Manitoban Folk Sing-Songwriter Returns
By Nicole Pocion
With the upcoming release of his eighth album, Almanac, folk singer-songwriter Del Barber will embark on a cross-Canada tour, visiting Thunder Bay on April 21 at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 5. The three-time Juno award nominee shares his excitement to return to Northwestern Ontario.
“I love Thunder Bay. I’ve played Thunder Bay quite a few times. I have a lot of dear friends there, and I spend a lot of time outdoors there,” says Barber. “It’s one of the shows I’m actually looking forward to most on this tour.”
Born in Winnipeg, Del Barber now resides on a farm 400 kilometres northwest of Winnipeg with his wife and two children. The release of Almanac this spring follows his acclaimed 2021 record, Stray Dogs: Collected B-Sides Volume 1. With Almanac, Barber’s adherence to the prairie aesthetic sets this record apart from his prior works. He describes writing the 12 songs for this record as a “retrospective process,” allowing him to tap into his personal experiences more than ever before.
The first single and the first song Barber wrote for the record, “Still Got You,” is inspired by living in rural isolation. Barber describes “the paradox of feeling guilty and grateful” when he and his family lived on their little farm in western Manitoba during the pandemic.
“I guess the main part of that song that I point to is […] I remember all through the pandemic, people sort of romanticizing the life that I had,” recalls Barber. “I just had this overwhelming sense of guilt for having that when so many of my friends wanted it.”
“Still Got You,” along with the other tracks on Almanac, pairs clever lyricism with twangy folk instrumentals. Not only does Barber’s music tell vivid stories, but it gets us bobbing our heads and tapping our feet along to it.
Don’t miss Del Barber with a supporting set by Lucette on April 21. Visit delbarber.com for more information.
