Beamer Wigley may be fresh off the stage with the Westbank Country Opry last week, but he’s already looking forward to another local performance.
Wigley is heading to the Cleland Theatre to take part in a community concerts event highlighting local artists and featuring himself and William Leggott in a pair of back-to-back shows on April 2.
“I’ve had many great experiences at the Cleland, but doing a half-hour set there is going to be fun,” said Wigley, who first began attracting attention when he was eight years old.
 Beamer Wigley |
His growing number of accolades includes winning first place at the Vancouver P.N.E Star Showdown in the youth category, the Kiwanis Festival for four straight years in Classical Voice and Musical Theatre as well as winning first place in the provincials in the category of musical theatre.
It’s a lot to pack in, considering he’s still not reached his teen years.
“I’m almost a teenager, I’m 12, turning 13 in November,” said Wigley, who was signed to a management and agency deal with Jim Cressman, Invictus Entertainment and Big Star Recordings last year.
“It’s fun to say I am a signed artist, but it is still great to play those little coffee shops,” he said. “It is what I love doing, playing anywhere really.”
Besides his own music, Wigley said he loves doing covers of Keith Urban’s tunes, who has been his idol since he was five, when he saw a video of Urban performing Start a Band with Brad Paisley.
“I literally turned to my mom and said I want to play guitar like Keith Urban,” he said. “It’s always a thrill being on stage, I absolutely love it. I don’t think there is one stage that I wouldn’t love to be on.”
A professional musician for over 50 years, Leggott has a few years on Wigley and has played for Norwegian royalty, U.S. President Jimmy Carter and U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell.
 William Leggott |
Leggott moved to Penticton in 1991, and was an instructor at the Penticton Academy of Music until opening his own school in 2004. The first of its kind in Canada, Leggott’s School of Rock ‘n’ Roll is passionate about teaching and inspiring the joy of music in his students – no matter what their age.
The show starts at 7:30 on April 2 at the Cleland Theatre. Tickets are available at the door for $30 and $5 for students.