The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

30 - The Oakville Beaver, Friday November 9, 2007 www.oakvillebeaver.com Artscene Oakville Beaver · FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2007 Country jam goes down well for Redman Live By Helen Gray SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER C ountry music has always been a passion for Hank Redman and his wife, Julie Cutler. The duo is busy preparing for the upcoming release of Here In The Country, the couple's debut CD. "It's kind of like a life-long project," Cutler said. "It's been such a long time coming, we wanted to make it something special." The pursuit of solo careers for Redman and Cutler eventually led to them writing and performing as a duo. The songs on the new CD are all originals. "They were very personal, they mean so much to me," Cutler said. "I have a song about my dad on the CD and a love story about Hank that I wrote for our 10th anniversary." Redman Live has released other projects during the past couple of years which include A Redman Live Christmas, I'm Just Me (Cutler solo), and Pretty As I Want To Be (Cutler solo). All songs are written and recorded inside the Redmans' home studio, which is also available to the public for a small fee. Their Christmas mini-disc two years ago ultimately led to the formation of Redman Live. Here In The Country is set for release on Nov. 16, with a CD release party at the Moonshine Café. Redman had a gift for music at a young age, but only during his final year of college did the passion of country appeal to him. "I originally started as an instrumentalist, then was involved in choir and a Christian rock band, then country," says Redman. The couple met at Sheridan College where they were both DEREK WOOLLAM / SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER RIGHT AT HOME: Redman Live, a local country duo photographed in their home studio, is releasing their debut CD Nov. 16 at The Moonshine Café. enrolled in musical theatre programs. After graduation, Redman continued his songwriting and performing. Cutler has been performing as long as she can remember. She took piano lessons for many years and studied voice throughout high school. While attending Sheridan, Cutler participated in many local theatre groups and graduated from the music and theatre program. Cutler has performed for many years and is happy to have created an album along with her husband. "I think the singing is a nice thing we share," she said. "It was quite a bond for us. I never started writing songs until I met Hank. "Every song had an initial inspiration. I like to look for inspiration then I'll write for three days," Cutler says. "Some songs are from 10 years ago." She and Redman gain inspiration from many famous musicians as well as from family and personal experiences. "For me, it's the Dixie Chicks," says Cutler. "They modernized country music. We strive to do that." The widely popular Big and Rich, renowned for their tune Save a Horse Ride a Cowboy, is what inspires Redman. "They write songs for other artists to help them out, not just themselves," he said. Despite the overwhelming change in style of country music over the past couple of years, Redman Live sticks to its original roots. "It's not so much country has changed, it's how pop has embraced country," says Redman, noting Shania Twain helped that movement along. "We were fortunate when we began in the late '80s that country was getting interrupted with rock and pop." Added Cutler, "I love both ends of country ­ you do have the really funny bar stories, and in the same CD you can have those beautiful, heart-breaking songs that bring a tear to your eye." Famous For Awhile is Redman's favourite track on Redman Live's upcoming album. "The basic idea for the song is that I'm not this famous Brad Pitt, I'm a normal person, but when I get on stage, I'm a famous person." But Redman Live is always happy to share the local spotlight with other musicians. "A rising tide helps all," says Cutler. "It's our belief." Redman Live has performed at local venues in the past including The Moonshine Café, The Pic-ADeli and CJ's Café, and at local events such as RBC Royal Gala and Ribfest at Spencer Smith Park. Redman Live will be attending the Kerr Street Tree Lighting Ceremony at Heritage Park on Nov. 16, then moving to the Moonshine Café at 137 Kerr St. for the CD release party with a performance of the entire album. The celebration begins at 9 p.m., with special guests Tami J. Wilde, Bert Bertram and Road Kill Bill. "It'll be, I'm sure, a big country jam for the rest of the night," says Cutler.