Lethbridge country star Trevor Panczak hopes to make his mark in the “Wild.”
He is a Top 12 finalist for this year’s P
roject Wild — a country artist development program through the Wild 93 radio station and the CRTC. It is the spiritual successor to the Peak Program which Leeroy Stagger won last year.
So in addition to his usual busy summer schedule, Panczak is participating in a variety of Wild activities like attending a boot camp in Princeton, B.C. co-writing sessions, creating a introductory video and putting on a show for charity.
“That’s right up my alley, right,” rumbled Panczak from the road, en route to a co-writing session in Calgary with musician Sykamore.
He has released several videos including one for his latest singles “ For A Girl” and “ I Can Be The Lover.” He is always up for playing shows for charitable causes. He played a successful fundraiser for Fort mcMurray fire victims in May and plays a fundraiser / silent auction/ dinner for the Interfaith Food Bank on Sept. 23 at the Italian Canadian Club. Tickets for that one are $65 or $650 for a table of 10.
“It’s going really well. I made the top 12 finals,” he said.
He is looking forward to being part of the boot camp in Princeton, Aug. 26-Sept. 2.
“It will be great to get feedback on what I’ve been doing,” he said.
“ A lot of these challenges are about making a more dedicated fan base,” he said.
“It has been pretty exciting. It’s supposed to be a learning experience,” he said.
Panczak has already had an eventful year, he returned from Nashville where he was working with producer Bob Funk on new music, returning in time to participate in the Wild.
“ It’s been really busy, with playing the Edmonton Folk Festival, several Calgary Stampede gigs, and playing opening slots with country stars like Joe Nichols, Joe Diffie and Clay Walker.
He thanks local music promoters like Jackie French and Doug Kryzanowski for getting him high profile local gigs like opening for Jason Blaine at Whoop Up Days this summer.
He has high hopes for the Wild competition, but it is just one thing on his long to do list this year
“I guess I have a one in 11 chance of winning it. But I’m just excited to have this experience,” he said.
He praised his band mates , lead guitarist Ed Johnson, steel guitarist Darren“Doc” Sillito, guitarist / vocalist Dave Milner and bassist Ray Banman. Johnnson has been playing with him for 12 years, Sillito for six, Banman for two, Milner for three and drummer Justin Ament for just six months.
“ And I’ll be adding Dustin Fynk in a supporting role,” he said.
He is enjoying with Bob Funk on the new record.
“He really cares about the sound,” he said.
Panczak plays a showcase at the Knoxville Tavern, Oct. 27 with Midnight Lights and Sykamore.
The other showcases are Sept. 29 with Amy Metcalfe, Domino, and the Dungarees, Oct. 6 with Dani-Lynn, Ken Stead and Cole Bradley, Oct. 20 with Jamie Woodfin, Shantelle Davidson and Brad Saunders.The proceeds from the $9.53 tickets for the showcases will be donated to the Unison Benevolent Fund, a non profit charity with provides counselling and emergency relief for members of the Canadian music community. Tickets are on sale Sept. 15.
They will all be competing for a $100, 953 first prize, $75,000 second prize and $50,000 which will be awarded at the final showcase on Nov. 26 with a final showcase for the performers at Flames Central in Calgary,where the Top 3 performers will be performing. The top 3 will be announced, Nov. 8.
A version of this story appears in the Sept. 14, 2016 edition of the Lethbridge Sun Times.
— By Richard Amery, L.A. Beat Editor
