Bobby Dove brings honky-tonk sound to Medicine Hat Public Library

“It’s also thanks to my mentor, the late Bobby Hill (1932-2015) originally from Twin Butte, Alta. I met him in 2011 at the Wheel Club in Montreal, where he was playing the lap steel,” Dove said in a statement.

“He was a pioneer in Canadian country music and taught me so much – made me mix tapes, printed out lyrics, and coached me on singing old country songs. He is a big part of my honkytonk story.”

Dove has earned recognition for original songs that combine powerful vocals with emotionally driven lyrics. They say honesty and simplicity are central to both the music they admire and the songs they create.

“Overall, I think the links that connect the songs I love to listen to and the songs I write and perform are honesty, storytelling and an emphasis on poetry, simplicity, and twang,” Dove said.

Although performing in a library will be a new experience, Dove says the venue is part of what makes the stop appealing.

“The way I’m picturing it is I will have to get over the need to shush myself the entire time, hah!,” they say. “But I’m really looking forward to it. I love books. Books (and music/art) saved my life as a teenager. Libraries are generally safe and inclusive spaces and I think that is pretty rare,” Dove said.

The tour also gives Dove an opportunity to connect with audiences in smaller communities. Their Medicine Hat performance falls between stops in Eastend, Sask., and Coaldale, Alta.

Dove says playing outside major centres offers a chance to make meaningful connections with audiences while experiencing the appreciation communities have for artists who make the trip.

They also see the performances as an opportunity to increase representation for 2SLGBTQ+ people in places where audiences may have fewer opportunities to encounter it.

“I also think that as a trans person it is satisfying to reach new audiences that may not encounter as much 2SLGBTQ+ representation in their community,” Dove said.

Dove will be joined on the tour by pedal steel player Bob Blair. Their four-legged travel companion, Judge, a Catahoula-shepherd mix, will also be along for the ride.

The Oct. 20 concert begins at 7 p.m. in the Medicine Hat Public Library theatre. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased in advance at the library or at the door.

The next concert in the Home Routes series features HuDost on Nov. 27, with tickets becoming available Oct. 19.

More information is available at mhpl.shortgrass.ca.

by Jesse Gill

Bobby Dove brings honky-tonk sound to Medicine Hat Public Library

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