On Friday, June 3, Rankin will be at the Membertou Trade and Convention Centre and the next night, Saturday, June 4, he returns to his hometown of Mabou for a performance at Strathespey Place.
Rankin began his music career as part of The Rankin Family band, along with his sisters Raylene, Cookie, and Heather, and his late brother, John Morris. Since that group stopped recording regularly, Rankin has released four solo albums while earning accolades for his strong songwriting talents and his dynamic stage performances. (In one interview, he promises if anyone hollers a request, he’ll play it—“if [he] can remember it”.)
Rankin describes Forget About the World as more country than his last release, 2007’s rootsy Edge of Day, with the single “Here In My Heart” receiving plenty of airplay on country stations.
The new album also features a duet, “Walk That Way”, with Serena Ryder, who played the Savoy Theatre recently in a show with Melissa Etheridge.
Another tune on the new release, “Colorado Dave”, musically re-tells an old folk story about a man who left Nova Scotia in the 1800’s and moved to Colorado, and fell in with the James Gang before escaping and returning home to live with his mom.
The Membertou show features reserved cabaret seating for those 19 years and older with doors opening at 7pm and showtime at 8:30pm. Tickets are $30 each or $200 for a table of eight. Tickets are available at the Membertou Trade and Convention Centre box office, Maillard Street, or by calling 539-2300 during regular box office hours (10 am to 6 pm, Monday to Friday).
Tickets for the Strathespey Place performance are $30 regular and $24 for Strathespey Place members. Showtime is 8pm for all ages. Tickets may be ordered by phone, 945-5300, during regular box office hours, Monday to Friday from 1 pm to 4 pm, or in person at Strathespey Place, located at 11156 Route 19 in Mabou, part of the Allan J. MacEachen school complex during the same hours and one hour before showtime.
