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Jeffery Straker convinces North Battleford audience he should return

Award-winning singer-songwriter-pianist Jeffery Straker, who is no stranger to North Battleford, once again thrilled a local audience. This time, it was a performance of his Saskatchewan tour titled “A Very Prairie Christmas.

Award-winning singer-songwriter-pianist Jeffery Straker, who is no stranger to North Battleford, once again thrilled a local audience. This time, it was a performance of his Saskatchewan tour titled “A Very Prairie Christmas.”

Attending on behalf of the News-Optimist, Candace Mack-Horton said it was a terrific show. Not only was the music great, she said, his interaction with the Dekker Centre audience and the stories he told about his times on tour had everyone engaged.

Audience members said they would be happy to have him back any time, said Mack-Horton.

About his Christmas show, Straker says, “Growing up on the farm near Punnichy, a big part of Christmas was time spent together with friends and family making music and sharing stories. Whether it was neighbours bringing instruments over to our farmhouse to play together into the wee hours of the night, singing around the piano, or hearing the sacred Christmas songs in church – there was always a musical backdrop to the holiday season. Great story-telling strung it all together. Those songs and stories have stuck with me and I [wanted] to bring some of that to the stage with this concert.”

Featuring classic and contemporary holiday songs, Straker was accompanied by a full band, including his sister Jill Straker singing backing vocals.