ST. JOHN'S, N.L. — Mile One Centre in St. John’s has been a hot ticket venue this year, with the return of hockey and a top-rated basketball team.
But tonight it will be all about the music as Mighty Quinton Concerts presents American country star Tanya Tucker, live in a theatre-style set up at Mile One at 8 p.m.
Tucker’s discography includes 23 Top 40 albums and 56 Top 40 singles, 10 of which reached the No. 1 spot on the Billboard charts.
She’s provided some of the biggest country music hits of each decade of her nearly 50 years in the business, including “Delta Dawn,” “Soon,” “Two Sparrows in a Hurricane,” “It’s a Little Too Late,” “Trouble” and “Texas (When I Die).”
She caused a stir in Newfoundland and Labrador in the late 1970s when she took a stance on the seal hunt by recording the single “Save Me” and shooting a video featuring a pair of seals, one a white-coat harp. Newfoundlanders and Labradorians felt her stand unfairly targeted the regulated sealing industry and ignored animal hunts, culls, industries and issues in her own country and other parts of the world.
Tucker has also been honoured for her work.
Tickets are on sale for the 2,800-seat set up, ranging in price from $49.50 to $59.50 (plus tax and applicable surcharge). They are available at the Mile One Centre box office.
The Telegram conducted a question-and-answer interview with Tucker late last week. One of the questions she left blank was whether her stance on the seal hunt was the same or if she has had a change of heart.
Q: Is this the first stop on your tour?
A: “We kicked off this Canadian run on May 9 in New Brunswick. We’re up here for the next week and we’re lovin’ every minute of it!”
Q: When was the last time you played St. John’s?
A: “Oh boy! It doesn’t seem to be too long ago. We try to get up this way every year or so.”
Q: What are your expectations for the crowd this time around?
A: “As long as the fans leave their worries at the door and are ready to have a good time, sit back relax and are ready to be entertained, that’s all that matters!”
Q: What is your favourite song to play in concert?
A: “Delta Dawn.” Hands down. That song changed my life and I wouldn’t be here today if it weren’t for “Delta Dawn.”
Q: What is your favourite song … period?
A: “Any song sung by my heroes. I love Willie (Nelson), Waylon (Jennings), Merle (Haggard), Loretta (Lynn) and all those trailblazers that came before me.”
Q: What is the biggest surprise of your career to date?
A: “I’m still surprised every day by the love and respect the fans show me. I wouldn’t be here today if it weren’t for them and I thank God every day that they’ve supported me.”
Q: Are you flying solo or do you have an opening act?
A: “Well, we got Reverie Lane on tour with us. I’m proud to say that my daughter Presley and her best friend Spencer are finding their own career path in this business. Reverie Lane will be performing with me during the show and I just know y’all are going to love them! They’re not necessarily our opening act, but they will be with us. The promoters on tour sometimes put local talent as the opening act, so it is always great to hear some of the locals take the stage, too.”
Q: It has been 45 years since the Rolling Stone cover that said, “You’re Gonna Hear From Me.” Apparently we have. How does that make you feel? Where do you see yourself next year, 10 years down the road?
A: “I feel like I’m going to break a record getting a new record out there! It’s been 17 years since we released a new album of all new music. Brandi Carlile and Shooter Jennings came to me with some really great songs, so we went into the studio and put a really great album together. Brandi and I wrote one I’m really proud of called “While I’m Livin’,” so we decided to name the album that title and it will be out later this summer. Rolling Stone got it right — you’re gonna hear from me until the day I die, and many years after that!”