The Alan Jackson Experience plays on

Audience members revelled in the authentic country atmosphere as Aaron Halliday performed at the Vermilion Legion on Thursday.

The tribute artist has been covering Alan Jackson songs for the past 25 years and began touring British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan full-time in November 2018.

Although he’s lost 60 shows this year, he feels very fortunate that instead of cancelling many have been re-booked for next year.

Watching a similar western image and listening to his pure country sound, people spent the evening reminiscing all of their favourite classics like Chattahoochee, Remember When, and Drive (For Daddy Gene).

“He keeps making music that’s good and I keep singing it,” said Halliday.

“The truth of the matter is that when I started I didn’t know who I wanted to go after – Alan Jackson or Dwight Yoakam.”

His band had broken up and at the time his friends in music were doing shows as tribute artists. They invited him along to play both so he went on stage as Alan Jackson, shaved his moustache and went back out as Dwight Yoakam.

With it taking too long to grow back, Halliday settled on Alan Jackson and couldn’t be happier. Since then, he continues to enjoy playing music and travelling with his wife, Sharyn.

Their children also enjoy getting to see people and places and were able to spend time with Sharyn’s high school friend from Vegreville.

“The only thing I love more than music is my wife,” said Halliday.

When they met 10 years ago, Sharyn said a lot of people thought they met at a show, but really she had no idea that’s what he did.

She said she hadn’t attended a show until after two months of dating and that it’s been awesome ever since.

Halliday grew up listening to George Jones and Merle Haggard and his love of country music has endured.

His expressive face and story-telling ability kept the audience engaged, and his voice was filled with all the twang and drawl you know and love.

You haven’t totally missed out – Halliday will be back performing at the Wainwright Legion on October 3 at 5:30pm.