Folk musician Linda McRae celebrated with B.C. Entertainment Hall of Fame induction

B.C. folk musician Linda McRae might be based in Nashville but this weekend, she is back home in order to be inducted to B.C.'s Entertainment Hall of Fame.

"It's a tremendous honour. I'm just thrilled," she said.

While McRae has had an extensive solo career, she is best-known for being the only female member of Vancouver's beloved band, Spirit of the West, of which she was a member from 1988 to 1996.

"I kind of joined at the right time, kind of the pinnacle of the band's success," she said.

"We were travelling all over the world. Lots of laughs and giggles just a lot of really great times."

Extensive solo career

Although McRae's solo career has taken her in all sorts of different musical directions including punk, rock, and blues, she is still experimenting.

For instance, she was inspired to learn the banjo after a 2005 tour with a bluegrass band.

"Honing your craft and learning from all your comrades is what I thrive on I just love that."

That openness extends to her songwriting.

Most recently, her work as a music teacher for inmates at the New Folsom Prison in California inspired her solo venture Shadow Trails, where she shared song-writing credits for "Flowers of Appalachia" with an inmate.

McRae said the experience changed her, and inspired her to not be too quick to judge people.

"It's been an amazing experience," she said.

Pioneer induction

McRae is being inducted in the pioneer musician category of B.C. Entertainment Hall of Fame.

Other pioneer inductees this year in the musician category include George Calangis, Sharman King, Tom Lavin, Ian McDougall, and Tab Shori.

A full list of inductees from all categories can be found here.

Linda McRae will receive her award on the evening of Sunday, September 4, before a concert at The Rogue Folk Club.

With files from The Early Edition

To hear the interview, click on the link labelled Linda McRae on being inducted to the 2016 B.C. Entertainment Hall of Fame.