Memorable country music

By Mahes Perera

The time has come for you to pull out your country shirts and slacks from the closet and maybe the hat or sombrero that goes with your rodeo outfit, be present at the country concert and sing your voice hoarse. 'Cause it's happening on Sunday October 5 the Country Roads concert at the Mount Lavinia Hotel.

The Country Music Foundation together with the Mount Lavinia Hotel will stage this long overdue happening that music lovers were looking forward to.

This year the concert is titled 'Music with power to heal' and the proceeds will go towards the betterment of the life of children.

Question: As head of the Country Music Foundation what is so special about this year's presentation of Country Roads. Who will benefit in accepting the proceeds?

Answer: This year we are working with the Planters' Association and channelling the proceeds to help the child and the mother working at the estates, a friendly initiative in the plantations sector in partnership with 'Save the Children.

CMF is excited to be working on a new project with Save the Foundation in enhancing the standard of living and the health status of women and children thereby helping in aiming at a new quality standard of Ceylon Tea.

Q: Who will be performing at this year's concert?

A: International favourites such as Mavericks from Germany and Astrid Brook from UK. They will be joined by SMF's own Country Revival Band and we are happy Thilan Wijesinghe is joining the band with us. It's been quite some time since we heard him. Cosmic Rays will be featured and the band Anno Domini. This concert on October 5 marks the 21st time Country Roads will be held in its 26-year journey, as the longest running concert series in South Asia and probably Asia as well.

The Mavericks will be a four piece band comprising Dirk Maverick - vocals/guitar, with bass, drums and another guitar. The program will contain the well known Country favourites and the audience can expect a new version of the popular 'Nobody's Child'. The Country favourites will be from the 60s, 70s and the 80s in a three-hour presentation.

Q: You mentioned that CMF's Country Roads concerts have always been staged to benefit children. Can you briefly enlighten us on the areas you have reached out to.

A: Last year's 25th anniversary concert proceeds were utilised by UNICEF Colombo in a program aiming at evolving a more sensitised approach to handling cases involving children in which training and awareness among magistrates and judges were given priority.

A series of workshops were held in May and June 2014 in this connection and also field visits to the Ranmuthugala Certified School for Girls, Ranmuthugala Remand Home for Girls, Makola Certified School for Boys and the Makola Remand Home for Boys.

But that's not all. Over the years the funds have gone towards building pre-schools and school buildings, providing learning and teaching materials including libraries and books, tsunami relief, drinking water, mosquito nets for children and many such requirements for children island-wide.

Q: Before we close Faizal why is it we have to wait for Country Roads to be staged. Why is it that in today's music industry there is no frequent opportunity for country music fans to go enjoy the music, such as for instance pop music or disco.

A: It's largely due to the fact that others in the field do not come forward and organise country get-togethers. May be they have their problems. Also in the category of pop music new country music in not reflected in our music industry.

In the early years, radio aired country music in it schedule of programs as a special entity. Country music has its own following and its amazing how many youth audience enjoy the music.

Astrid Brooks who will be in Sri Lanka for the Country Roads concert is a popular folk singer in the UK who also composes her own songs. According to the liner notes when she turned 20 her interest in folk and country music began to grow and she began to develop her own style playing her Tanglewood guitar.

Subsequently, recognised by producers she performed in the UK, had performances in America, Canada, Nepal and this is her second visit to Sri Lanka. After her album 'Wild River' which was an acoustic album, Astrid Brooks is now working on her new album, her third album, which she will release on her own record label.

Her interest in working for children's charities has her associated closely with the Country Roads concerts. Apart from this concert on October 5, Astrid Brooks will perform on Saturday October 4 at the Terrace of the Mount Lavinia, Hotel from 7 p.m. She has expressed a wish to rapport with Sri Lankan musicians, singers and lovers of folk and country music - an opportunity that should not be missed.