Calgary based country/ roots musician Carter Felker returned to the Owl Acoustic Lounge to play for a good sized crowd on a chilly night, Jan. 8.

I caught the end of Victoria  singer/ songwriter Peter Gardner’s set. He had a strong Jason Isbell styled tenor voice as he played sole songs, some of his band Hawk and Steel songs and a couple of brand new songs. He ended his set with “ Oh Caroline.”

Calgary’s Carter Felker, accompanied by Danny  “ Skinny” Dyck ” on pedal steel guitar was up next with a rawer sound, more along the lines of Steve Earle mixed with Leeroy Stagger and a touch of Hayes Carll.
He started off slowly, but quickly picked up the pace.

 He picked some pretty licks on acoustic guitar while singing about small town life and love. He even dedicated a song to Shaela Miller who was among  the good sized crowd added added Lethbridge into some of his lyrics.
“What you Gonna Do,” was a highlight.

“ I Wish” was another heartfelt highlight”
 He tackled darker matters like pain, poverty and addiction, drug problems  before winding up  his set with a song about the oil-patch called ‘Alberta Woes.’