The Highs And Lows no to the obvious question. no, kathleen edwards has not been working on building up her tolerance before heading out as the opening act on the willie nelson tour, which brings them to the 'dome july 18. and, no, it's not because she's puritanical and doesn't partake - she is a musician after all - it's more because as a thoughtful singer-songwriter she likes to have all or most of her faculties when she's performing. "i honestly don't know how people survive... especially getting onstage after being high," edwards says laughing. "i would have a really hard time with that." and with the stuff nelson has access to? forget about it. especially considering this high-profile (no pun intended) tour is an important one for edwards - for personal, not professional reasons. "as much as it's great to open for willie i think i'm actually more excited about just being in canada," she says. "we just haven't really been in canada at all to tour other than one show here one show there." southern exposure since the release of her sophomore cd back to me, the 26-year-old ottawa native has been spending a great deal of her time in the u.s. focusing on that all-important market. in doing so, she's also been building up her already impressive resume with performances anyone would kill to have. the most recent being an appearance on the tonight show which was quickly followed by another for austin city limits, which will air in the fall, and, most remarkably for a canadian girl who's only a little bit country, a show at the grand ole opry. "it was a pretty weird experience," she admits. "it was amazing, but unlike anything we've ever done - i mean we've done david letterman and (jay) leno and stuff like that, but this was just different. it was kind of like - in no critical way - it's cultish almost... "but we went up onstage and we weren't entirely sure of how it was going to be received but we were received really well. "which was kind of a surprise, actually." it probably shouldn't be much of a surprise. since her acclaimed 2002 debut failer, edwards has earned the reputation as one of this country's - and north america's - premiere americana talents, drawing praise from the new york times and rolling stone. back to me only furthered that reputation, delivering the same style of honest, heart-wrenching rustic pop as its predecessor, and, once more, defying classification. that has virtually assured radio, especially in this country, will have a difficult time knowing what to do with her - country can't play her and rock certainly won't touch her. but, pointing to the opry as well as the willie tour and an upcoming slot opening for john prine - she's also opened for the stones, ac/dc and bob dylan in the past - edwards says for however many times it's been a curse, there have been that many more when it's been a blessing. "it's so cool to know that you straddle a genre or three and it allows you to try all of these other things," she says. "i don't think sam roberts will ever get to play the grand ole opry unless he starts singing country music, so it's one of those things i have access to just because i'm sort of crossing a few other lines. which some time it can be to your detriment, but it can also be a really positive thing - people don't know what kind of music you play but at the same time you get in with these other worlds." mike bell calgarysun.com				Album reviews Feature articles Interviews Show reviews