Edmonton based folk singer Ken Stead hopes this year will be just as busy as last year.
“ In 2014 I had a goal to play 100 shows and just made it by three shows,” said Stead, who plays the Lethbridge Folk Club Wolf’s Den, Jan. 30.

“ It was a pretty interesting experience,” he continued. He played several big festivals including the Canmore Folk Festival, Come By the Hills Blues Festival and eight others plus two Western Canadian tours.

 His most recent CD “Unfinished ” has sold over 1,500 copies and has charted on  college, university and community stations nationwide including  CKUA. He was on Andy Donnelly’s Celtic show on CKUA, Jan. 23.

 He writes about a variety of topics from cheesy love songs to Internet dating and social anxiety inspired by friends and family and people he meets as well as his own experiences.

 He noted this year will be dominated by recording a new CD in March for an ideal release in June or July.
“These are songs I’ve written over the past few years. This record will be the first one where I’ve been able to test the songs on the road to see which one work so I can choose the cream of the crop,” he said.
 He noted he’d like to be able to play music full time, but hasn’t reached that stage yet.

“ I’ve learned a lot in the past year. There has been some real growth,” he continued.
 He draws lyrical inspiration from a variety of different areas including friends, family and his own personal self doubt.

 

“ Fear Has No Place Here came from my stepdaughter who has social anxiety issues ,” he said adding he shares that quality as he has serious stage fright.
“ There are some breathing exercises you can do to help you with it,” he advised.

“ You have to feel your feet and release all of your tension through them,” he described.
He also released a video of his song “Oh Carolina.”

He is looking forward to playing more folk club style gigs this year, beginning in Lethbridge.

“It will be the first time this season. I’m really excited to to come to Lethbridge,” he said adding he likes the intimate feel of  folk club venues.
“ I like the intimacy. I like to tell stories,” he said.

“ I like the opportunity to tell stories and have a conversation with people. That’s what it’s really about,” he added.
“ I’ll be playing songs from the old EP as well as a few from the new release,” he said.
“ It should be a very good show. I hope to see people out,” he said.
 Tickets cost $20 for members, $25 for non-members including an annual membership. The show begins at 8 p.m. at the Wolf’s Den (MJS Cycle, 1502 -2nd Avenue South ).