MUSIC

Bella White

Continued from page 23 very intimidating but they just do a really great job or making you feel really welcomed.”

Some people have already started calling White the next queen of country, an accolade that can create pressure. But she takes it in stride. “I kind of chuckle. I mean I appreciate that so much because that’s a label that I don’t take lightly. I think so many of my biggest musical heroes at times have been referred to as the queens of country music like Dolly Parton and Emmylou Harris and Loretta Lynn — you know, all these badass ladies.

“And I also know some of the badass ladies that are making amazing music in country music right now that are, you know, people that I really admire and who I’m really lucky to know.”

Her own list of the next queens of country include Sierra Ferrell, whom she toured with, Erin Rae, Melissa Carper and Mariel Buckley. “I’m happy to be in the mix. And I think it’s one of those things where I’m like, OK, I’ll take it, I can’t turn that down, but I don’t know if I necessarily feel like I am that.” em. It was white washed,” says McLeod.

With White’s penchant for capturing a candid moment and emotion in a single lyric line, she might, indeed, be headed up Queen of Country Road.

To that end, the forever-amazing guitarist and singer Rita Chiarelli plays Sunday, as does Texas-born Diunna Greenleaf, who has created her own version of the blues, and Canadian Angelique Francis. And that’s just a start. Look into the schedule for more knock-yoursocks-intonext-Tuesday ladies.

5.

THROUGHOUT THE WEEK, IT’S ALL ABOUT MUSIC AND MUSICIANS.

“It’s meaningful work for musicians, exactly what I’m talking about, creating a legacy. It’s teaching musicians that they are worthy of dignity and respect. These are struggles I guess after a fashion, but more, it’s been of great reward. The blues has always had a loyal fan base in Calgary, but there was never any organization underneath it. That’s part of it, to create something that lives and breathes for the blues in Calgary.”

6.AS AN ORGANIZER, IT’S HARD TO PICK JUST A FEW, BUT …

“I have a thing on the Sunday night that’s kind of groovy and it’s a Part Two where I have pulled harmonica players from across Canada together and put them one setting with a backing band,” says McLeod. “They’re all world-class players and they all have surprising different styles, and people have never seen this before, it’s never happened in Canada before. So, I did that the first time last year and I’m doing it again this year. I have Shawn Hall from Harpoonist and the Axe Murderer, Big Dave McLean, Steve Mariner who is with Colin James and Harry Manx.”

Calgary International Blues Fest runs July 31 to August 6 at various venues around town. For tickets and the full schedule please go to calgarybluesfest.com.

Although she’s still young (she’ll have just turned 23 when she plays a hometown show at Dickens this month), the heartache in her songs feels ancient, perhaps from channeling that Grade 4 unreturned love and having added a few breakups along the way.

“I feel like I can tap into those feelings pretty quickly. I’m a very positive, happygo-lucky person I would say, but you know, there is a side or an underbelly that’s raw and emotional and it’s very sensitive and feels things very big.

“I would love to be able to write or practice writing with a more positive outlook because I think that is a gift and I love to hear music like that.

“But I wouldn’t say that I’m necessarily wallowing in it and I’m not always writing the songs, I’m not always in tears or, like, upset in the moment but I think I can go back and a lot of the times really look at the feelings I was experiencing or if (the songs) are written present tense they’re about past experiences that maybe happened a long time ago.”

Bella White plays Dickens Aug. 9. and the Edmonton Folk Music Festival Aug. 11. Learn more and listen at bellawhitemusic.com