Acclaimed Canadian musician Heather Rankin will spread holiday cheer in Airdrie Dec. 1, when she brings her Picture Perfect Christmas Tour to Bert Church LIVE Theatre (BCLT). “I never really aspired to be a solo artist or to record songs that I’d written myself, but a whole course of events led me to this place,” she said. A veteran performer, Rankin released music with her siblings as The Rankin Family throughout the 1990s. The group’s output yielded six Juno Awards, three Canadian Country Music Awards and 15 East Coast Music awards. In 2013, Rankin began work on her first solo record A Fine Line, which was released in 2016. She quickly followed up with Imagine, a Christmas album, in 2017. Holiday music holds a special place in her heart, Rankin added. “I love Christmas, I always have,” she said. “My mother loved Christmas. She always made it a big deal. It was always a big celebration, growing up.” In 1997, Rankin recorded a Christmas album with her sisters, Cookie and the late Raylene. That album, Do You Hear… Christmas, launched what she said would become a 15-year tradition, for the sisters, of performing Christmas material. Rankin said she missed those holiday performances, and was inspired to record a solo Christmas album to revive the tradition for herself. Rankin said Christmas music, in particular, can brighten lives as the holidays approach. “It’s a lovely time, it can be a celebratory time – but it can be a very lonesome time, for a lot of people,” she said. “I think having that opportunity to sing Christmas music for people, it’s uplifting.” Rankin’s show blends original and traditional Christmas songs, as well as Rankin Family tunes and some of her own original solo material. “If people don’t like Christmas music, there’s enough of everyday, regular music that is entertaining,” she said, and added, “I try to keep it light and fun and tell some stories. I’ve got an amazing trio of musicians travelling with me.” Accompanied by only an acoustic guitar, piano and stand-up bass, Rankin said her show is stripped back and intimate. She described her music as contemporary folk, and – harkening back to her Nova Scotia roots – is inspired by her homeland's traditional music, but is not overly Maritime in style. Her upcoming performance will be the first time Rankin has stopped in Airdrie, and she said she’s looking forward to visiting the city as she continues to promote her fairly recent solo venture. “It’s really appreciated, from my perspective, when I get opportunities to play places like Airdrie,” she said. Regular admission to Rankin’s show costs $37, while student and seniors can purchase tickets for $35. Tickets are available at ticketpro.ca
