We had to sneak one more fall show in—and it’s a doozy. Colin James is not only a Canadian blues legend, he’s a heck of a storyteller. Join James, in an intimate conversation with Calgary Herald art writer Eric Volmers, to celebrate the launch of his long-awaited memoir, Playing The Changes: A Musician’s Memoir. Tickets to this show will go fast (almost as lightning quick as James’ playing), so please act fast. The book comes out just days before the show, but you can pre-order your copy here from Owl’s Nest Books to pick up a the show and be first in the signing line.
Eric Volmers
Lively Conversation
Libations Bar, with non-alcoholic options
Book Signing
75 minutes. No intermission
Colin James OBC is one of Canada’s most beloved musicians. With twenty-one studio albums, eight Juno Awards, thirty-one Maple Blues Awards and multi-platinum sales, he continues to gain legions of fans around the world with each new record release and his sold-out tours. He’s attained seven gold-certified albums during his career, including four platinum albums and two double platinum albums.
Over the years Colin has worked with some of music’s most revered artists, including Bonnie Raitt, Albert Collins, Pops Staples, Robert Cray, Albert King, Keith Richards and Buddy Guy, to name but a few.
In 2013, he was inducted into the Canadian Music Industry Hall of Fame and in 2024 was appointed to the Order of British Columbia for his contribution to shaping Canadian music. Colin James lives in Vancouver, BC.
A poignant, humourous and heartfelt coming-of-age memoir from one of Canada’s most beloved musicians.
From the prairies of Saskatchewan to sharing the stage with arguably the most influential guitarists of all time, Colin James is one of Canada’s greatest musical talents. His career spans over 30 years, with a track record that includes 20 studio albums, eight Juno Awards, 30 Maple Blues Awards, and multi-platinum record sales.
In Playing the Changes, Colin James invites readers to look back at the formative years that would see him emerge as a full-formed musical talent at such a young age. We see the young Colin James Munn growing up in Saskatchewan, the son of social worker parents, always surrounded by music—from the records played at home, to the folk clubs in Regina and the Quaker gatherings his family attends throughout the province. At a very young age, he picks up his older brother’s guitar and teaches himself to play along to some of the vintage blues records he adores so much. He ultimately masters the mandolin and penny whistle as well; before long he’s sitting in with folk bands before he’s even a teenager.
Next, readers are introduced to young adult Colin, an endearing young man who is trying to navigate and understand the world around him. There is Colin the hypochondriac, who is convinced that any malady he has may be fatal; Colin the romantic; Colin the compulsive cleaner, whose efforts to keep a tidy house by vaccuming floors and polishing furniture is an attempt to prevent the impending separation and divorce of his parents.
Readers go on the road with teenage Colin as he plays with veteran musicians much older than him, in venues throughout Saskatchewan and Winnipeg where he’s under the legal age to enter, let alone perform. The years of road work lead to the pivotal moment of Colin’s life: at the age of 18, with a day’s notice, he’s asked to put together a band and open for legendary guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan in Saskatoon. That performance leads to a remarkable friendship between Colin and Vaughan, who goes on to become an incredible mentor and momentously christens Colin James (it sounds more rock’n’roll than Colin Munn). Finally, Colin brings the reader to 1988, just before the release of his debut album, Colin James….
By turns entertaining and open-hearted, Playing the Changes is a celebration of music and the joy of playing it, and of one of the most remarkable childhoods in Canadian music history.
Eric Volmers
Lively Conversation
Libations Bar, with non-alcoholic options
Book Signing
75 minutes. No intermission
Eric Volmers was born in Cambridge, Ontario, and is an entertainment writer for Postmedia. He has covered books, music, visual art, film, and television in Calgary for the past 15 years.
In the spirit of reconciliation, we acknowledge that we live, work and play on the traditional territories of the Blackfoot Confederacy (Siksika, Kainai, Piikani), the Tsuut’ina, the Iyarhe Nakoda Nations, the Otipemisiwak Métis Government of the Métis Nation within Alberta District 6, and all people who make their homes in the Treaty 7 region of Southern Alberta.
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