Dean Brody hits the dirt road
Country singer kicks o his Dirt Road Stories Acoustic Tour at Marigold Oct. 20.
Dean Brody is hosting a kitchen party with a di erence in Truro next month.
He and special guest Jessica Mitchell will show his audience at the Marigold Cultural Centre how to write a country song straight from the heart. It involves a guitar and maybe a little kitchen party atmosphere Oct. 20 Dirt Road Stories show.
“When you’re stripped down like this, you’re more exposed and vulnerable,” said Brody, whose Dirt Road Stories Acoustic Tour kicks off Oct. 20 in Truro. “It’s a rush because you open up and it’s more intimate, your heart’s on the line in these kinds of situations. We may even have a beer or two on the stage, like a kitchen party.”
Brody’s trademark is telling stories in songs, everything from the tale of two boys separated by war in his rst single, Brothers, to the more upbeat Bush Party, celebrating a venerable Canadian tradition.
His career had humble beginnings. Born in the northern British Columbia town of Smithers in 1975, he grew up in Ja ray and worked at a sawmill, where he started playing guitar in his spare time.
For Brody, writing a good song is as simple as picking up an instrument and letting the creative juices ow.
Brody released his self-titled rst album in 2009 and that same year his song Brothers won Single of the Year from the Canadian Country Music Association.
Since then, he’s released ve more albums and won two Juno Awards. He currently lives in Nashville, a creative hub for many musicians from across North America.
For artists like Brody, being in Nashville is a chance to network, which can be as easy as going to a pub and watching singer- songwriters playing live.
He describes living in Nashville as “good for the creative mind.”
However, he also has a soft spot for Nova Scotia and its relaxed, friendly lifestyle. After an earlier stay in Nashville that ended after his American visa expired, Brody chose Nova Scotia as his new home.
“I was lucky enough to live here for six years, in Nova Scotia. I was surprised to see how country it is – back roads, farmyards, jacked- up trucks, hunting and shing and people just having a real appreciation for the outdoors. It’s a big part of life.”
e Dirt Road Stories Acoustic Tour takes in 35 shows, including seven across Atlantic Canada.
Showtime at the Marigold is 8 p.m., Oct. 20. For more information and tickets, call the box o ce at 902-897-4004 or visit www.marigoldcentre.ca.