Time: 8 p.m.

Cover:$35

http://www.prairieoyster.com/

You dont know what youve got til its gone. Those words from another Canadian musical great certainly ring true for the fans of Prairie Oyster who were eager for a new album from their honky-tonk heroes. Thing is the band never went away, but the gap between their records has shown how invaluable their contribution to Canadian roots music has been.

Now, the wait is over. Prairie Oyster is back and their new album, One Kiss, finds them at the very peak of their form. With more than 30 years under their well-worn belt, the band has amassed twelve new songs that is arguably their best work of their illustrious career.

Their eighth record (and OpenRoad debut), One Kiss, is the sound of life-long friends getting together to make music for all the right reasons. Its relaxed, intimate and as comfortable as your favourite woolen sweater mirroring the creative environment established by the group. This is the first fully self-produced Prairie Oyster album and they clearly thrived on this challenge.

The project came together at Audio Valley, guitarist Keith Glass own top of the line recording studio in Perth, Ontario. Half the band was staying in my house, explains Keith, wed just go up the street to the studio in the morning and do it when we felt like it. There were no real time restraints, and I think the results speaks to that.

Doing this totally on our own was great, adds lead vocalist/bassist Russell deCarle. Im really proud of the fact it went so smoothly. I believe this is our best record to date, in terms of the collection of songs and the playing. Keyboardist Joan Besen seconds these sentiments: This was the easiest record to make as we werent answerable to anyone at any level of decision-making. There was no outside agenda here.

Joining the core Prairie Oyster lineup of Keith, Russell, Joan, John P. Allen (fiddle) and Dennis Delorme (pedal steel) were drummer John Adames, Frank Barth (trombone) and Chris Whiteley (trumpet) and special guests including Don Reed (fiddle) and Jacksouls Haydain Neale (guest vocal on High Water). One Kiss was mixed by one of North Americas best engineers, L.Stu Young (Prince, David Wilcox), an old friend of the band whod worked on their breakthrough 1991 album, Everybody Knows.