Get out your lawn chairs, picnic blankets and picnic baskets and head for Cruickshank’s Amphitheatre on Saturday, July 20, from 3-5 p.m. Local musician, Cory Coons, will be putting on an outstanding free concert for every one at the amphitheatre that afternoon.
Already a well known and popular artist in this area, Coons will be accompanied on stage Saturday by harmony vocalist Michelle Arthurs, with Mike McNeil on percussion. As a bonus, musicians Lana and Labarr, an exciting pop rock duo from Oshawa, are opening for Coons.
I had the opportunity to chat with Cory Coons about his music and his concert on July 20.
“I love music,” he explained. “It’s basically my passion in life, writing, creating and performing. Anything musically related I love.”
While he says that he doesn’t necessarily come from a musical family (“My mom played the organ, my dad loved to sing big band numbers.”) he laughed that “Michelle (Arthurs) is actually my sister-in-law, so that does sort of make it a family tradition.”
He has been performing in concerts for over two decades now.
“I’ve been playing the guitar since I was 17 years old, still attending Seaway District High School. I really love harmony. I turned professional around age 20.” He played for 12 years with a band called the Tycoons, but then decided to strike out in a solo recording career. His long term goal is to eventually work as a musician full time. He also shares his love for music as a Freelance Guitar Instructor.
Coons feels that certain other artists have served as an inspiration for his work.
“The 70s and 80s style of classic rock and newer country appeal to me. I enjoy Keith Urban and Neil Young, pretty much good music of any type. I would characterize my original work as roots rock meets country rock.” His most recent CD release (2012) is Here and Now and his single, Roses Need Rain, has generated some local airplay and interest. In the fall, he is looking at creating a new video.
I asked Cory about his song writing, since much of the work he will be performing at the Amphitheatre will be original.
“Every song is different,” he said. “Sometimes the melody comes first, and then the lyrics, sometimes the other way. I like to tell stories with my music. But I do have one rule. I believe that every listener should take his own elements out of my music. When they hear my songs, I want there to be a bit of a mystery there that they can solve themselves. After a concert, I like to talk to people, and I often discover that they have found ideas in the music that I hadn’t even thought of.”
Coons has opened for April Wine, Kim Michell, Glass Tiger, David Wilcox and Prairie Oyster. He has been in demand locally, performing at the Spencerville Stampede, Chesterville Hotel, Papa Gus in Chesterville and in Kemptville at the Old Coach House.
The Cruickshank Amphitheatre is the perfect venue for an afternoon of great music with local artist, Cory Coons. The entire concert is free, and everyone is welcome. “People will enjoy themselves,” Coons said. “The whole event will be laid back, but lots of fun.”
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