Juno Award winning musician Sue Foley appeared in Stettler as part of her Canadian tour after releasing her latest CD The Ice Queen.
Foley, a blues guitarist, songwriter and vocalist, performed at the Stettler Performing Arts Centre April 8.
“It’s very appropriate I’m touring The Ice Queen this week,” said Foley. “We got here and it was -20 C. That’s Ice Queen weather.”
Foley recorded The Ice Queen in 2017 in Texas.
“We did a crowd funding to raise money to make this album. It was a pretty expensive album to make.”
Legendary Billy Gibbons from ZZ Top sang with Foley in the album.
“ZZ Top started as a funky old blues band in Texas and when Billy said he wanted to be in the album I thought ‘he has to be in this one.’”
Playing her signature pink Fender Telecastor electric guitar, and singing in a sultry voice, Foley sang several songs from her new CD, including “Gaslight.”
“Gaslight is all about people that drive you crazy. Basically it’s someone who makes you so crazy that you actually do go crazy until you get away from them and go ‘oh it was you not me.’”
Foley, who is from Ottawa, started her career when she was 16. In her early 20s she moved to Texas where she started her recording career. She has shared the stage with icons like Tom Petty and BB King.
In 2001 Foley won a Juno Award for Love Coming Down and she also holds the record for the most Maple Blues Awards, having won 17. In addition, she won three Trophies de Blues de France and was nominated several times at the International Blues Music Awards in Memphis.
The Stettler Gymnastics Club brought Foley to Stettler and even though it was a small crowd Foley said she enjoys performing in communities like Stettler.
“The music business has changed so much. It has gone back to a grass roots vibe where people who just really love music are bringing it into their communities, not trying to make money, but just because they want to spread the love and joy of music. It’s really touching and we always enjoy coming here.”