with L’Ensemble Folklorique de la Riviere Rouge that requires flexible joints and big strong lungs, so guys tend to “retire” as they get older. Hence, the problem.

“There are now four or five women per man at the best of times,” says the troupe’s new teacher Jocelyne Baribeau who’s dying to find some new male dancers. Recruits get the $200-per-year training gratis, starting in January. And this group trains to entertain. The 14 to age 40 ensemble, dances at local festivals, and over the years has toured/competed in exotic spots such as Turkey and Madagascar.

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Merry Christmas everyone and Happy New Year! Remember to let me know if you’ve . . . .

Got tips, events, sightings, unusual things going on? Email maureen.scurfield@winnipegfreepress.com or send mail to The Insider c/o The Winnipeg Free Press at 1355 Mountain Ave., Winnipeg, R2X 3B6