The Porcupine Awards honoured Barney recently with the 2012 "Golden Quill" Award for songwriting.

Thanks to Steve Fruitman who hosts the wonderful radio program at CIUT-FM 89.5, University of Toronto radio and tirelessly promotes Canadian music. 

Regardless of style or genre or the caliber of musicianship, there
are certain qualities that sets the great ones apart. A great song
leaves residue in the ears of a listener, evokes emotional triggers,
expands the mind. While most songwriters would be content to compose
one or two truly great songs, there are those who have produced
hoards of them. Think of Paul Anka. This award is for that special
kind of songwriter. Est. 1991.

http://www.backtothesugarcamp.com/2012.html

Former rock star now drives a Honda CR-V... and a John Deere

Richardson GMP and Potluck Café Society, in association with Paul Mercs Concerts, are proud to present Barney Bentall & The Grand Cariboo Opry at The Vogue Theatre on Saturday, December 8.  A treasured tradition among Vancouver’s local community, this fundraiser and one-of-a-kind variety show brings over 800 concertgoers together to support Potluck Café Society. 

Formed in 2001, Potluck Café Society is a social enterprise that works to transform lives in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside by providing people in the community with stable employment and free, nutritious meals through its café and catering business.  Over the past six years, the proceeds of Barney Bentall & The Grand Cariboo Opry have helped to create jobs and serve over 40,000 nutritious meals to people living in the Downtown Eastside.

The Grand Cariboo Opry Christmas is a highly entertaining show, hosted by Canadian music icon Barney Bentall, who blends humourous and sentimental monologues with a heartfelt set of roots and folk favourites.  Bentall is joined by an exceptional roster of friends and guests including Ridley Bent, Dustin Bentall, Wendy Bird, Kendel Carson and Matt Masters to name a few.

Tickets are on sale now and available at https://tickets.voguetheatre.com/online/default.asp.

 

Don’t miss a night of entertainment and an opportunity to give back to the community. 

For more information, please visit www.potluckcatering.org.

Posted on CBCMusic.ca, Barney shares some of his favourite Canadian songs in celebration of Canada Day

Postcards from Barney, cycling through Italy and helping to raise funds to support Canadian Olympic athletes.

Posted on CBCMusic.ca, Barney shares his postcards from a trip to France and Italy, cycling around the country and raising funds to support Canadian Olympic athletes.

Barney performed at Northern United Place in Yellowknife in February 2010, and the entire concert has now been placed online as the first offering in CBC's "True North Concert Series". Listen to it now!

On April 18, Barney Bentall, harmonica player Mike Stevens, Russell deCarle of the country rock group “Prairie Oyster,” folksinger Connie Kaldor and others will perform at a fundraising concert for the Nunavut Literacy Council. Then on April 19, these performers will join with broadcasters Shelagh Rogers, Alison Gzowski and Jonathan Torrens (Trailer Park Boys") for Nunavut’s seventh ice golf tournament for literacy.

Read the full article in Nunatsiaq Online.

Barney and the High Bar Gang host the 2011 BCCMA Hall of Fame show at the Red Robinson Theatre, 2080 United Blvd, Coquitlam, BC. Doors 6:30PM, show at 7:30. Tickets available at Ticketmaster or by calling 604 280 4444.

"Classic bluegrass for modern times" is how the High Bar Gang describe themselves. The High Bar Gang features Barney Bentall on vocals & guitar, Angela Harris and Wendy Bird on vocals, Shari Ulrich on vocals, fiddle & mandolin, Rob Becker on vocals & stand-up bass, Eric Reed on banjo, mandolin & dobro, and Colin Nairne on vocals, guitar & mandolin.

Follow them on Facebook now to find out about upcoming gigs and new developments!

Barney Bentall will be playing a series of shows across southern Ontario, both on his own and with Kevin Fox.

- Saturday, March 5: Queen's Inn, Stratford, ON
- Sunday, March 6: London Music Club, London, ON
- Tuesday, March 8: Pearl Theatre, Hamilton, ON
- Wednesday, March 9: Rose Theatre, Brampton, ON
- Thursday, March 10: Gravenhurst Opera House, Gravenhurst, ON
- Friday, March 11: Brock Centre for the Arts, St. Catharines, ON
- Saturday, March 12: Gibson Centre, Alliston, ON
- Sunday, March 13: Acoustic Grill, Picton, ON
- Monday, March 14: Maxwell's Music House, Waterloo, ON

In addition, Barney will be playing a few more shows with the High Bar Gang:

- Friday, March 18: Phoenix Auditorium at the Haven, Gabriola, BC
- Saturday, March 19: Cates Hill Chapel, Bowen Island, BC

For more details and ticket information check out the Shows page.

Barney will be playing two shows next month with the High Bar Gang (Angela Harris, Barney Bentall, Colin Nairne, Eric Reed, Rob Becker, Shari Ulrich, Wendy Bird):

- Friday Feb 25, 2011: Starlight Room, 170 W 3rd St, North Vancouver, BC.
Tickets $35, doors 7PM. Reserve tickets at 604-988-9073. Note this show is ALMOST SOLD OUT!

- Saturday Feb 26, 2011: Brackendale Art Gallery, Brackendale, BC.
Tickets $20 at BAG and the Bookshelf.

For more information about the High Bar Gang, check out their website!

Barney Bentall will be performing a special intimate concert on January 29 at Carlson's on Macleod in High River, AB. Advance tickets can be purchased by calling 403-601-8774 or in person at Carlson's.

Music Saves II' "Feelin' Alright" is on Much Music and you can vote it into the Top 20! Vote at MuchMusic's site to get Barney and friends onto the hit list. You can vote once per hour.

Get your tickets now!!

The Potluck Café Society Proudly Present The 5th Annual
Barney Bentall & The Grand Cariboo Opry Fundraiser For The Potluck Café Society

Saturday, December 11th@ The Vogue Theatre
918 Granville Street /Doors @ 6:30 PM Show @ 7:30 PM
Tix - $29.95 – 49.95 + Applicable Service Fees available at the Vogue Box office or online at www.voguetheatre.com

Featuring : Barney Bentall, Ridley Bent, Dustin Bentall, Wendy Bird, Kendel Carson, & the Entire Grand Opry Cast

Back by demand for the Fifth consecutive year Barney Bentall & The Grand Cariboo Opry rolls into Vancouver and the beautifully revamped Vogue Theatre for another highly anticipated performance on December 11th. More than just a great musical event, the Opry is an important charitable fundraiser for Vancouver’s Potluck Café Society. Over the last 4 years, the Opry has raised enough money to feed 40,000 nutritious meals to residents living in the Downtown Eastside.

Barney Bentall recently participated in "Music Saves", an initiative to support the Vancouver Adapted Music Society, a group which supports and promotes musicians with physical disabilities in the Metro Vancouver area. The video also features Odds, Jim Byrnes, John Mann(Spirit of the West), Dustin Bentall, Dan Mangan and many more. Watch the video here or at YouTube!

Barney Bentall has a busy few months ahead of him, on tour across Canada both with the Grand Cariboo Opry, solo, and with Eric Reed.

Check the Shows page for tour dates near you!

Tickets are now on sale for the Grand Cariboo Opry show at the Tidemark Theatre in Campbell River on November 18th.

Visit the Tidemark Theatre's website to view details and purchase tickets.

Barney will appear for a special performance at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa on Friday, November 5. Joining Barney at the NAC's 4th stage will be Jesse Peters, The Arrogant Worms, and Chic Gamine.

Only 100 tickets are available for this event. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit the NAC's website.

Get ready for another fine season of Barney Bentall and the Grand Cariboo Opry. The annual Vancouver appearance of the Opry will be held on December 11 at the Vogue Theatre - tickets go on sale Friday, September 24 at the Vogue Theatre website, by phone at 604-569-1144, or in person at the Vogue box office at 918 Granville Street.

More shows and cities are being announced at the Opry's official website - keep an eye on the tour dates for a show near you!

At the Opry, some of Canada’s finest roots and country musicians join Barney Bentall to put on a one-of-a-kind event that harkens back to a simpler time. The walls of each room that the Opry visits reverberate with laughter, storytelling, and the timeless sound of contemporary songwriters steeped in tradition for an unforgettable evening of entertainment. The Grand Cariboo Opry is hosted by Barney as he works through his humorous and highly entertaining monologues (think Prairie Home Companion) and fronts a big band that includes regular guests such as Ridley Bent, Leeroy Stagger, Dustin Bentall, Leslie Alexander, Wendy Bird, Romi Mayes, and Cameron Latimer. Everyone plays and everyone sings...sometimes all at once!

Sept 24 & 25, Vancouver, BC: Some of Vancouver's finest recording artists, songwriters and musicians, namely Barney Bentall - Guitar and Vocals Shari Ulrich - Fiddle, Mando, Vocals, Angela Harris - Vocals, Wendy Bird - Vocals, Colin Nairne - Guitar and Vocals, Rob Becker - Bass and Vocals and Eric Reed - Banjo, Mandolin and Dobro, makes up The High Bar Gang.

The High Bar Gang will be performing their double concert debut on September 24th and 25th, 2010 at the Eagles Club in North Vancouver with Special Guest, Tom Taylor (She Stole My Beer). Both concerts will include an introduction to each artist by way of their individual material and then the High Bar Gang will take the stage to deliver a traditional repertoire of cheatin', hurtin' and classic Gospel Bluegrass songs - some of which date back to the early 1900's.

Double Debut Concert
HIGH BAR GANG with Special Guest, Tom Taylor
'The Starlight Room' (170 West 3rd Street, North Vancouver)
Friday, September 24, 2010
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Doors 7:30pm

TICKETS ON SALE NOW!
Tickets $35 (plus service charge) 19+
Call for tickets: 604-988-9073
Online etickets: www.eaglesnorthvancouver.com

On Tuesday, June 15, renowned Canadian singer/songwriters Barney Bentall, Shari Ulrich and Tom Taylor will perform together in a special benefit concert for Literacy Victoria.

Belfry Arts Centre, 1291 Gladstone Avenue, Victoria, BC
Hosted by Gregor Craigie, host of CBC Radio’s On the Island
Tickets on sale at the Belfry Theatre Box Office: 250-385-6815

$35: includes show, pre-show appetizers and cash bar

$100: include post-show party with the artists, hosted by Shelagh Rogers (CBC Radio), and a $50 tax receipt

All proceeds benefit Literacy Victoria, a non-profit community organization providing adults with free help and support in basic reading, writing, math, computer and other essential skills.

Click the poster to download a full-sized PDF!

"Barney Bentall... writes resonant songs of hope, love and loss which connect thousands of miles away from the wide open spaces of his enigmatic Canadian homeland. 'The Inside Passage' charts some quite beautiful waters you ought to traverse at your earliest convenience."

Read the full review here.

You can bid in DOXA's Celebrity Camera Auction to win an undeveloped single-use camera with pictures taken by Barney! Find out more at the DOXA festival website...

On Sunday, Feb 27, Barney plays a free show at the Whistler Live Olympics celebration site. Show starts at 4:45 pm! More info at Whistler 2010 website.

Barney Bentall and the Grand Cariboo Opry are delighted to announce they will be performing at Whistler Village Square on Friday, February 5, to celebrate the arrival of the Olympic Torch. The group is thrilled to be part of the historic event, and invites everyone to join them in Whistler at 3:30 PM for the festivities!

"Live At Cates Hill" was chosen in Australia's "Rhythm Magazine" by writer Sue Barrett as #1 in her Top Ten Albums of 2009.

Shari Ulrich, Barney Bentall and Tom Taylor recorded this live CD to answer their audiences' longing to re-live the night - or take the band home. You can listen to tracks from "Live at Cates Hill" and buy the album at CD Baby.

Exciting news for those of you across the water - Barney's new album "The Inside Passage" will be available in the UK on March 1, 2010. You can pre-order the album now at Amazon.

"The lyrical acumen may be most obviously the work of a man who insightfully peers into specific vignettes he has created - not just the work of a man who can examine his own life journey - on the album's penultimate track. She Ran Away is an incredibly dense story within a simple narrative - the like of which would recall the sort of genius we associate with Fred Eaglesmith. The song fully engages the listener at every turn, culminating in his recognizing, 'I was serving the fifth day of my sentence' as his private fate as the song ends."

Read the full review of The Inside Passage at The Daily Gleaner.

Get your Opry on at http://www.grandcaribooopry.com - where you can learn more about the history of the Opry, listen and watch moments from previous performances, and find out how to book an Opry performance in your area.

Last weekend the BC Interior Music Awards were held in Kelowna, BC, and Barney Bentall's new album The Inside Passage was honoured with four awards:

• Album of the Year - Barney Bentall  The Inside Passage.
• Producer of the Year - John Ellis  The Inside Passage.
• Songwriter of the Year - Barney Bentall  Hold My Heart.
• Country/Bluegrass Recording of the Year - Barney Bentall  The Inside Passage

 

A huge thanks to everyone involved, and congratulations to all the other winners and nominees!

Tomorrow, Thursday November 5, Barney and Dustin Bentall will be interviewed on CBC's Q with Jian Ghomeshi. Check http://www.cbc.ca/q for broadcast times in your area!

Legendary Canadian singer songwriter Barney Bentall doesn't seem to be making any plans to retire these days.  His passion and unmatched talent really shine on his latest release "The Inside Passage".

We get started with a catchy upbeat tune called "Hold my Heat" that does a perfect job pulling you in and building you up for the irresistible chorus. The song instantly grabs your attention and puts you in the driver¹s seat for this amazing album.  "Sending out a Message" rounds out and softens the overall sound of the album with a beautifully written mid tempo song that contends for best track.  There is a great range of instrumentation used on this album with horns, pedal steel, piano, fiddle, glockenspiel, mandolin even whistling. Bentall¹s musical seasoning and life experience really shine with "I never Meant To Make You Cry", this beautifully timeless ballad is a great addition this impressive set of songs. One track in particular that really stands out is Papa Henry's Boy, it's got an old time country feel to it and would get any crowd to their feet in a hurry, it's a hootin, hollerin good time.  If you're a fan of artists like Bruce Springsteen's, Fred Eaglesmith, Bruce Cockburn and Steve Dawson this is a must have in your collection.

- Andre Skinner, IndieCan

 

We are all familiar with songs such as “New York, New York”, “I Love Paris” and “Galveston”... but what about songs dedicated to Canadian places? There are classics like “Bobcaygeon” by The Tragically Hip and “Running Back to Saskatoon” by The Guess Who. There are definitely more places in this country worth immortalizing in song.

That’s why CBC Radio 2 is launching the Great Canadian Song Quest – to give Canadians a chance to nominate what locations matter most to them and commission 13 new songs to be written about those places.

And not only will Canadians get to decide on one place from each province, they will also get to vote on the 13 singer-songwriters who will compose and record the new songs.

Barney is one of the artists participating in Song Quest. Go now to http://www.cbc.ca/radio2/songquest/ and select British Columbia. Choose a BC town to write about, and then choose Barney Bentall's picture - check the box under his bio and submit your vote!

Please spread the word about Song Quest and help Canada pick Barney! You can start your own blog campaigning for your favourite town and artist - go to the "Share Quest With The Rest" link to do that.

Voting closes on October 23, so hurry!

The Grand Cariboo Opry with Barney Bentall & Guests will be LIVE at "The Cultch" in their newly renovated historic theatre on Friday,  November 27th, 2009.
 
Tickets are on sale NOW through The Cultch Box Office:
604.251.1363
http://www.thecultch.com/

Doors:  6 pm (check out the silent auction and nibble on tasty tapas by Potluck Catering)
Show:   7:30 pm

As many of you know, the Opry is an important annual fundraiser for the Potluck Café Society. Together your support for this event has benefited our community greatly and enabled Potluck to prepare and serve over 20,000 free, nutritious meals to Downtown Eastside residents.

If you are interested in supporting the Opry with a silent auction donation or a unique and highly memorable song sponsorship please contact heather(at)potluckcatering.com.

See you at The Cultch!

Barney's new album, "The Inside Passage" featuring the single "Hold My Heart", is available for sale at MapleMusic. Get yours now!

This Friday, October 2nd, 2009!

Barney Bentall & The Grand Cariboo Opry
Firefighter Appreciation Concert
Doors Open at 7:30 pm at Clinton Memorial Hall
Tickets Avail at Integris Insurance & Village of Clinton
$25 admission
All Proceeds go to Clinton Volunteer Fire Dept
Contact 459-2307 or 459-2172

Please join us for an intimate and interactive performance with Barney Bentall and friends, to celebrate the release of his new album THE INSIDE PASSAGE. Limited tickets are available at $25 each for this special event.

THE INSIDE PASSAGE Release Party
September 24 and 25
The Starlight Room at The Eagles Club, 170 West 3rd Street, North Vancouver, BC
Doors: 7:30 pm
Performance: 8:30 pm
Tickets: Available online at http://www.eaglesnorthvancouver.com/5701/71701.html, or by visiting the FOE Hall.

Sign up to the Facebook page for this event right here: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=141021951788

On September 22, 2009, Barney Bentall will release his new album, "The Inside Passage", on True North Records.

From Barney: "I knew the title of the record long before I wrote the song.  I wanted to write a collection of songs that were loosely based on moving through life.  I grew up on the prairies but we spent our summers out at the coast.  We had a boat and we would take it on long trips from the San Juan Islands to Desolation Sound.  I've always felt the pull of those two spaces - the prairies where they rise to meet the Rockies, and the sea as it collides with the Coastal range."

Listen to the first single from the album, "Hold My Heart" at Barney's MySpace site. Stay tuned to find out how you can order the album, as well as tour dates and special announcements!

Barney will be performing with the Grand Cariboo Opry at the Fusion Festival in Surrey, BC on Saturday, July 18. Details at the Fusion Festival website.

Barney Bentall, Murray McLauchlan, Catherine MacLellan and Nathan Rogers will be appearing in Eastern Canada this October as part of True North Records' "Canadian Songbook 2009" concert series. For more information and tickets, visit http://www.thecanadiansongbook.ca.

Just announced! Barney Bentall and the Legendary Hearts will appear at the PNE in Vancouver on August 29 at 8pm. Tickets are free with PNE admission. For directions and more info, please visit the official PNE website.

Last fall, CBC Radio recorded the Grand Cariboo Opry performance, hosted by Barney Bentall, at St. James' Hall in Vancouver. Now you can listen to the whole concert online!

Barney, Tom Taylor and Shari Ulrich played their first show together as a Bluebird North songwriters' event at Bowen Island's Cates Hill Chapel in November 2007. They and the audience enjoyed it so much that they embarked on more shows together, returning to Cates Hill exactly one year later for what they now plan to make an annual event for Bowen Island. This time, they brought engineer Anthony Maki along to record the concert. The result is "Live at Cates Hill". An eclectic mix of the character, voices and songwriting from these three unique artists. Or as someone was heard to say - "two Canadian legends and the Number One Draft Pick." Barney, Tom and Shari will be performing a CD release concert (and their first show in Vancouver) on Friday, May 29th at The Roundhouse, at the corner of Davie and Pacific. Show time is 8:00 pm, tickets are $20 at the door. For reservations and additional information write info@estherrecords.ca.

Barney was at Tractorgrease Studio in Chilliwack last week, recording some live video. The show was broadcast live on local radio station, 89.5 CHWK The Hawk. See some pictures from the event here!

Barney Bentall will be performing a series of house concerts in Alberta and Saskatchewan from February 13-26, as part of the Home Routes concert series. Learn more about Home Routes at their website.

The annual Grand Cariboo Opry is taking place again this November 8, 15, 21 and 22, with performances in Kelowna, Saanichton and Vancouver, BC. The Opry is a highly entertaining classic variety show experience hosted by Barney Bentall, who works through humourous monologues (think Prairie Home Companion) and fronts a big band consisting of the Legendary Hearts and many other talented musicians, augmented with lap steel, fiddle and piano. Everyone plays and everyone sings.... sometimes all at once! The show is chock full of music, humour, and warm wit reminiscent of another era. Proceeds from the Opry support local charities. Saturday, November 8th, 2008 The Grand Cariboo Opry - Mission Hall, Kelowna BC Tickets on sale at The Minstrel Cafe & Bar (4638 Lakeshore Rd., Kelowna, BC). More information at http://www.skookumbarndance.org Proceeds support BUST 'N LOOSE - Kelowna's Breast Cancer Paddling Team. Saturday, November 15th, 2008 The Grand Cariboo Opry - Friendship Baptist Church Saanichton BC Proceeds to The Mustard Seed Food Bank & the Sidney Lions Food Banks. Tickets available at Lyle's Place, 770 Yates St., Victoria or The Dollar Den, Trafalgar Sq., Brentwood Bay. Friday, November 21st, 2008 The Grand Cariboo Opry - St. James Community Square Vancouver BC Proceeds to the Potluck Cafe Society. Tickets available at http://www.ticketweb.ca/t3/sale/SaleEventDetail?dispatch=loadSelectionData&eventId=299636 or by calling 1-888-222-6608 ($1 fee applies). Saturday, November 22nd, 2008 The Grand Cariboo Opry - St. James Community Square Vancouver BC Proceeds to the Potluck Cafe Society. Tickets available at http://www.ticketweb.ca/t3/sale/SaleEventDetail?dispatch=loadSelectionData&eventId=299637 or by calling 1-888-222-6608 ($1 fee applies).

Barney's The Grand Cariboo Opry DVD is now available for sale at Maple Music, and includes a bonus 12-song audio CD. The Grand Cariboo Opry is hosted by Barney as he works through his very humorous and highly entertaining monologues (think Prairie Home Companion) and fronts a big band consisting of the Legendary Hearts augmented with lap steel, piano (John Ellis) and fiddle (Kendel Carson). It is a dynamic evening that includes regular guests such as Ridley Bent, Leeroy Stagger, Dustin Bentall, Leslie Alexander, Wendy Bird, Romi Mayes and Cameron Latimer. Everyone plays and everyone sings... sometimes all at once. The theme is western/country/roots including the artist's own original songs as well as some classics reinterpreted for the GCO stage. Buy it now!

We've redesigned and relaunched the site with a clean new look. Browse around and make yourself at home! Be sure to sign up to our email list if you're not already a member.

At 3am on Friday, February 15, 2008, music producer Scott Harding was the victim of a car crash, returning home from a late night mixing session. The cab he was riding in was broadsided by a stolen car; the impact crushed Harding’s T5 vertebrae, leaving him partially paralyzed. Scott's condition is serious and like many dedicated musicians he is without health insurance and is facing very large medical and legal fees. The short term need to raise cash in order to handle Scott’s affairs is very real. His friends and the dedicated musical community that Scott has long been a part of quickly united, forming The Scotty Hard Trust, a special account which will help to handle Scott’s financial needs through private monetary donations. Click here now to make your donation!!

Here is a link to a video of Barney with the Grand Cariboo Opry and Tom Wilson.

Grand Cariboo Opry A Great Success 17 January 2008 The Potluck Cafe society will be able to provide 7500 meals to people in the downtown eastside community as a result of the shows. We were also able to contribute $3,150 to the Victoria and Sydney food banks as well. Again, thank you all for your support and have a Happy New Year!