Scott Nolan feels good to be back on the stage

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This article was published 06/12/2023 (1031 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Scott Nolan will step on the stage at Lady of the Lake on Friday, a little more confident than he’s felt in recent years. The Winnipeg-based singer-songwriter and folk artist will play the Lady on Dec. 8 with friends Cory Wolchuk on piano and Brandon’s own Paul Balcain on saxophones, after a long hiatus from performing live.

Nolan is prepping to release his eighth studio album, “Before Tonight,” which comes out Dec. 16. Nolan said he is almost surprised himself, playing live shows again and writing and performing on another album. Following a period of performance-related anxiety during the pandemic, he got comfortable with another routine.

“The end of my common-law marriage really changed everything and then by the time the pandemic hit, I was really just settled into producing albums for other artists. It seemed to be pretty consistent during the pandemic that I was producing, but then (the pandemic) ended and people couldn’t afford to record albums anymore. I thought, what do I do now?” Nolan said.

Nolan had been producing music and writing for other artists for 10 years. He produced albums for fellow Canadian singer-songwriters including William Prince, Lynne Hanson, Watermelon Slim and Stephen Fearing. Nolan is perhaps best known for the song “Bad Liver and a Broken Heart,” which was a big hit for Americana/roots singer Hayes Carll.

“It was during the pandemic and Ian Mattey (who now manages Nolan) did a wellness check on me. He said he was curious why I wasn’t performing anymore. And he offered to drive me out to and help me with shows,” Nolan said, adding Mattey is retired and manages Winnipeg-based artists pro bono. “(Mattey) reignited my desire to (perform). He really has had a profound affect on me.”

He said he has had to relearn to perform again before he hit the road on a Western Canada tour earlier this year. Wolchuk, who is new to performing live, is helping Nolan view shows with new eyes.

“That’s where (Wolchuk) is, he’s learning, and this forum is very new to him. He has helped me reconnect and has really given me a fresh perspective,” Nolan said, adding one of the things he has enjoyed most about stepping back onto the stage was the people he met and stayed with during his summer tour.

“Isn’t that the irony? If I was more successful, I would have never had met these fascinating people. We didn’t stay in one hotel room. We stayed with people who are fans, and hearing what they had to say and what was going on where they were really gave me a sense of my country,” Nolan said. “It has been a challenging but good year. I feel like I am stronger now and have more clarity and peace.”

While Nolan is a folk/roots artist, he says Balcain, who is traditionally a jazz musician, adds uniqueness to his shows.

“My shows are a mix of songs and stories. Paul is really adaptable and supports the songs – it still has a roots feel,” Nolan said.

The show starts at 9 p.m. at Lady of the Lake and Nolan said you can expect some up-tempo songs as well as softer, more soulful and introspective songs.

“I found as I get older, the songs are quieter, gentler. And while the songs are gentler, I think the stories are funnier – they are definitely coming from a humorous place.” Nolan said. “I find my stories are relatable to at least a small group of people in the audience.”

Nolan will likely perform the first release of his upcoming album, “Ebb and Flow.” The album, “Before Tonight,” will not have physical copies for sale, but you can download the album or the songs on Bandcamp and other streaming services on or after Dec. 16. Bandcamp is an online record store and music community that allows fans to discover and directly support independent artists, like Nolan. Tickets to see Scott Nolan are $20, plus fees and taxes and are available by calling Lady of the Lake.

» khenderson@brandonsun.com