Bebop Cowboy STEVE BRIGGS plays MERLE HAGGARD TOUR! Bebop Cowboy STEVE BRIGGS will be touring with Russell deCarle (Prairie Oyster) as a duo in an opening set for country legend, MERLE HAGGARD this month. "Merle has been a significant influence, not only on my musical career and Russell's, but also countless others around the world. The man's an icon. It's an honour to be a part of his Canadian tour." The duo will be followed by a second opener, Blackie and the Rodeo Kings (Colin Linden, Tom Wilson, Stephen Fearing). The tour, which begins Sunday, May 16 in Vancouver, travels across the country and ends in Ottawa, Saturday, May 29th. deCarle first performed as a guest with Briggs and his hot western swing band, the Bebop Cowboys at the launch of their latest CD "Some Kind of Fantasy" this past October in Toronto. The duo hooked up again at the 2003 OCFF Music Industry Conference in Sudbury, Ontario, which later led to deCarle asking Briggs to join him on the Canadian arm of the Haggard tour this spring. Briggs will be flying from Winnipeg to Toronto on his one day off from the tour to attend the Distillery Jazz Festival with the Bebop Cowboys, Victoria Day Monday, May 24th (performance time 4pm). The Merle Haggard tour photo. Steve is standing just left of the great Norm Stevens, guitarist for Hank Thompson in the '50s. Photo: Angela Browne (Click photo to enlarge) Steve with Blackie and the Rodeo Kings, checking out Merle's sound check. Photo: Angela Browne (Click photo to enlarge) Merle Haggard Tour Dates May 16, 2004 Queen Elizabeth Theatre phone 604-280-4444 Vancouver BC May 17, 2004 Sportmart Place phone 250-374-9200 Kamloops BC May 18, 2004 The Multiplex phone 250-614-9100 Prince George BC May 19, 2004 Canada Games Arena Tickets at Chrystal Centre Box Office or charge by phone 780-538-0387 Grande Prairie AB May 20, 2004 Rexall Place Concert Bowl phone 780-451-8000 Edmonton AB May 21, 2004 Pengrowth Saddledome Theatre Stage phone 403-777-0000 Calgary AB May 22, 2004 Saskatchewan Centre of the Arts Tickets at CBO or charge by phone 525-9999 or 1-800-667-8497 Regina SK May 23, 2004 Centennial Concert Hall phone 204-780-3333 Winnipeg MB May 25, 2004 Massey Hall phone 416-872-4255 Toronto ON May 26, 2004 Copps Coliseum Theatre Bowl phone 905-527-7666 Hamilton ON May 27, 2004 John Labatt Centre phone 519-488-1012 London ON May 28, 2004 Memorial Centre phone 705-743-3561 Peterborough ON May 29, 2004 Civic Centre Theatre phone 613-755-1111 Ottawa ON