Barney Bentall’s Cariboo Express tour always puts a smile on my face,even as the snow started to fall out side the Southminster United Church, Nov. 1.
 I only caught the last hour of the show, which was a fundraiser for Youth One.

 Bentall mainly took a back seat during the portion of the show I caught, taking a seat in the audience while talented tour mates like Leeroy Stagger, Ridley Bent, Kendall Carson and Bentall‘s son Dustin, took centre stage though Bentall would join them to help add harmonies and to lead the orchestra through a couple of songs from his new album.

 I arrived as Leeroy Stagger was leading the crack band through his epic  “Run Rabbit Run” from his new CD “Love Versus.”
 The always entertaining Ridley Bent  played “ Bobby and Suzanne” from his album Buckles and Boots.”

 And, as always in a show with so many great musicians, there are always pleasant surprises. Kendel Carson’s hot fiddle playing was a highlight on everybody’s songs.

Another highlight was the country stylings of Angela Harris who sang “Tears I’ve Cried.”

 Everybody returned to stage including Bentall, co-host Matt masters and to help Dustin Bentall sing his  big song “ Three Thousand Miles,” with Barney Bentall, Leeroy Stagger and Matt Masters each taking a verse and everybody singing beautiful harmonies.

Leeroy Stagger got to end the home town show kicking off the tour by singing a brand new song “ Broken Generation.”