Gord Bamford performs in front of a crowd of vehicles at his ATB Drive-in for Mental Health concert in Calgary last month. Bamford will be performing two shows at the Medicine Hat Stampede grounds on Friday - 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. -- PHOTO COURTESY KASSEY SHIER
rmccracken@medicinehatnews.com@MHNMcCracken
When Australian-Canadian country music artist Gord Bamford takes the stage at the Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede grounds on Friday night for back-to-back concerts, he’ll be looking out on a vastly different crowd.
Instead of smiling faces, it’ll be headlights and grills in an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19 while still bringing live music to fans across Alberta as part of Bamford’s ATB Drive-in for Mental Health concert series.
“That part’s a little different,” said Bamford, who will play two shows in the Stampede’s south parking lot, at 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. “I’m getting used to it now, but you can’t really see the reactions of people, you can’t see their faces that well and you’ve got to get used to applause being a bunch of horns honking.”
Proceeds from ticket sales – which run $80 per vehicle, and $125 for a VIP pass – will go to the Canadian Mental Health Association Southeast Region. Bamford says he believes mental health is a topic that needs more attention, especially given the severity of isolation for millions across the province, and the world, as a result of the pandemic.
“I think at this time it’s more important than anything, with the pandemic going on. I think mental health is such a key topic nowadays, even for us as musicians and artists, not knowing when we’ll be going back to work,” said Bamford. “Sometimes you’re dealing with that sort of stuff and you don’t even know it. We’re just excited we can be giving back to mental health in each community, and thanks to ATB Financial for making this all happen. It’s been great so far, this is our fifth and final show so we’re saving the best for last.”
Bamford added the pandemic has been daunting for him as well. The 26-time Canadian Country Music Association award winner makes his living in front of mass gatherings, but was forced to put his live performances on hold.
“It’s pretty scary, because obviously this is our livelihood,” he said. “The music business is obviously in a lot of trouble right now, not knowing when we’re going to be back playing normal shows and to what capacity. It seems like it’s going to be quite a while, so to come up with these sort of concepts to play music, it’s pretty soothing for everybody.”
Bamford – an Australian-born Lacombe product who grew up playing minor sports in Medicine Hat and still hunts in the area – says Friday’s drive-in concert will feature all the bells and whistles of a real show, with the only exception being the seating.
“There’s production that surrounds the whole concert bowl, there’s video walls. It’s really like you’re at a concert, you’re just sitting in your vehicle,” said Bamford. “I think it’s a way to fix things right now, as far as bringing live music out to the people, but obviously I can’t wait until we can get back and do this traditionally again.”
Bamford’s 8 p.m. show is already sold out, but tickets to his 10:30 p.m. performance are still available at gordbamford.com.
