The summer of Kathleen Edwards kathleen edwards and her band were thinking about wearing willie nelson wigs when they open for nelson tomorrow night at rexall place - it would be "f---ing hilarious!" what, what, what? a cuss word from a singer of such obvious sensitivity, class and talent is just not something you expect. frankly, it's a bit shocking and, dare we observe, sexy. people have experienced this feeling with this particular artist before. it's a small thing, sure, but it is a telling detail, suggesting depth and lurking grit - and yes, the willingness to wear willie wigs on willie's stage. it would be effing hilarious. shaping up to be the canadian emmylou harris, edwards has made a name for herself with the sort of haunting, passionate material that flies in the face of the commercial country status quo. she's had an "awesome" year so far, hitting all the major media bases - letterman, leno, austin city limits - and playing the best gigs. opening for willie is what they call a dream come true. edwards is as "alt" as faith hill is "hot." and yet edwards runs in those same circles in the manner of an undercover spy. she recalls watching cmt in america - and "there's nothing left to the imagination." "these guys are talking about the troops, their love for their country and jesus and my wife and my children and for freedom! and then my video comes on. i think, am i really getting played on the same channel as these people? we're so different." are they, really? well, yes and no. here's this old discussion again. there appears to be room in america for both poles of the country music magnet. the differences extend far beyond music to culture, politics, religion, to wishing there could be a cage match between steve earle and toby keith. yet someone like edwards can play the grand ole opry in nashville one day and the edmonton folk music festival the next. she notes in passing, "i wasn't invited this year." as if she'd have the time. from here, she opens for john prine and then aimee mann, presumably all part of the "awesome summer" of kathleen edwards. she keeps a blog on her website, if you're interested. funny thing is, she says she hasn't even been a country music fan very long. "i never liked country music until about four or five years ago, but i always liked country songs. i think it was the arrangements of the pedal steel that's associated with the cheesy kind of country music. "then i started listening to the stuff for the songs - and i think that's where my country influences come from. i think it just comes down to the song." professing a love for willie's "outlaw" music, edwards found an audience for her songs from the start - despite titles like one more song the radio won't like - with the release of her debut, failer, in 2003. glowing reviews came from rolling stone and no depression, the official organ of the americana alt-country movement. her latest record, back to me, just cements her alt-enticity with more glowing reviews and bigger audiences all around the world. oddly, while cmt america plays her videos, the canadian counterpart will not. why? because while the music was written by someone from ottawa, the videos were filmed in the u.s. in short, she ain't cancon. she says, "they said, 'look, you're competing against toby keith and george strait and leann rimes and whatever, so we have to play the bigger stars.' " maddening, isn't it? edwards also had to cancel a show in toronto once due to poor ticket sales, yet draws healthy crowds as a headliner throughout europe. this singer seems to be one of these weird anomalies in the canadian music scene - one who may be more successful abroad than at home. well, probably not anymore. chalk it up to the awesome summer. mike ross edmontonsun.com				Album reviews Feature articles Interviews Show reviews