Tim Hicks

I had the chance to catch up with Canadian country music star Tim Hicks before he got on stage at this year’s Boots and Hearts Festival, and though we chatted for some time – here are a few of the highlights

Q: Who Inspires you? Musically, or otherwise?

I’ve had a lot of people who have supported me and believed in me on the way. I would say especially my wife, who at my lowest point you know, before any of this happened, I remember it like it was yesterday – her coming home from work and I was so sick of playing bars and dealing with bars owners who were nickel and diming; and I asked her if she could get me an interview with the region (She’s a public health nurse) and she said If you don’t mind me asking why? And I said, I’m sick of working nights and dealing with drunk people, and she said ‘oh boo-hoo you get to go out every night and do what you love to do, how many people can say that? I think you need to find value in that. I don’t care what you do as long as you’re holding up your end of the bargain’, that sort of energised me at a time when I was thinking about hanging it up. It sorta just gave me the push to keep going, and it wasn’t too long after that that I got the call that we were headed to Nashville. So, I would say that she is my biggest cheerleader and a huge inspiration for me and obviously a muse for my creativity – especially those love songs.

Musically I listen to all kinds of stuff, I love Canadian stuff – uniquely Canadian stuff like the Hip and Blue Rodeo, those guys they’re part of the reason I only every dreamed about being a star – for lack of better terms – in Canada you know, that’s why I haven’t gone after the thing in the States – its enough for me to be able to tour and keep the lights on doing that. I see people in the produce section at Zehrs and they’re like ‘hey great record!’ and that’s enough for me.

Q: You are from the Niagara region is that still home base?

Yes, I was born and raised in Niagara Falls and live in St Catherines now, and have for a long time. We’re in the same house we were before I got a record deal with the same Neighbours who are very protective of us. We love it, we have a great school very close by that my kids go to with great teachers. We tried Nashville, we moved there for 6 months when I was working on the 3rd record and there’s lots about Nashville that I love – but at the end of that we looked at each other and said ‘time to go home’.

Q: What has been your most memorable show to date?

That’s a good question because its like a blur now, but there is one and I’ve been talking about this a lot today and I think that’s why it comes to mind. 10 years ago today it was the first time ever that I was introduced as a recording artist, which sounds inconsequential but in the moment it was emotional. For working all those years and not seeing any success, and then all of a sudden standing backstage at Boots and Hearts at the kickoff party and listening to 15,000 people chant your name, and then they said ‘ladies and gentleman, Open Road recording artist Tim Hicks!’ I couldn’t help but well up it was emotional, and I still think about that show to this day – and I’m still playing with the same guys I am about to headline it with which makes it extra special – I still play in the band that we played the bar scene with 15 years ago, it’s special to get to that with those guys.

Photo Credit: Lee Zavitz    www.timhicksmusic.com