FIVE TO SEE

The 3rd annual Wide Cut Weekend runs from Thursday to Saturday, featuring dozens of roots, country and blues artists. Here are some highlights:

Stephen Fearing: As a veteran solo artist and a member of the roots trio Blackie and the Rodeo Kings, this Vancouver-born, Dublin-raised musician has been releasing music since the mid1980s, making him one of the country’s most respected songwriters. His latest, Every Soul’s a Sailor, just nabbed four Canadian Folk Music Award nominations. He plays Saturday at 8 p.m. at the King Eddy and at 10 p.m. at the Ironwood.

Lynne Hanson: Ottawa artist Lynne Hanson has drawn comparisons to Mary Gauthier and Lucinda Williams with her folk-blues concoctions. Released earlier this year, her album Uneven Ground was produced by Winnipegger Scott Nolan and features co-writes with Lynn Miles and Linda McRae. Lynne Hanson plays Friday at 10:30 p.m. at the Nite Owl and Saturday at 8:30 p.m. at the Legion.

Linda McRae: While perhaps still associated with her eight-year run with Celtic icons Spirit of the West in the 1990s, Linda McRae has released solo records for more than 20 years, harkening back to her country and folk roots. Her latest record, 2015’s Shadow Trails, was inspired by her stint hosting songwriting workshops at New Folsom Prison and subsequent work with at-risk youth. Linda McRae plays the opening party Thursday at King Eddy at 6:30 p.m.; Mikey’s Juke Joint at 5:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday at 11:30 p.m. at the Ironwood.

Tom Phillips: This musician should be no stranger to anyone familiar with Calgary’s roots scene, having been one of the city’s most reliable songwriters of the past couple decades. The veteran, with seven records under his belt, mixes western swing, honky-tonk and country-blues among other genres while throwing in the odd surprise obscurity by Warren Zevon or Bruce Springsteen. Tom Phillips plays Friday at 10 p.m. at the King Eddy; Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at the Blues Can and midnight at Mikey’s on 12th.

Dustin Bentall: A secondgeneration Canadian songwriter, Dustin Bentall has blazed his own path for more than a decade with his take on rootsy rock. That has included sharing the stage with everyone from dad Barney to Blue Rodeo to John Prine. He plays Friday at midnight at the Nite Owl; with Kendel Carson on Saturday at 9 p.m. at the Legion, and at midnight at the Blues Can.

Visit widecutweekend.com