Bill Usher & The Space Heaters

The Board, staff and supporters of Kicking Horse Culture are very proud to play a part presenting our long-time Executive & Artistic Director Bill Usher with his band The Space Heaters in concert for two shows at the Golden Civic Centre on January 10 and 11! After Golden, the January tour continues to the Revelstoke Performing Arts Centre, The Capitol Theatre in Nelson and the The Venables Theatre in Oliver. Get your tickets now at AGOG!

Bill Usher Good-Getting-Older Tour 24:25 Bio Info

Multiple Juno award-winner Bill Usher could be one of the most accomplished but, not-so-famous people in the world of Canadian music and arts! 

Starting in the 1970s, this self-taught drummer has played and recorded with several festival’s worth of well-known artists, from Bruce Cockburn and Ronnie Hawkins to Valdy, Willie P. Bennett and Stan Rogers.

He’s produced 60 albums, most notably the first four ground-breaking albums for Sharon, Lois & Bram, but also Stringband’s Canadian Sunset, the Nexus Percussion Ensemble, Big Bird & Oscar the Grouch and many others receiving numerous Gold and Platinum records along the way. (And yes, that was Bill who made those Five Little Monkeys jump on the bed!)

It goes without saying, the pandemic shut down was a revelatory time for artists. “As a presenter of hundreds of concerts, I spoke to so many artists during COVID who despaired — questioning themselves, their identity, and their future. That struck a major chord with me,” Usher says. “I’d been away from performing regularly for many years but that wonderful feeling that comes from delighting an audience still simmers and I asked myself, if now’s not the time to go back out on the road, then when?”

Usher has developed a rare gift of communicating ‘good-getting-older’ life experiences into lyrics that are relatable and universal. He brings an elder’s perspective that is not common in today’s indie folk/pop music by crafting lyrics that are direct in expressing matters of the heart sung upon melodies that are simply beautiful. Dugg Simpson adds, “These are the kinds of love songs that a kid can’t write…and surely shouldn’t sing. Finally somebody singing songs about life that resembles the one I’m living through these days.” 

The last word goes to Bill, “Hey don’t forget to tell folks about the groove,” Usher laughs. “I’ve been drumming for over 50 years now, so you know there’s going to be a groove!”