To say things have changed a bit for Megan Nash in the last year would be a bit of an understatement.
Sure, she’s just back from a tour of Europe that included stops in Estonia and Portugal, but that was on her docket well before things got really interesting.
As in starring in a commercial for SaskTel interesting.
As in creating material for a new album interesting.
And, oh yeah, being nominated for a Juno award interesting.
It’s all leading up to a spot on the concert calendar she’s had circled for quite a while – a special performance with backing band Bears in Hazenmore at the Mae Wilson Theatre on Sept. 7.
The show will be a mixture of songs both old and new and will mark the first time Nash has performed in Moose Jaw since being nominated for the Best Contemporary Roots Album for the 2019 Juno Awards this past March.
“It was a game-changer, that’s for sure… it’s definitely something you put on everything. That’s kind of my Frank’s Red Hot Sauce, if you know what I mean,” Nash said with a laugh prior to taking in the recent Ringside Wrestling show that featured friends Kelly Gower and John Dale from Johnny 2 Fingers and Deformities as performers.
“I think it’s something that really legitimizes you in the Canadian music scene and it’s a great honour, a huge tip of the hat.’
While Nash’s album Seeker didn’t claim the award – that honour went to Donovan Woods for his album Meant Well – having a chance to simply be included in consideration for the honour was reward in itself.
“I was unaware that my album was re-submitted, so it was just out of nowhere… it came at a time when we needed some good news and it definitely meant a lot,” she said.
Nash has since hit the road for her European tour and has been working on new music, opting for a different overall approach and sound this time around.
“I just need to focus on making something I’d like or I’d like to listen too, something that feels like my truth for how I feel right now,” Nash explained. “I have a feeling it’s going to be a mixture of Song Harvest Volume One, which is just guitar and voice and the second one (Seeker) which was a full band where I had Bears in Hazenmore as back-up. They’re really great with texture and they add so much to each song, so I feel the whole album is going to be a mixture of that.”
While it’s still early to say if some of her new tunes will be shared on stage in September, one thing is for certain – the show will be a fun night with hometown fans who have supported her from the beginning.
“I’ve always felt a lot of support from Moose Jaw, the community has always been great to me and this show is meant to be a ‘hey, it’s been a really wild year with the SaskTel ad and the Juno nomination, so let’s get together and have some laughs and play some music’,” Nash said.
“And the Mae Wilson Theatre is my favourite place to play ever, it’s such a perfect venue and it’s great to be able to have a chance to play there again.”
Tickets for the show – which will include opening act Scotch & Water from Hamburg, Germany, here in a performance with Nash during her tour -- are currently available at the Mae Wilson Theatre box office.
