Singer-songwriter pianist Jeffery Straker grew up taking piano lessons in small-town Saskatchewan. He actually swears he was born under the piano on the family farm, and since those ‘grand’ beginnings he’s gone on to perform over 100 shows per year across Canada, Europe and Latin America. The storytelling nature of his roots-folk songs has the power to transport a listener – out onto a lake in Canada’s North or to the main street of a prairie town. A clever lyricist with an energetic piano style his song writing has drawn critical comparisons to the likes of Harry Chapin, Kris Kristofferson & Billy Joel and the Chicago Free Press has written:
“Rufus Wainwright, as well as k.d. lang are among the Canadians making essential and beautiful music. Add the name Jeffery Straker to that list.”
Straker’s 2017 album “Dirt Road Confessional” reached #5 on the iTunes Canada singer-songwriter charts. It saw him debut at Canada’s National Arts Centre and perform live on BBC Radio in the UK. His songs have been licensed for film, TV and theatrical productions and he’s performed his music in sold-out shows with symphony orchestras. The recipient of a Western Canadian Music Award in 2019, he also received the Saskatchewan Music Award for Roots/Folk Artist of the Year in 2020 and the Saskatchewan Country Music Award for Keyboard Player of the Year in 2021. Jeffery has just released his brand new ten-song recording “Just Before Sunrise” and his ‘Pandemic Piano’ tour will see him make 50 stops this summer performing his new music. Jeffery was a Skylight Festival Contributor in 2016 and says he’s “Delighted to be back at Skylight” www.jeffstraker.com