OTTAWA, Canada, March 10, 2016 – Canadian blues-rocker Colin James returns to the NAC’s Southam Hall on Saturday, April 2 to perform songs from his latest studio album, Hearts on Fire. The NAC Presents series, in partnership with BMO Financial Group, is delighted to welcome Colin back to the national stage after a hiatus of over four years. He will be joined by a few fellow musicians: a keyboardist, a guitarist, a bassist and a drummer.

Colin started his glorious career in 1984 when he was offered a tour with the legendary Stevie Ray Vaughan and his band The Hoodoo Men. Colin was the first artist to sign with Virgin America, and he broke a record with his 1988 self-titled debut, the fastest-selling album in Canadian history at the time. Now with 17 full-length albums, 6 Junos, 17 Maple Blues Awards, and an induction to the Canadian Music Industry Hall of Fame to his credit, Colin is a well-established singer-songwriter with a world-wide reputation.

He co-produced Hearts on Fire with the help of Colin Linden (Blackie and the Rodeo Kings) in Nashville and Vancouver. “Making this record with my good friend Colin Linden and such a fantastic veteran rhythm section was an amazing experience,” Colin recalls. “The majority of the recording was done in Nashville during a stretch of warm spring weather, so every time I hear the songs I feel like I’m right back in the South.” Tom Wilson (Blackie and the Rodeo Kings, Lee Harvey Osmond) also co-wrote with Colin on the album. The result is a warm, expressive, upfront album with lyrics touching on the themes of love, heartbreak and loss. On this record, Colin decided to cover Rihanna’s hit song “Stay” with Mikky Ekko and Justin Parker: “We just started playing it in the studio, and the track went down so well we decided to keep it.”

Watch Colin play “Stay” (Rihanna’s cover) live on the Strombo show

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Tickets to see Colin James live start at $29 and are available for purchase (the concert is 90% sold):

In person at the NAC Box Office or the Welcome Centre/Satellite Box Office;
At all Ticketmaster outlets;
By telephone from Ticketmaster, 1-888-991-2787 (ARTS); and
Online through the Ticketmaster link on the NAC’s website (http://www.nac-cna.ca).

A service charge applies on all purchases made through Ticketmaster.

Groups of 10 or more save 15% to 20% off regular ticket prices. To reserve your seats, call 613-947-7000 x634 or e-mail grp@nac-cna.ca.

This concert is presented in Association with Rubin Fogel Productions

ABOUT NAC PRESENTS

The 2015–16 season marks the fifth anniversary of the NAC’s Canadian music series, and we’re excited to bring you a line-up of shows and events that will set the tone for many more years to come. Presented in partnership with BMO Financial Group, NAC Presents celebrates the incredible diversity of our country’s musical landscape—and there truly is something for everyone!

NAC Presents thanks title partner BMO Financial Group for their long-standing leadership support of this series. NAC Presents is grateful to the Slaight Family Foundation, whose Slaight Family Fund for Emerging Artists supports performances by emerging artists featured in the NAC Presents 2015–16 season. They include Guillaume Martineau, Lindi Ortega, Kalle Mattson, JP Hoe, Safia Nolin, The Next Generation Leahy, Peter Katz, Pandaléon, Joey Robin Haché, Samito, The Weather Station, Chloé Lacasse,Tomi Swick and Philippe Brach.

NAC Presents would also like to acknowledge its official hotel partner, Hotel Indigo Ottawa, and the official car of NAC Presents, Mark Motors of Ottawa – Audi.

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INFORMATION:

Marie-Chantale Labbé-Jacques
Marketing and Communications Officer
NAC Presents
office: 613-947-7000 ext. 526
mclabbe@nac-cna.ca