Country music meets jazz when cousins Lisa Brokop and Jaclyn Guillou converge for a concert at Surrey Arts Centre's studio theatre on Saturday, Aug. 11.

Surrey-raised Brokop, who now lives in Nashville with her musician husband, Paul Jefferson, and the North Delta-raised, jazzminded Guillou are cousins through their mother's side of the family.

Back when Brokop got her first record deal as a sweet 16-yearold, Guillou was just a wide-eyed kid who saw her older cousin occasionally at family barbecues.

"I used to always want to be a country singer," said Guillou, "and I would sing along to all of Lisa's records.

Once, I saved up all my money from months of chores so that I could buy a boom-box and a microphone in order to sing along to her CD."

Revealed Brokop: "I've really secretly always wanted to be a jazz singer. We are extremely excited to collaborate for the first time ever and share songs and stories with hometown fans."

In concert, both singers will do solo and collaborative songs, backed by Jefferson and David Blake, a jazz guitarist who happens to be Guillou's boyfriend.

"It's a mix of cousins, husbands and lovers on stage," said Guillou, who'll be performing some classic jazz and pop numbers, including "Over the Rainbow" and "Fly Me to the Moon."

Last spring, Guillou was thrilled to do a few dozen concert dates across Canada and another four in Europe.

At Surrey Arts Centre, the Aug. 11 concert starts at 7: 30 p.m. Tickets are $32.75 and are available by calling 604-501-5566, or go online at tickets.surrey.ca.

NEW MUSIC FROM NEWMAN

A.C. Newman, of New Pornographers fame, has completed his third solo fulllength album. The songs were recorded in Woodstock, NY, for release this fall on Matador Records in the U.S. and on Last Gang Records in Canada.

The Surrey-born musician was better known as Carl Newman when he went to junior and senior high in White Rock.

In celebration of his new record - still without a title - Newman has plans for a tour of North America this fall, including a Nov. 8 concert date at The Biltmore Cabaret in Vancouver.

COUNTRY SHINDIG ON CALENDAR

"Greater Vancouver's biggest country music shindig" is gearing up for three days of music and partying with Dwight Yoakam, Blue Rodeo, Randy Bachman, George Canyon, Aaron Pritchett and more at Mission Raceway Park, starting next Thursday, Aug. 9.

The 2012 version of Rockin' River Music Festival will include performances by Ridley Bent, One More Girl, The Higgins (the North Delta-raised band), The Matinée and many others, over three nights.

"This year's Rockin' River is easily the biggest and best we've ever put together," said Kenny Hess, the festival's organizer and one of its performers. "The talent Rockin' River Fest has this year promises festivalgoers one of the best times they'll have all year, period." For event info, click on rockinriverfest.com or call 604-733-2235.

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