The promise theysa国际传媒檙e not rebuilding their railway heritage concerts, only fine-tuning them.

After two decades of delivering tales and songs about life on the railway to their ever-increasing fan base, you might wonder why they would want to mess with success. But for 2018, theysa国际传媒檙e introducing new songs, plus a surprise concert ending added to their shows.

Jack Godwin, the leader of the band, said theysa国际传媒檙e busier than ever.

sa国际传媒淲e used to just start playing in April and play through to September and October,sa国际传媒� said Godwin. sa国际传媒淭he valley is now filling up in the winter with snowbirds. Theysa国际传媒檙e seniors and they know trains because a lot of them are prairie people.sa国际传媒�

The Brakemen have two concerts booked already, performing for northern snowbirds wintering in the South Okanagan. On Feb. 24, they will be at the Osoyoos Seniors Centre, a concert that has sold out over the past couple of years. For more info about his concert, call 250-495-3211.

sa国际传媒淭hey sell out a week in advance,sa国际传媒� said Godwin. sa国际传媒淲e started doing the same thing in Peachland. Then in the summer, wesa国际传媒檙e travelling around to music festivals.sa国际传媒�

Peachland is also already booked, for an afternoon concert on March 11 at the local seniorssa国际传媒� centre. Call. 250-767-2647 to find out more.

The number of places you can find the Brakemen playing is growing too.

About ten years ago, the Brakemen also started playing seniorssa国际传媒� accommodations, though only a few, since most couldnsa国际传媒檛 afford the band.

sa国际传媒淭hey were used to, in those days, having kids come in from the piano class and playing 茅tudes, and they would listen for a while,sa国际传媒� said Godwin, explaining that the kind of seniorssa国际传媒� accommodations opening up in the last five years or so have been radically different.

sa国际传媒淭hey have sound systems built in, they have seating areas,sa国际传媒� said Godwin. sa国际传媒淭he people that are going to seniors homes nowadays are just a little bit younger than I am and they are wanting entertainment.sa国际传媒�

Plus, the modern homes tend to be wired and ready for professional entertainers.

sa国际传媒淵ou just show up, plug in and perform.sa国际传媒�

Godwin is also being mysterious about a new ending to Brakemen shows, saying that theysa国际传媒檙e not going to make the audience sa国际传媒減aysa国际传媒� for an encore this year.

No excessive applauding, cheering or foot stomping needed. The free encore follows the full Brakemen concert/singalong and they promise will finally answer one the most persistent questions asked of the band, according to their press release.

sa国际传媒淔or some reason, people love this, wesa国际传媒檙e all in on this encore joke,sa国际传媒� said Godwin, adding that for the encore they usually play a song relating to where they are performing, like Rattlesnake Rain if it was Naramata.

sa国际传媒淲hat we are doing this year is something completely different. It will still be the same Brakemen ending, but then there will be this little, added treat.sa国际传媒�

They have lots of their own original songs, but the Brakemen have been known to take some liberties with classic railroad songs, like Orange Blossom Special sa国际传媒� specifically Johnny Cashsa国际传媒檚 harmonica version.

sa国际传媒淚sa国际传媒檝e adapted the lyrics, so itsa国际传媒檚 now called Cantaloupe Special. The first product they carried when they opened up the southern part of the Kettle Valley line in the 40s, was cantaloupes. They grew them down in Osoyoos and Oliver and there was a famous little train call sa国际传媒楥antaloupe Mannysa国际传媒檚a国际传媒�

Beyond just appealing to the love of railroads in everyone, Godwin said their mix of humour, music and storytelling has a timeless appeal.

sa国际传媒淭hat combination of stories and songs really works. The first guys who were musicians and ever made money sa国际传媒� or their food sa国际传媒� made it by travelling from community to community, telling stories and singing songs,sa国际传媒� said Godwin. sa国际传媒淭hat appeal still works for people.sa国际传媒�

Steve Kidd

Senior reporter,

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