It has been a while since country star Aaron Pritchett had a hit, until this year, when he scored three off his latest CD “The Score.” The singles, “Out of the Blue,” “Dirt Road In Em,” “Out of the Blue” and the latest single “Mama’s Boy Meets a Daddy’s Girl” have done well.
Pritchett returns to Average Joes, Thursday, Nov. 17. with Julian Austin. Tickets cost $25 in advance $30 on the day of the show.
“This has been the best year I’ve had in years,” said Pritchett from his home on Gabriola Island, where he recently opened up the Sillva Bay Restaurant and Pub.
“There’s a lot to learn running a pub, but it’s been a lot of fun,” he said.
He has lived on Gabriola island for the past five years, so the new music has an island feel to it.
“ I love living on Gabriola Island. It makes touring a challenge, but there are a lot of ways to get off the island. Now, a float plane flies directly to Vancouver airport in about 15 minutes from this pub’s dock so I can fly anywhere. So it’s not too bad,” he said.
In addition to the three top 10 hits, he also opened for Garth Brooks for two Saskatchewan shows.
“I couldn’t believe it. He was very cool. He’s been an idol since I first started,” Pritchett enthused.
He got to meet Brooks several times.
“ He stopped by my dressing room five times to ask how things were going and to tell me the catering was ready. I’ve opened for a lot of headliners and they aren’t usually like that. So I can cross that off my bucket list,” said Pritchett, who has numerous hits including “ Hold My Beer While I Kiss Your Girlfriend,” “Big Wheel,” “Lucky for Me,” and “My Way,” to name just a few. But it has been a while since he was in the top 10.
“My record company doesn’t consider placing 14 or 15 on the charts to be a hit and neither do I,” he said.
He is pleased with the New CD, “the Score.”
“It’s something I’m very proud of. It‘s a fun, upbeat album and it has an island feel to it, probably because I’ve been living on an island. And I recorded it with Scott Cooke, who has worked with Florida Georgia Line and plays in Dallas Smith’s band. It’s got a great start,” he said, adding he hopes “VW Bus” will be the next single.
He is glad to finally crack to top of the charts again.
“I just keep plugging away. It’s nice to be still relevant especially as I’m getting older,” he said.
“It’s nice to have that success.”
He was last in Lethbridge in 2015 as part of the Outlaws and Outsider’s Tour with his son and King and Cash and Cory Marquardt.
“ This time it’s my own show so it will be a 90 minute show at least,” he said.
“I’ll be playing all the hits and many more,” he said.
His son Jordan will be playing guitar in Pritchett’s band for the show.
“It’s nice to have him in the band. He’s busy with his career, but he’s doing the Lethbridge, Calgary and Edmonton shows with me,“ he said.
“One of these days I’ll be opening for him,” he said.
He is also excited to share a stage with Julian Austin.
“I’ve done a few shows with him and we’ve become friends,” he said.
Aaron Pritchett and Julian Austin play Average Joes, Thursday, Nov. 17.
Tickets are $25 in advance, $30 on the day of the show. The show begins at 8 p.m.
