For Canadians who grew up watching Fred Penner’s Place on CBC, the name Fred Penner likely brings up some seriously delightful nostalgia. The news that Penner is once again performing in Airdrie, Dec. 21, will no doubt be welcome to those who invited him into their homes and hearts through their TV sets. The multiple-time Canadian Juno Award-winning musician will perform at the Bert Church Live Theatre (BCLT) at 6:30 p.m. for a special Christmas concert. “This time of year, it’s all about families, sharing some music, Christmas and seasonal tunes and thoughts,” Penner said. “It’s just bringing the family together to share something of musical value, so they can feel relaxed for a little bit.” According to the 72-year-old from Winnipeg, who is known throughout Canada for his family-friendly music, the show will feature both his original Christmas songs and tracks from his recent multi-award-winning album, Hear the Music. He added he hopes the show will garner participation from the audience, as well as a sense of coming together during the hectic holiday period – at least for a few hours. “The insanity will continue after,” he said. “It gets so busy at Christmas and just finding some time to chill for a couple hours – I think people need that along the way.” Even though much of his audience may be on the younger end of the scale, he added he still aims for a deeper complexity in his songs. “I think of myself often as a family entertainer because the music I do is not simplistic,” he said. “It can have very complex musical patterns and the concept can go a little deeper than what superficial children’s songs might be. “The songs go to another level in trying to generate a deeper feeling inside the listener. It’s always a challenge to me to create a show that has that level of contact.” One song Penner said he aims to play in Airdrie is the track From the Heart, which he said he recorded a number of years ago. According to Penner, the song’s essence is that giving gifts to someone doesn’t have to cost money. “A gift is one of a kind if you give it from the heart – a smile or a wish of happiness,” he said. Penner added he hopes From the Heart will help audience members put the busy holiday season into perspective. “We get so thrown off-balance at Christmastime with buying something for somebody else and then feeling inadequate if we weren’t able to spend money on some person,” he said. “Finding the balance to that is really important.” He said in many ways, he tries to strike a dialogue with his audience when he is performing. He added his goal with the show at BCLT is for he and his listeners to work together to create a moment that is memorable and positive. “I’ve been performing for four decades and trying to make that connection with the audience,” he said. “[I’m] singing with them, but at the same time, asking questions and expecting answers, so it can create a framework for another song.” As of Dec. 19, tickets for the show are sold out, according to the City of Airdrie’s website. “The bottom line really is, take a break from the craziness of your season right now and come share some music with me,” Penner said.
