Craig Owen Jenkins latest album of ten original songs is set to shake things up in country music. Influenced by the seventies country rock movement he has combined Dwight Yokam/Steve Earle type Honky-Tonk with truck driver anthems similar to Eddie Rabbitt's, "Drivin' My Life Away" and Dave Dudley/Steve Earle's, "Six Days On The Road".

As a song writer Craig uses lyrics to paint strong imagery and tell stories that the listener can identify with. His writing style has been compared to Jackson Browne, Steve Earle, The Eagles and Rodney Crowell. Craig's new album titled Heavy Load contains songs about trucking, farming, cowgirls and horses and blue collar rural small town life in western Canada.

He has had his songs recorded by other artists. Canadian Chloe Albert recorded his tune Little White Lies on her 2013 album Dream Catcher. Her version of Little White Lies was instrumental in Dream Catcher being nominated for many awards, most notably a Juno Award, Canada's highest music awards (similar to the Grammy's). This nomination is in a category alongside Celine Dion and Johnny Reid.  Having one of his songs placed on a Juno nominated album is testament to Craig's writing skills.
 
Production of Craig's album Heavy Load took a year to complete. He financed the project by working as a carpenter. At times it was a long and difficult task trying to do two vastly different things at the same time. He regularly started his days swinging a hammer building houses at 6am.  until 5pm. then drive an hour to the recording studio to work on the album past midnight, drive the hour back catch some sleep and wake up at 6am. again for his day-job.

The recording process itself however was not a difficult task thanks to the fantastic team he worked with in the making of Heavy Load.

THE TEAM

Gordie Matthews. Producer/Lead Guitar/Steel Guitar/Slide Guitar/Vocal Harmony. - Gord's vast resume consists of many years in The Reclines, kd Lang's former band. He also was in Ian Tyson's band for a number of years.

Shane Chisholm. Electric and Upright bass/Vocal Harmony. - Shane is a well known Canadian recording artist who's career continues to grow and is sure to become a house hold name.

Joey MacIntyre. Drums - Joey simply, has worked with too many known artists and acts to list. Name a country star from Canada and the odds are Jojo has worked with that act at one time or another.

Chloe Albert. Vocal Harmony. - Chloe is one of Canada's best singer song writers. She has received many awards and nominations, including her recent Juno nomination. Her career is taking off by leaps and bounds. Some day soon she is going to be a huge star.

Barry Allen. Recording engineer/Studio owner, Homestead Recorders, Edmonton, Alberta. As an engineer Barry and his studio have been winning multiple awards and recording gold records for decades.

 Lane Allen. Recording Engineer/Vocal harmony on "Open Sky". - Lane has been working at Homestead Recorders since he was a youngster and is " A chip off the old block" with excellent recording skills.

Craig Owen Jenkins' resume consists of having toured western Canada many times, finding him playing at many prestigious events. Molson's Beer Gardens (Big Valley Jamboree, Camrose), Merrit Mountain Music Festival, Summer Solstice Festival, and Saskatchewan Music Awards Showcase just to name a few.

 Craig is becoming a well known song writer with pending projects with some great artists in the works.

" Heavy Load " promises to be a break-out album for an artist that has created a bold and fresh approach to country music. In an era that finds country music re-releasing similar songs about pick-up trucks and beer and weekends, Craig's album might be a little piece of the puzzle that may bring country music out of it's current trend. Heavy Load could spawn a new era of inspired singer song writer type artists in country music, breaking the shackles of the cookie-cutter formula that holds country music hostage today.