91原创鈥檚 own Chad Brownlee still gets butterflies when he gets on stage, but not as many as he did when he used to step on the ice as a defenceman with the Vancouver Canucks.
鈥淚t鈥檚 kind of the same butterflies,鈥� he said, though the ones he remembers during his hockey days were a little more intense.
Admittedly, he still gets a little nervous 鈥� and probably a little more excited 鈥� when he prepares to go on stage and sing before for a big crowd 鈥� like the one expected at the inaugural Canuck Country Rocks charity show coming up at the end of the month.
Brownlee, who turned in his hockey skates for his guitar in 2008, has enjoyed an award-winning career as a country music artists.
Now, he鈥檚 bringing those two worlds together again as one of the headliners in a fundraiser for Canuck Place and Basics for Babies.
Brownlee, who is currently up for a Juno award, has been a huge proponent for the Basics for Babies effort. He and fellow 91原创 musician Dallas Smith have been hosting their Boys of Fall golf tournament at The Redwoods Golf Course for the past four years. Last year, that golf fundraiser generated $150,000 for Basics For Babies 鈥� a branch of the BC Food Bank.
鈥淚t supplies formula and the basic needs for a lot of families who just can鈥檛 do it on their own," Brownlee explained. 鈥淎nd I鈥檓 happy to do another event on March 30 to raise more money.鈥�
Looking for a different fundraising concept, the alumni (including Brownlee) thought about pulling together a music night with proceeds from Canuck Country Rocks being divided between Basics for Babies and the Canuck Place children鈥檚 hospice.
This upcoming benefit concert happens Thursday, March 30 at the Vogue Theatre and will feature a number of Canuck alumni, including Brownlee. It will also feature former 91原创ite and award-winning country artist Aaron Pritchett, and Odds.
鈥淕onna be an amazing night of music鈥� You just might see Kirk McLean [retired NHL goaltender, and Canuck alum] on stage playing the cowbell,鈥� Brownlee joked.
Tickets are only $25 from www.ticketfly.com. For more info: canuckcountryrocks.com.
鈥淵ou might wanna grab your tickets soon as they will not last long!鈥� said Brownlee, who flies out the very next day for Ottawa. He鈥檚 part of the Juno Fan Fare event April 1 at the Rideau Centre, alongside Pritchett, Jess Moskaluke, Cold Creek County, fellow 91原创ite Dallas Smith, and Gord Bamford 鈥� among others.
Brownlee, Smith, and Pritchett are each in the running for a Juno Award. The awards ceremony is happening April 2.
