Melfort February 2011

Melfort’s Arcand named to Telemiracle national cast

By Michael Oleksyn

Melfort based singer and songwriter Kevin Arcand has been named to the national cast for Kinsmen Telemiracle 35, which airs March 5 and 6.

"Telemiracle, I think it is such a wonderful thing and to be a part of such a thing is just amazing," Arcand said.

Arcand was a community performer last year, before joining the national cast for this year. He was asked to join the national cast after making an impression on the producers last year.

He will join Telemiracle regulars Bob McGrath, Beverly Mahood and Saskatchewan performers Donny Parenteau, Andrea Menard and Sheldon Bergstrom. Other musical performers new to the cast include Kenny Shields and Streetheart, Crystal Shawanda, Victoria Banks, up-and-coming artist Little Miss Higgins and the group High Valley.

Arcand explained that he has grown as an artist since being strictly a country performer when he broke out a couple of years ago.

"It was one of these things where for the past couple of years you are touring around everywhere, you wouldn't really say no to anything, you would try to go and have as many experiences as you could," he said.

He is happy to join such a talented group of performers on the national cast.

"For something like this to happen, it is the national cast so to be on TV and to be up on stage with so many different kinds of artists and now you're getting up there with bigger name artists. These guys are good, you know. Like Crystal Shawanda is great, she has one of the most amazing voices," Arcand explained.

Through working hard and performing everywhere Arcand feels he has developed as an artist.

He noted how he has used Social media such as Facebook, YouTube and Myspace as a way to promote himself.

"I have been working really hard on my next couple of sets. I have been trying to promote myself a little bit more on the Internet.

Arcand has evolved into a diverse performer, expanding his horizons as an artist.

"I am growing into a role and getting older. I am not a kid anymore. You learn different things about life as you get older," he said.

"You start to get recognized for the different songs that you are writing, you know country, rock, pop and all that stuff."

He likes the diversity of his present style, as well.

"I like bringing the diversity in doing different kinds of music and different songs that mean something to me," he said.

His reason for evolving comes down to wanting to connect with people.

"I think life is all one soundtrack. You are not just going to be listening to one kind of genre. If you are in a certain place and at a certain time in your life, you are listening to different things. That is what I want to try and do is to connect to people," he said.

People now recognize Arcand more as a singer/songwriter than strictly a country artist.

Arcand is also looking to put together a solid backing band. If anyone in Melfort is interested they can get in touch with him. Though he notes he is trying to find like-minded musicians.

"For the bigger shows and stuff you get a band and hire musicians, I think at the point I am at now, when you do these bigger kinds of shows I would like to form a more solid band. So we can all understand each other and we will all be able to fall back on each other," he said.

Arcand will be performing Feb. 28 at the Kinsmen Mini Miracle in Prince Albert, with Parenteau and other artists.