It was Sunday morning at the Centre for Spiritual Living and I was expecting another uplifting, soul inspiring service with great people and wonderful music. It was mid-April 2024, and it looked like spring was finally gracing us with her presence.
Amy Bishop and Elevation were the usual musicians that would make a joyful noise each week, but this Sunday we had a guest musician; a red headed dude with a guitar and a voice that made me sit up and pay attention. His name was Martin Kerr and he had a voice that cracked through my complacent shell of “I’m alright”. He played this song, You’re Amazing, and some kind of joy stirred in my heart. We all sang together, and I started to cry. I am Amazing and so is everyone else!
He was doing a concert at the end of April at The Grande Theatre and tickets were on sale after the service. I knew I had to attend.
As I wandered over to where the tickets were, I turned the corner and almost bumped into him. His energy was huge, and I felt his amazing spiritual presence. I felt like I was meeting an old friend. He struck me as someone who treats everyone as an old friend. He asked me where I wanted to sit and I had no idea because I had never been to The Grande Theatre, so I chose a seat a few rows from the front (I didn’t want to ask for the front row because I didn’t want to appear too keen).
I tucked the ticket into my cell phone jacket and looked forward to the event with great anticipation. That was concert number one.
The night of the concert came, and I drove downtown early to find parking. I’m glad I came early because I ended up parking several blocks from the theatre. I entered the venue and found my seat. I sat beside someone that I had seen from the Centre but didn’t know well. Another opportunity to meet someone new.
The show opened with Kate Stephens and partner on bass. A lovely voice she had and I enjoyed her set.
Then Martin came out. All by himself. Martin and his guitar. He started to play his first song and I don’t know what happened to me but I started to cry. His voice again cut through to my heart. Song after song and I cried during each one. I remembered what I had forgotten. I remembered that I was not just an accountant, but I was a writer and a poet. I remembered all those essays and poetry that I wrote over 20 years ago and were just sitting there on my computer, not going anywhere. I remembered who I was. I remembered how happy I was when I was playing with words and building castles in the air with metaphors.
I bought a T-shirt. I bought a CD. I could now listen to his voice in my car.
As I walked back to the parking lot in the dark, I knew something had shifted. Some big change was coming and I was ready. That was concert number two.
Well, change didn’t waste much time.
I attended a Vision Retreat with Valda Harris at Spiritwood out near Priddis, which is southwest of Calgary. While driving there, I took a wrong turn and ended up wandering country roads, a little lost. I started to laugh to myself thinking this was rather fun, when my little voice said, “Let’s go on a road trip”!
“Not to Saskatchewan, I hope”, I whispered back.
“No, let’s go to BC. Let’s wander aimlessly and see where we end up. Let’s go to Campbell River. You always wanted to go to Campbell River.”
Sounds interesting, I thought.
I quit my job and planned to leave June 20, 2024. I planned to head north to visit my friend, Marge, in Edmonton for the first weekend. Following Martin online, I noticed that he was playing at the Beaumont Music Festival June 21. Where was Beaumont? Well what do you know! Beaumont was a little town just a few kilometers southeast of Edmonton. I contacted Marge and asked her if she wanted to go. She was enthusiastic, so I bought a ticket.
On the evening of the concert, Marge and I found a perfect spot and sat and enjoyed many of the musicians. I saw Martin starting to set up so I walked over to say hi and get a hug. He’s good about hugs. Gives them freely. So I was confident.
He may have recognized me from Calgary, I am not sure. I must have rattled on about my Vision Quest to BC and he probably thought, “That’s nice”.
He put on a great show, had a wonderful backup band and I knew most of the words of the songs he played because I had been listening to my CD! That was concert number three.
Off to BC I went. I had arranged for a place to stay and found a job at Real Canadian Superstore as a deli clerk. No end to my diverse talents!
In order to try to meet people, I attended a few sessions of yoga in the park. After class one evening, I was raving about my favourite musician, Martin Kerr. I had heard about the Filberg Music Festival and spotted Martin on the line up so of course I was attending and I was spreading the word. He was coming to Vancouver Island!
Someone laughed and said that he was also coming to Campbell River. He was playing in Eric’s backyard.
What! He is coming to Campbell River? He’s playing in someone’s backyard? Is he stalking me? I went online and bought a ticket.
The concert was cozy and intimate. There were about 30 people. The weather was warm and comfortable. I greeted Martin when he showed up, sharing my enthusiasm. He must have thought I was stalking him, but really, I was in Campbell River first. The concert was great of course, and I noted that one of the things I really like about him is his connection with people, giving hugs and selfies and his unabashed promotion of his merchandise table. He often blended his music with stories of his wife and children.
What respect I had for his wife to accept the way he made his living! I am sure they faced some challenges over the years while he was busking on the streets of Edmonton. That was concert number four.
Of course, concert number five was at the Filberg Music Festival. I sat in the front row this time, working on some crochet project. The music was great and it was interesting to hear many of the local musicians and many who were not so local.
Martin got up to play and yes, Martin, it was me who told the sound techs that the volume was too high! Great music like always and even some new songs I hadn’t heard before.
After the concert I stood in line and actually got my first selfie with Martin along with my hug. I know he knows who I am by now.
While walking a driftwood strewn beach in Campbell River, I received a notification that Martin was doing a concert in Calgary October 12. I would be home for that, so with sand between my toes, I bought another concert ticket.
While heading home late September, I experienced car trouble on the steep incline east of Hope. I had to be towed to Merritt and while sitting beside the tow truck driver, I told him all about the great music that Martin makes and he allowed me to text him my favourite songs, Curious Heart, Never Not Enough and of course You’re Amazing. Share the joy!
October 12 and I found my way to Festival Hall in Calgary. I thought the concert started at 7 pm so of course I showed up way too early. In the door walks Martin and his son. Lewis, who was going to be the guest artist that evening. I had seen the video where Martin asks Lewis if he would like to open for him on this Thanksgiving concerts in Edmonton and Calgary.
I was so grateful for a personal chat and brought him up to date about my adventures in BC.
I know most of the words to most of the songs and it was great fun to sing along. Every concert is a little bit different and I hear new stories about his career.
Lewis was amazing for one so young. He portrayed a confidence on stage well beyond his years.
I told Martin after the concert that this was concert number six for me and that I had to see him one more time in 2024 to make it the sacred seven.
A few weeks later I saw that he was playing in Edmonton at Fort Edmonton at the end of November. I called my friend Marge to see if she was interested and she said Yes on the spot and told me I was coming up.
The weather was awful that weekend and my car had been hit on a snowy morning, so driving up was not an option. So I took the bus.
While standing in a freezing, unsheltered parking lot waiting for the bus, I sent Martin a picture of my freezing self and said, “The things I do to hear you in concert.”
Had a great time that weekend. Visited the Christmas Market and spent time with my friend. I sat in the second row this time. Loved it as always do. And so it was the seventh concert. I made the sacred seven.
Thank you, Martin, for all the joy you brought into my life in 2024.