By Mike Renzella
The Haldimand Press
FISHERVILLE — Loretta Lynn fans take note – it’s time to shine up those cowboy boots for a night of the iconic country star’s greatest hits on Friday, May 26, 2023 at the Fisherville Lions Community Centre.
At the centre of the tribute is veteran musician Annette Haas, an artist of multiple disciplines, including piano, bass, guitar, singing, and song writing. Starting her music career at 16, Haas has performed many styles of music, including jazz, pop, and rock, but around 2016 she caught the country music bug and hasn’t looked back since.
“Country music reaches people because it’s so heartfelt and authentic, especially with Loretta,” explained Haas. “Who she is on stage is who she is off-stage.”
Haas has performed with a variety of country artists at events including the Boots and Hearts Music Festival, and has a wealth of stage experience as a solo artist and in duos, trios, and larger bands.
“Primarily in a country band I play bass and sing either back-up or lead,” said Haas.
She added that following Lynn’s passing, she delved deep into the artist’s back catalogue, finding much to love in her timeless songs: “The song writing is amazing. Just her style and delivery are so authentic, so genuine; in a song like One’s on the Way … about being pregnant again and again – she had six kids – people can relate. That’s what keeps these songs in people’s minds and hearts. People can relate to the simplicity of life and love, being cheated on, being the other woman,” said Haas. “That never dies.”
Haas praised Lynn’s distinctive vocal style, noting how it incorporated stylistic flourishes into country music that were groundbreaking for their time, including rhythm ‘n’ blues-influenced elements.
“She was such an icon and such a groundbreaker for women in country music. There was Kitty Wells, Patsy Cline, and Loretta. They were really instrumental in getting women recognized in country music.”
Haas was surprised to find there aren’t many existing tributes to Lynn: “I thought this would be the perfect time with her recently passing. The more people I talk to, the more I realize how much they just love Loretta Lynn.”
Haas is bringing some serious talent to back her up at the show, with seasoned guitar player Paul Chapman, Ken Post on drums, Matt Lima on bass, and Dale Revard on pedal steel guitar.
“I have a fantastic band. My guitar player Paul Chapman actually played with Loretta Lynn and Conway Twitty’s grandchildren when they come up to play in Canada. He’ll be playing with them just after my show,” said Haas. “He really knows the style of the music very well. He’s been nominated for Canadian Country Guitar Player of the year at the CCMAs many times.”
The show will consist of two sets, with the first focused on Lynn’s hits from the 60s.
“I’ll be wearing cowboy boots, a denim skirt, a tasselly-type of top,” said Haas, who is also working with a seamstress on a dress that evokes Lynn’s trademark style for the second half of her show focused on Lynn’s 70s output. “She loved her ballgowns.”
On how she’s approaching the classic material, “I’m striving to sound authentically Loretta without impersonating the tone of her voice, that nasal sound. I don’t want to impersonate her tone, but I do want to impersonate her style.”
She is thrilled to be able to perform on stage again in a post-pandemic world, “Standing in front of people and performing is what we live on.”
She concluded, “I hope people have a great time, sing along to songs they know, learn some songs they’ve never heard.… I hope they tap their feet and walk away saying, ‘That was fun.’”
Doors for the show open at 6:30 p.m., with Haas and her band hitting the stage at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $40 and are available by phone at 905-536-5044 or at the door.
