The spirit of country’s golden era is coming to Winkler as three Manitoba musicians take audiences back to the days of Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, and Willie Nelson. The Waylon, Willie and Cash: Tribute to The Highwaymen concert hits the P.W. Enns Centennial Concert Hall on Saturday, October 25th at 7:30 p.m., promising an unforgettable night of classic country hits, big laughs, and a whole lot of heart. “We’ve got an exciting show,” said country artist Ryan Keown, who steps into the black boots of Johnny Cash for the performance. “I’m doing my best to impersonate Johnny Cash, and we’ve put our own spin on it. It’s been doing very well for us, and we’re having a blast.” A tribute built on friendship and timeless songs The tribute show features Keown alongside Mike Sacharko, covering the music of Willie Nelson, and J.R. Charron, taking on the songs of Waylon Jennings. Together, the three front a full band with piano, harmonica, acoustic and electric guitars, bass, and drums. “We kind of thought, these guys were all at the pinnacle of their careers and had mega hits before joining forces,” Keown shared. “It’d be really cool if all of us guys got together, put together a smoking hot band, and went out and performed these songs. So that’s what we did.” Keown says the chemistry on stage is what makes each performance shine. “The camaraderie is great. The show keeps getting better. We’ve done it enough times that there’s no surprises, and yet it’s still fresh because you’ve got three guys fronting the band—who knows what someone’s going to say!” Why these songs still matter From Luckenbach, Texas to On the Road Again and Ring of Fire, the songs of The Highwaymen era have stood the test of time. For Keown, that’s because the music came from a place of real life experience. “These guys paid their dues and lived pretty hard lives,” he explained. “They had a lot of authenticity in their sound. They weren’t trying to sound like anyone else, and it really came through in their music.” He added that for many fans, the songs are more than just hits, they’re memories. “A lot of people were listening to the radio, traveling with 8-tracks, spending time with family. There’s a lot of memories that run pretty deep with these songs, and it’s an honor to bring them back.” Finding his own “Man in Black” moment For Keown, who grew up listening to Cash, covering his music feels like coming full circle. “It’s got to be Johnny Cash,” he said with a laugh. “I watched Walk the Line and studied his music and lyrics. He’s got a real hardened edge, and yet a real soft side too. He tells entertaining stories, but also deals with heartbreak and pain.” While Ring of Fire is his favorite song to perform live, Keown says Hurt holds a special place in his heart. “Turn that thing up—it hits hard. It was one of his last songs and it’s powerful.” A night Winkler won’t forget After sold-out shows at Club Regent and Casino Regina, Keown says he’s thrilled to bring the tribute to Winkler and encourages fans to grab their tickets early. “A lot of people say, ‘oh, there’s nothing to do in this town,’” he said. “I’m telling you, come to the show. Bring your parents, bring your spouse, it makes a great early Christmas present. You’re going to hear great music, have some laughs, be entertained, and leave happy.” Tickets for Waylon, Willie and Cash: Tribute to The Highwaymen are available now at winklerconcerthall.ca.