Cole Patton brings country roots to Kindersley stage

By Joan Janzen

Cole Patton is a musician who wears many hats. "I perform on a pretty consistent basis with multiple shows every month," he explained. He performs on his own, as well as with his band The Blackjacks, with band members Ava Watchel, Preston Carter and Kyle San Andres.

This fall he will be going into his fourth and final year of schooling at the U of S in Saskatoon for a degree in Agribusiness. "At the same time, I am constantly songwriting and singing around Saskatoon as well as back home," he said. "For the summer I am working at home on my father's farm located about 10 miles south of Major."

Cole Patton says he would love to perform every single day, but completing a university degree and working on the family farm make it difficult to find the time. Cole and his band The Blackjacks are taking the time to perform at the Kindersley District Arts Council concert on May 23. PHOTO SUBMITTED

Cole grew up on the family farm where all of his siblings played an instrument. "When I was 13, I was shown the basics of how to play the drums by my sister Jaclyn, and then started teaching myself the rest," he said. That was his first instrument, and before long he was playing in the Luseland School Jam Club. "It was a great way to start off getting experience with other musicians," he said.

Cole always loved singing, a passion which was passed on to him by his mother. "My mother was a fantastic singer and would sing in things like the church choir. I've been singing almost my entire life, but I never really started focusing on it and performing professionally as a singer until just a few years ago," he said.

After mastering the drums, Cole began teaching himself how to play the piano and guitar, which is now his primary instrument. "I would often go to my grandma and grandpa's house to sing for them. I still play for them, as I love seeing the joy on their faces when I sing a classic country song they recognize from when they heard it on the radio."

Those visits inspired his open mic nights in Saskatoon, and his visits to retirement homes in the area. "I love performing at these places, as everybody always enjoys every song I sing, and I get to tell stories behind every one," he said. Cole is continually striving to reach a wider audience.

He grew up listening to country classics like George Strait, Waylon Jennings and Johnny Cash. "I remember a Johnny Cash Giant Hits CD that was stuck in the old farm work truck's CD player that would play over and over again. All of the songs were almost always stuck playing through my head," he recalled. "That would probably be why Johnny Cash is my favourite country artist." Cole's love for country music just keeps on growing.

Not only does Cole sing, but he also began writing lyrics in high school, inspired by the sentimentality of many country and folk songs. "I also take a lot of inspiration from my own personal experiences growing up on the prairies," he said.

His band The Blackjacks performs classic country and rock, as well as a few of Cole's originals. "Years before we started performing together professionally, we were all friends and would often jam together in Kindersley," he explained.

"As I continue to write songs, I hope to invoke heartfelt meaning, humour and storytelling that resonates, especially with older generations. My hope is to bring people joy through music that they find relatable and meaningful," he concluded. "I would love to perform just about every single day, but with school and the farm it can be difficult to find the time."

Cole and his band will be bringing their music and storytelling to Kindersley for the Kindersley District Arts Council concert on May 23. You won't want to miss it!