From artist tribute to national treasure

It’s been just over four years since Blackie and the Rodeo Kings (BARK) last played Sault Ste. Marie. At that time, Tom Wilson – one of the three talented creators of BARK – told SooToday, "There's no way we were going to go out on tour and not play Sault Ste. Marie. We love it there. Smaller pockets along the tour like the Sault and Port Dover and Swift Current are just as important to us as Vancouver and Toronto and Ottawa."

Well, it seems that Mr. Wilson wasn’t just blowing sunshine. BARK are preparing to tour once again, this time behind the band’s latest release Kings and Kings which features a slew of guest appearances, including Eric Church, Nick Lowe, City and Colour, Bruce Cockburn, Keb Mo, and many others. Following shows in Toronto and Collingwood, BARK will perform in Sault Ste. Marie at The Machine Shop on Monday, Feb. 27.

Tickets, available now, are $35 each and can be purchased online, at the Machine Shop box office, or the Community Box Office located in The Station Mall. Doors open at 7 p.m. and you must be 19 or older to attend.

Created in 1996 by Tom Wilson, Stephen Fearing and Colin Linden, BARK began as a tribute to the trio’s favourite Canadian musician and songwriter, Willie P. Bennett. After more than 20 years, eight albums, and numerous Juno nominations (including a win in 2000 for Best Roots and Traditional Album), BARK has evolved from artist tribute to national treasure.

To learn more about Blackie and the Rodeo Kings, please click here.

For more information about this and all other upcoming Machine Shop events, please click here.