Blue Rodeo’s Jim Cuddy: Gigging keeps musicians going

It has been a long career in music for Blue Rodeo’s Jim Cuddy.

But as he told The Greg Morgan Morning Show, gigging never gets old.

“I think the longer you go, the more grateful you are that you’re still going,” Cuddy said. “There’s a great joy in playing music. I think that’s what keeps people going through the ups and downs of a music career.

“So maybe things aren’t going well that week. You have a gig, you play, people enjoy it and you feel you have the strength to do another week.”

Blue Rodeo is playing in Regina on Sunday for the Regina Folk Festival, an event he lauded for its location and setup. The festival runs from Friday through Sunday in Victoria Park.

Cuddy also talked about songwriting during his appearance on the morning show Wednesday.

He said that, as time goes on, songwriters become more honest and raw.

“When you’re young, the field is wide open with what you want to write about. You have a tendency to write a little stylistically, reflecting things that you like,” Cuddy said.

“As you get on as a songwriter, you write a little more truthfully. It’s difficult to write something that is pure fiction. You’re more drawing from your life and your lives around you. You’re also keenly aware you’ll have to sing that material over and over and over again. So if it doesn’t mean much to you, it’s going to be hard.”

In May, Cuddy released Countrywide Soul, a solo album.

The album was recorded upstairs in a country home. Cuddy said he was going for a stripped-down sound.

“I wanted it to have the vibe of just people playing,” he said.

It also features two Blue Rodeo songs.

He was never satisfied with the song “Clearer View,” so he reworked it. Also, “Dragging On” comes with a different ending.