Presented by the Dream Café, Peach City Sessions is a monthly songwriters showcase hosted by Dave & Kirby Barber that features a different accomplished artist each month. These concerts give the audience a chance to hear the stories behind the songs, and experience an evening of intimate acoustic music.
Hosted by seasoned industry professionals, Dave & Kirby Barber are award winning musicians who most recently moved to Penticton after living in Nashville for the past several years. They have toured around the world backing up dozens of artists from Canada and the US. They currently perform their own music as well as continue to tour with artists such as Shari Ulrich, Barney Bentall, Aaron Pritchett, Chad Brownlee, Heidi Newfield and Brittney Spencer. www.gbroots.com
Lisa Brokop
It’s not often – in fact, some might say very rare – for an artist to have an enduring musical career. In a day and age when most artists barely flicker for a moment before fading out of the spotlight, Lisa Brokop is set to celebrate 20 remarkable years of singing, songwriting and performing.
What’s the secret to her success? “I love what I do,” says Brokop. “Every note I sing, whether in the studio or from the stage, is true. It hasn’t always been an easy road. There have been many curves, bumps and detours. But really, it is the love of the music that motivates each step I take in the business. It keeps me moving forward. And I think fans feel and appreciate that love.”
Lisa’s love affair with performing began in suburban Vancouver, British Columbia. As a baby, it was clear to her parents that she was special - She was singing before she could talk! By the age of 7, she was on stage with her musical mother and brother, performing everything from polkas to Kenny Rogers' classics.
By age 12, she was sitting in with other Vancouver bands, and went professional at age 15 when she joined a touring band. A year later she began a solo career and released "Daddy Sing To Me", the first of a string of successful singles from her independent debut album My Love.
At the age of 19, Lisa landed the lead female role in the feature film Harmony Cats. The movie, in which Lisa plays a country singer who leaves home in search of a big break in Nashville, proved to be prophetic. Shortly after filming wrapped, and on the strength of her very first Nashville showcase, Lisa was signed to Capitol Records. Over the next three years, she released two critically acclaimed albums, the Canadian-certified Gold record Every Little Girls Dream and the self-titled Lisa Brokop, which garnered hits such as "Give Me a Ring Sometime," "Take That,” "Before He Kissed Me," and "She Can't Save Him.” In 1995, the prestigious Academy of Country Music recognized Lisa with an award nomination for Top New Female Vocalist.
In 1998, Lisa signed with Sony Nashville/Columbia Records and released When You Get To Be You featuring the hit singles "What's Not To Love,” "How Do I Let Go” and the top-10 smash hit "Better Off Broken."
Now comfortably established in her adopted home of Nashville, Tennessee, she took some time away from the rigors of the road and discovered a hidden wellspring of songwriting talent, which gave her renewed self-respect, strength and determination. The result was Undeniable, a Canadian independent album that saw Lisa recognized with a series of Canadian Country Music Awards, including two nods for Independent Song of the Year for the hits "Something Undeniable" and "I'd Like to See You Try," and three consecutive trophy wins for Independent Female Artist of the Year.
It was during this time that Lisa really began to get noticed for her songwriting abilities. All ten songs on Undeniable were co-written by Lisa and before long other stars were recording tracks she penned, including Reba McEntire, Terri Clark and Pam Tillis.
In 2004, Lisa signed with Curb/Asylum Records and released a breathtaking collection of songs entitled Hey, Do You Know Me. From the poignant title track to classic ballads like "Just a Girl" and "Try Me Again Around Midnight,” Lisa crafted an album that she was truly proud of - a perfect combination of compelling music and gripping lyrics.
Brokop’s seventh album, Beautiful Tragedy was released in August 2008 on the independent Ellbea Records label and featured the top-20 hit "Break It". Eleven of the album's twelve tracks were co-written by Brokop and all tracks were produced by Brokop and her husband Paul Jefferson. Lisa and Paul welcomed baby Ivy into their lives in August 2009. The couple released a duo project The Jeffersons in 2011.
In 2013, Lisa returned to commercial country radio and had success with songs "Let It Burn" and "Love Me If You Can" both of which were produced by fellow Canadian superstar Carolyn Dawn Johnson.
In 2016, Brokop put together the new musical venture, "Lisa Brokop: The Patsy Cline Project" where Lisa pays homage to one of country music's greatest ladies with some of Cline's classic hits like "Sweet Dreams" and "Walkin After Midnight" as well as some of her own material specifically written for the project.
"I've come full circle with this project", Brokop says. " When I first started singing, I would sing some of Patsy's song because I didn't have my own. They are still among some of my favorites today and I am so excited to have the opportunity to honor this amazing lady and the incredible music she gave us!"
And now hot on the heels of The Patsy Cline Project Lisa is bringing more of her favorites to the stage with 'Legendary Ladies of Country'. This show will include songs from many of the female legends that have been influencial to Lisa and her career. Songs from some of the greats like Loretta Lynn, Tammy Wynette, Emmylou Harris (and many more!) will be featured in the show along with plenty of stories to go with!
Paul Jefferson
Paul Jefferson (born August 15, 1958, in Woodside, California, United States) is an American country musicartist. Managed by Steven McClintock and McJames Music from 1993 through 1999 and then by Anastasia Pruit. Jefferson has released one studio album on Almo Sounds produced by Garth Fundis; he also charted three singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart. His highest charting single, "Check Please," co-written with singer songwriter Jon Michaels, peaked at No. 50 in 1996.
In 2004, Jefferson recorded one album with Porter Howell, then formerly of Little Texas, in the band Hilljack.[1]
As a songwriter, Jefferson has had his songs recorded by Keith Urban and Buddy Jewell, among others. He also co-wrote Aaron Tippin's Number One song "That's as Close as I'll Get to Loving You." He is married to Canadian country singer Lisa Brokop. In 2010, Brokop and Jefferson formed The Jeffersons and released their debut album on June 7, 2011, via Royalty Records. In 2017, Paul reconnected with his early manager, Steven McClintock (Tiffany, Shiny Toy Guns, Juice Newton, Robin Schulz, Pingpong fame), to produce the Brookhollow Road CD on 37 Records.
Ron Irving
From hearing the opening chords of “She Loves You” blasting out of his transistor radio, Ron Irving was hooked on the Beatles and music was the only thing that mattered.
By the time he was 14, Ron was teaching guitar and playing in the local Legions in his hometown of Powell River, BC. At 21 after playing on the road throughout Western Canada, Ron set down in Vancouver to play six nights a week with pick up bands by night and spend his days wood shedding on his Baldwin jazz guitar with the ambition to become the next Lenny Breau.
Soon Country music caught his ear and he put together his award-winning band Bootleg who went on to top the national Country charts with Ron’s hit songs leading the way. With numerous songwriting awards to his credit and his guitar under his arm Ron headed to Nashville to pitch his songs and to collaborate with some of music city’s finest tunesmiths. BMG Music Publishing took notice of Ron’s composing talents when Anne Murray, Lee Greenwood and the Statler Bros all recorded his songs. They immediately signed him as a staff writer. During one of his many trips back and forth to Nashville for writing sessions, Ron produced the first “Canadian Night at the Bluebird Café” in Nashville where he performed with fellow hit makers Randy Bachman, Marc Jordan, Shirley Eckhart and Eddie Schwartz.
Upon completion of his 3-year contract with BMG, Ron’s writing moved towards the Pop music world with cuts by Asian superstar Jackie Cheung and Korean boy-band Shinwa, Canadian icon Michael Bublé, Japanese Pop star Mink, Euro diva Jennifer Rush, South African Idol winner, Anke and many others.
Over 100 Ron Irving penned songs have been recorded worldwide in 7 languages and his songs have received national awards from both SOCAN and the Canadian Music Publishers Association. In 2003 Ron was inducted into the prestigious British Columbia Country Music Hall of Fame reflecting his status as not only a writer but as an artist, performer, and entertainer.
