David James, best known for his tribute to Johnny Cash, had mostly given up playing the electric guitar. Cash was an acoustic guy, but after picking up a Telecaster, and another (and another), James wanted an excuse to play them live.

B次元官网网址淚 thought, gosh, itB次元官网网址檇 be nice to play these, and I realized Waylon Jennings played a Telecaster,B次元官网网址� said James. B次元官网网址淚 talked to the band and said, B次元官网网址渉ey guys, what do you think?B次元官网网址� Been rehearsing, and it sounds dynamite.B次元官网网址�

James and his band, Big River, will be playing the hits from both Cash and Jennings at the Mary Winspear on April 16. James said itB次元官网网址檚 been about four years since the last time theyB次元官网网址檝e played in Sidney.

James said there were many reasons why the two country legends would make a good double bill. Jennings joined Cash, Willie Nelson, was in the country super group The Highwaymen with Cash, and recorded a few albums together.

B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檙e both outlaw country guys, so it just sort of fit for a dual show.B次元官网网址�

Big River features Todd Sacerty on bass, B次元官网网址渨hoB次元官网网址檚 been with me from the get-go.B次元官网网址� Much like Marshall Grant, Johnny CashB次元官网网址檚 own bass player, James said Sacerty B次元官网网址渢akes care of everything for me, you know?B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淗e makes sure the vanB次元官网网址檚 gassed up, makes sure the insurance is paid, talks to the agent, talks to the hotels, talks to the venues, talks to the sound man. HeB次元官网网址檚 My Man Friday.B次元官网网址�

Big River also features Al Medcalf, B次元官网网址渁n amazing guitar playerB次元官网网址� who has orchestrated bands over the years and Phil Hagen (who played in a cover band with James 25 years ago) on drums and vocals.

B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檙e real good guys and solid players. Real pros,B次元官网网址� said James.

The band is from Nanaimo, and they tour quite a bit, particularly in Alberta, where they will be playing a 10-day run of shows in May and even more shows throughout the summer. The group will sometimes drive for 12 or 16 hours to do a gig.

B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 a saying, they donB次元官网网址檛 pay you for the two hours on the stage. They pay you for the other 22,B次元官网网址� said James. ItB次元官网网址檚 sometimes tiring, but James said B次元官网网址減laying music is just about the best job IB次元官网网址檝e ever had, so it donB次元官网网址檛 bother me none.B次元官网网址�

CashB次元官网网址檚 vast 1,500 song repertoire gives James a lot of variety to work with, and there are many stories to tell, so James doesnB次元官网网址檛 get bored. B次元官网网址淚 could play a different show every night for a week and use different stories every night.B次元官网网址� Of all the Cash hits, B次元官网网址淥range Blossom SpecialB次元官网网址� is JamesB次元官网网址� all-time favourite. Now that they are including Jennings in the mix, there are even more combinations.

James and his band have die-hard fans, too. James said one older couple has seen them nine times, and some have even seen the real Johnny Cash, so James said itB次元官网网址檚 a trip back in time for them.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e going to take you back in time, and youB次元官网网址檙e going to leave thinking you just saw the real McCoy.B次元官网网址�

David James and Big River play at the Mary Winspear on Monday April 16 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $47 and can be

purchased at