It’s that time of year again, when the sounds of live music can be heard throughout the downtown streets of Golden.

Summer Kicks returns on July 17, with four shows in four weeks, downtown by the fountain.

“Thanks to a grand sponsorship from Rural Golden (CSRD Area A) plus financial support from Columbia Basin Trust (CBT) and Kicking Horse Culture (KHC), we are able to bring you our 4th annual Summer Kicks series of free concerts downtown in Golden,” says Bill Usher, Executive Director of KHC.

Usher says he is very excited to get Summer Kicks off the ground again.

“I really want to thank Ron Oszust for spearheading the way to getting the funding we needed to run it this year. And of course the CBT has always been there for us.

The concerts will be held downtown by the fountain and I have been assured that he space will be ready to go for the first show on July 17. There is a tree there to provide shade and we encourage everyone to bring their festival lawn chair to enjoy the show.

Usher says the first Summer Kicks show will feature the singing/songwriting duo Stacey Earle and Mark Stuart to Golden for the first time.

“I am just so excited to have Mark and Stacey come here. I have seen their show before and I can tell you that they are just wonderful. Their style, alternative-country, is unique to both of them, but you can tell that has come from the same emotional place. They honour the roots of country with a very earthy sound and they are sure to appeal to a wide audience.”

The Star spoke with Earle and Stuart about their upcoming show.

“It is our first time. But, we have played all over BC many times,” they say, adding, “We look forward to playing all of our concerts.”

When queried about their views on small town venues, Earle and Stuart say they always feel it important to include small and mid-size towns in their tours. “Otherwise, those markets get cheated out of seeing artists. For instance, we go to several B.C. islands each year and do shows.”

Earle and Stuart met for the first time 1991 at a songwriters night in Nashville. Married a year later, they have been playing together ever since, along with a stint in brother Steve Earle’s band The Dukes. The Star asked how their music has been shaped over the years by each other and by other musicians.

“Of course, my brother, Steve Earle, is an influence (along with the others he brought into our home such as Townes Van Zhant and Guy Clark),” says Earle, adding, “I thought at a young age that you were supposed to write your own songs.”

Stuart replies that Paul McCartney is his biggest influence ever.

“But, having the chance of playing professionally in my father’s bar band in Nashville when I was a teenager was a huge help in shaping my music. I am a native Nashvillian.”

The duo lives in Ashland City TN, west of Nashville, but call home from the road most of the time. When queried as to whether they might slow down, Earle says she will slow it down next year.

“I’ll stay home and work in the garden some. Finish a book. But, I have seen some amazing places along the way.”

“I love my job,” says Stuart, adding, “I have really never done anything else, but, I would like to drive less. The hours in a vehicle kill off a lot of creativity and I sometimes resent that. We have toured 280 days a year for 12 years!”

Though they may want to slow down a bit, Earle says there are no plans for retirement just yet.

“I want to continue writing songs, playing concerts and making records, “ says Stuart, adding, “I think I will be doing diverse projects in the future, though (playing on and producing other artist’s records, solo Mark Stuart tours, cherry-picking

concerts to do of our duo).”

For now, Earle and Stuart will keep on keepin’ on as they role into Golden and continue their Stacey Earle and Mark Stuart Duo Tour. According to their website, staceyandmark.com, they will continue to tour through the year and early into 2010 when the tour will end and they say the duo as an act will basically cease to exist. “The long, heavy touring that has been our trademark will be over, but, you will be able to attend concerts of the solo artists, Mark Stuart or Stacey Earle.

Don’t miss what could be your last chance to see the duo perform. The concert starts at 7 p.m. on July 17.