Alberta-raised country star Gord Bamford part of Calgary Stampede lineup

After a year of postponed concerts and performances, this year is shaping up to a busy one for Alberta-raisedcountry starGord Bamford.

He released a new album, opened his home to cameras for a video and podcast seriesand isalready booked to play a few live shows one of which is at the Calgary Stampede.

"I'm really hoping that [the performance at Stampede]continues and goes through and that will be one of our first shows back. So we're hoping that happens. You know, I think there's a bit of light at the end of the tunnel," he told The Homestretchon Thursday.

However, he adds he will need to do a few rehearsals first to get the vocals back in shape after COVID-19shut down live shows for over a year.

"I think knocking the rust off is probably going to happen a little bit," he said.

The artist also announced the release last week of his 10th album, Diamonds in a Whiskey Glass,after three-year hiatus.

"We're really excited about this record and, you know, come out of the gates really strong and debutat No. 1 in Australia and same in Canada," he said.

Bamford says the album hasbeen a work in progress the past couple of years, but that the pandemic shifted the release dates.

"Before the COVIDand all that hit, I actually took a year off and I was just in the studio, you know, makingmusic," he said.

"This pandemic kind ofgot in the way of a bunch of plans. It was tough becausewe don't like to go that long between new projects."

However,the musician said it was important for him to tour after releasing the record so he's hoping he timed it right.

"It's just kind of a back to the grassroots (album) of where I started," he said. "And there's songs on there for everybody."

Bamfordopened up hishouse to cameras for a video and podcast to give people a bit of a behind-the-sceneslook at his life.

"It was, you know, pre-pandemic that we got that done, but I think it's kind of something that we've talked about doing for years."

While there hasn't been a release date announced yet, he says he's excited for fans to tunein and see how he lives on a day-to-day basis.

"From entertaining to farming to, you know, giving back," he said. "And I think people are going to find thatI'm really no different than them."

You can listen to Bamford'snew album,Diamonds in a Whiskey Glass, on all streaming services.

With files fromThe Homestretch.