Bruce Miller has spent the past couple of decades living in Nashville, writing hit songs for artists like the Dixie Chicks, Reba McEntire, and Rascal Flatts.
Now, he has moved back to his roots and on June 2, he will be taking the stage at Squamish's own Brackendale Art Gallery (BAG) to play some of his new music.
"The songs that I really wrote from my heart are the ones that got cut," said Miller. "There's a fine line between writing something for your heart and then tweaking it for somebody else, and then writing something where there's really no editor," he said.
"I don't have to worry about tailor-making songs for other people anymore, it's just something that I really wanted 鈥� to be an artist and express myself," he said.
Also joining Miller on stage will be Norman Foote, a Juno-award winning children's entertainer who has captured the eyes and ears of kids across Canada with his colourful lyrics and comedy stints.
More than 40 years ago, Norman Foote and longtime 撸奶社区resident Rory Woods sat in the Woods' family basement in the Garibaldi Highlands and learned how to play chords on an old Gibson guitar.
撸奶社区locals might remember the pair as the Wooden Foote, which was the name of their band at the time.
Their lives have taken different directions, said Foote.
But on June 2, Woods will be picking up the old Gibson to join Foote on stage at the BAG to re-create some of the songs they used to play back in the 1960s, along with 撸奶社区favorites Mario and Anne Iacovone.
聽Foote remembers driving down to Vancouver to see the Bruce Miller Band play live at the Commodore Ballroom back when he was still in high school.
聽Years later, Foote was performing at the 撸奶社区Children's Festival when a friend introduced him to Miller.
聽"Bruce said 鈥業 love what you're doing and I want to come to your house and start playing music with you,'" said Foote.聽 "So we did and we never looked back."
Foote is excited for the audience to get a chance to hear Miller's new music up close.
"He's on a whole new wave of energy, and he has some beautiful new songs out," he said.
"Music is a steadfast thing that has always remained in his life 鈥� like all musicians, that's their sort of anchor, their release, their passion, and love."
This will be the first time that the pair has played together at the BAG 鈥� a venue that Foote describes as "cherished" for artists all over the West Coast and beyond.
聽Foote credits the gallery's success to the ongoing efforts of its owners Thor and Dorte Froslev.
"He's seen so many performers, and he's so tuned in to respecting an artist's creativity and performance," said Foote.
"Thor has been such an inspiration to me. He helped me in my career and so many other people that I just want to thank him for that."
聽Norman Foote, Bruce Miller, Rory Woods, and Mario and Anne Iacovone will all take the stage June 2 at the Brackendale Art Gallery at 8 p.m. Tickets at the door and at Xoco Westcoast Chocolatiers on Cleveland Ave.
