Former local man set to share songs and stories about the legendary Johnny Cash

By Steffanie Costigan - Lethbridge Herald Local Journalism Initiative Reporter on October 10, 2023.

A former Lethbridge man who has gone on to become an award-wining actor is coming to Lethbridge, and is bringing with him the iconic songs and stories about Johnny Cash.

Folsom Prison Revisited features Lethbridge actor Devon Brayne, who will be performing songs and telling gripping stories about Johnny Cash, a man in black at a crisis turning point in his career. Graham Neil, explained more details of the performants.

“This isn’t a tribute concert, where someone pretends to be Johnny Cash,” says Graham Neil, writer and executive producer of Alberta-based GNR Entertainment. “It is an evening of stories and songs, and Devon’s exceptional talent and charisma captivates the audience with the essence and emotion of Johnny Cash’s journey as he faces personal struggles, triumphs and eventually redemption in his career that hinged on the success of the record At Folsom Prison.”

Cash was teetering on the brink between life and death when a record label took chance on the destitute icon, and he recorded one of the greatest concerts in history – Johnny Cash Live at Folsom Prison. It’s the show in 1968 that changed the life of Johnny Cash, and music forever.

Brayne was born and raised in Lethbridge were he went on to study drama locally at the University of Lethbridge. He is well known for his award-wining performance as the role of Johnny Cash in the Calgary’s Theatre production of Million Dollar Quartet in 2022.

“It’s such a thrill to be back in Lethbridge to perform in front of my extended family, who have always been such huge supporters,” Brayne says in a news release. “I can hardly wait to tell this emotional, impactful, and exciting true story of Johnny’s on stage that has never been explored in this way before.”

The acclaimed production features a live band comprising Canadian Country Music award winners, and showcases historical videos and images of Cash. Audiences can expect to hear Cash’s greatest hit songs including Folsom Prison Blues, Ring of Fire, Boy Named Sue, Jackson, Hurt, 25 Minutes to Go, and the heart-wrenching Greystone Chapel written by a Folsom Prison inmate.

Folsom Prison Revisited is set for 7 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 16 at the Enmax Centre.