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Claire Lynch opens the Dekker Centre season

Claire Lynch, the Dekker Centre 2018-19 season’s first performer, posed Friday with new General Manager Kali Weber at the first show under her management.
lynch

Claire Lynch, the Dekker Centre 2018-19 season’s first performer, posed Friday with new General Manager Kali Weber at the first show under her management.

Lynch, an American bluegrass entertainer, who has sung backup and duets with the likes of Emmylou Harris, Linda Ronstadt and Patty Loveless, and is a favourite of Dolly Parton, opened the season with a band made up of top Canadian musicians — Darrin Schott (mandolin, acoustic guitar, background vocals), Joe Phillips (upright bass, background vocals) and Shane Cook (fiddle).

They performed several songs from her album North By South, a tribute to Canada and Canadian songwriters that resulted in her third Grammy nomination for Best Bluegrass Album. Lynch was born in New York, near the Canadian border, and says her mother always said what comes from Canada is the best. She grew up in Alabama, but is now married to a longtime fan who resides in Toronto.

She says she is proud to have the paperwork that now allows her to be a full-time resident of Canada. Friday’s concert was Lynch’s second performance at the Dekker Centre.