St. Albert Gazette March 2012
Honest down home country
March 07, 2012
Darlene Olson was born to sing and the singer/songwriter is putting herself centre stage on Friday at RedNex Bar and Grill in Morinville.
Born and raised in northern Alberta in a musical family with seven kids, her roots are as country as they get. Olson was singing to family by the time she was four and now that her music is listened to in Canada and Europe, she’s broadening her scope.
The Edmonton-based singer released her debut CD in 2008. The six-track Stay Up & Fight caught the attention of local broadcasters and received a hefty dose of radio airplay in the area.
Her first major Canadian release Shooters First debuted to country radio in 2010 and charted in 89th place on Canada’s Top 100 with its anthem of courage, freedom and possibilities.
Olson’s music covers a wide range of emotions from empowerment to the feeling of rejection. And of course, what would a good country song be without tinges of unwavering love and loyalty.
Singing with warm, bold pipes, Olson is pure country with easy blues and rock inflections. And her concert wavers between soft ballads and driving rhythms.
The concert starts at 9 p.m. RedNex is located at 10413 – 100 Ave.