Last year’s return of live music made for a great time at the Jasper Heritage Rodeo, and this year the organizers are heading in the same direction. 

This year’s country musician will be Jerry Sereda, a Canadian country music recording artist from Dauphin, Man. Sereda has developed a fan base performing at many festivals across Canada, but enjoys smaller, intimate performances as well. 

Sereda takes his inspiration from the likes of Johnny Cash and Hank Williams, with some modern influences drawn from Keith Urban and Dierks Bentley. 

In 2007, Sereda nearly called it quits, but was encouraged by his mother to give it one last try. He did – and it turned out to be the break he had been looking for since he penned his first song in 2003. He entered the singing contest Star Catcher, put on by the Manito Ahbee organization, which helps bring awareness to Aboriginal culture and demonstrates its relevance in modern society. Sereda placed second in the competition and was able to record his first single, Time. 

Sereda was churned out of the Canadian Idol machine, after nearly making the cut in 2008. He made the initial round of 200 in Toronto. He then made the round of 100 contestants, where he faced a challenge. He had to sing a song from an approved list. There was some disagreement between the judges about whether Sereda should move on. He was chosen to come back later in the day and sing another song off another approved list. While the cameras rolled, Sereda was followed through the agonizing learning process as he worked on the new song. He was finally put through to the next round following his emotional performance. Sereda did not make it past the next round, but it didn’t stop the budding country star.

His self-funded debut album, Campground Cowboy, followed in the spring of 2009. Two singles off the album hit number one on the National Aboriginal Top 40.

Sereda’s second album, the Turn the Country Up, is about to be released, and the first single, Ain’t Learned Nothing Yet, is already hitting the charts. He will soon be releasing his second single titled The Morning After the Night Before. 

Sereda will perform with his six-piece band at the Jasper Activity Centre on Aug. 20, starting at 9 p.m. In between performances, the crowd will be entertained by DJ Tommy K. Tickets are on sale at the Athabasca Hotel from 10 a.m to 4 p.m., at rodeo performances at the activity centre throughout the rodeo and at the door on a first come first serve basis. Reservations can also be made through Lisa Freeman at jasperheritagerodeo@gmail.com.