PART OF THE 2025-26 CENTRE STAGE SERIES
Singer-songwriter pianist Jeffery Straker serves up a rootsy-storytelling brand of song that has been said to transport listeners - out onto a northern Canadian Lake or to the main street of a prairie town. With critical comparisons to the likes of Kris Kristofferson, Jackson Browne and Murray McLauchlan he was awarded the 2025 Canadian Folk Music Award for ‘Contemporary Canadian Folk Singer of the Year’. Back at home in Saskatchewan he’s twice been named 'Roots-Folk Artist of the Year'. Straker released his ninth recording “Great Big Sky” in 2024 – steeped with themes of the Canadian prairies. AmericanaUK praised it saying “With emotional and sonic depth, this is an album we’d thoroughly recommend”. Some additional unexpected praise came in the form of royal recognition from His Majesty King Charles III who was moved by a song on the album after it made its way into Buckingham Palace. The King’s message to Straker made the national news.
Performances of his new album have taken Jeffery to listeners across Canada and he’s also been chosen to represent the nation in a week-long residency performing in Osaka Japan at Expo 2025. Wherever he performs his audience connections are stand-out and CBC Radio has said: “He has a way of drawing us into his world and making us feel like we’re an old friend he’s ready to catch up with”.
