Rocker Lee Aaron is coming to rock Lac La Biche for Canoe Fest 2018 at the Bold Center on September 22. Aaron is sharing the night’s rocking roster with Honeymoon Suite and Prism.

Famous for her 1980s hard rocking look and sound with anthems like Metal Queen and Whatcha Do To My Body, Aaron has continued a 35 year career in the industry, releasing her latest rock album Diamond Baby Blues in April. The singer, musician and songwriter is originally from Bellville, Ontario, but now calls Vancouver home.

She has criss-crossed the continent in her 35-year musical career, but  now, the married mother of two  says the tour schedule has been reduced to match her busy life away from the stage spotlights.

A special needs teacher who continues to write and release new music as she raises her family, Aaron has a number of ‘day jobs’ that keep her occupied. Describing herself to POST readers as a “Weekend Warrior,” Aaron says that despite a reduction in concert tours, the intensity of her performances and her passion for music hasn’t slowed down.

"I love how I am able to still record, and I love how I have people who listen and appreciate my music. Music is my passion. Nothing gives me greater joy than strapping on your guitar and singing to a crowd."

That enjoyment of the crowd is one of the main reasons Aaron will often request to take the stage first when more than one band is playing at a gig.  She wants more time to mingle, heading to the autograph table after her set to spend more time with her fans.

"I love meeting the fans! They tell you stories, like, 'I asked my now-wife out while listening to your song,' or, 'this is our song,' It's great hearing those stories. It’s nice hearing how your music resonates with people or the nostalgia behind it."

The story behind Lee Aaron, whose real name is Karen Lynn Greening began when she a teenager and was asked to join a Brampton-based rock band called Lee Aaron. She sang and played both the alto sax and keyboards. She ended up taking Lee Aaron as her stage name.

As her star began to rise in the local music scene, she enjoyed emulating her own women of rock.

"When I was young, I sang a whole set to Janis Joplin. When [Joplin] performed, there was nothing contrived or pretentious about it."

In 1982, the Lee Aaron Project album was released. There have been 15 more albums, including 1989’s Body Rock that went platinum, selling more than 100,000 copies. Over the years, she released some albums with a jazz feel to them, but returned to her rock roots in her last two albums, Fire and Gasoline, released in 2016 and this year’s Diamond Baby Blues.

Looking forward to the show

The Lac La Biche show at the Bold Center is expected to fill the fieldhouse with upwards of 800 people. Aaron says her favourite venues to play are those that seat between 500-800 people because, "often times, those venues do not have barricades and I can interact with the fans."

She is excited to be playing with Honeymoon Suite and Prism — bands she is familiar with on and off the stage.

"Early-on in my career, I met Honeymoon Suite, and we all became friends. We both listened to Prism, who were 10 years older than us, so it's fun that we all get to play together. It is going to be a fun evening for us.”

The CanoeFest event is a joint presentation from Lac La BIche County and Portage College to commemorate the college's 50th year of operations in the region.

Tickets for Canoe Fest are still for sale either online at ticketmaster.ca or in person at: the Bold Center, Lac La Biche Sporting Goods, or Britton’s Independent Grocers. Ticket prices start at $64. The show starts at 7:30 pm. with opening act Rockzilla.

WIN 4 Tickets to the Show The POST has 4 tickets to giveaway to the show.

Answer the following question from info in this story.

“What year was Lee Album's  Fire and Gasoline album released?

Email your answer to us at [email protected]  .  Deadline is Friday at NOON