Kathleen Edwards & Band

Kathleen Edwards is playing the Light House Arts Centre on Saturday, August 1, with her full band behind her. It's a Halifax date, so it's one of those nights where you can just head downtown and be in your seat without much fuss.

If you've followed her for a while, you know she's a songwriter who lets the songs do the heavy lifting. She's built her name on a particular kind of songwriting—clear, direct, and rooted in the tradition of the great North American songwriters. The songs are usually built around a strong melody and a lyric that doesn't hide what it's about, and they're delivered with a voice that's as honest as the writing. When she's on stage with a full band, that sound gets a bit more room to stretch out, with the arrangements filling in around the songs rather than taking over.

Coming with a band changes the feel of the set, too. Instead of just her and a guitar, you've got a proper rhythm section and other instruments to lean on, which lets the songs breathe and gives the whole thing a bit more weight. It's a different experience from her solo work, and it's the version of her live show that really lets the arrangements open up.

The show is on Saturday, August 1, at the Light House Arts Centre in Halifax. Tickets are available through the usual channels, and you can find more details on her official site if you're looking to plan your evening.