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Jann Arden's batting average is getting pretty good after supporting two living rock legends in two months.
In September, the Juno Award-winning Calgarian -- who opens for Bob Dylan tonight at the Saddledome -- played to a sold-out crowd of about 15,000 Eric Clapton fans.
"It felt like it was closer to 27,000," Arden recalls.
"To look out on the Saddledome was overwhelming ... I wasn't really nervous, just a bit apprehensive. I had that tingly thing going on in my mouth.
"But the audience was really nice to me --they didn't stand in the lobby and smoke.
I appreciated that."
Though she never got to meet "Slowhand," Arden says she was content just to watch him from the side of the stage.
"Watching him play was enlightening," she gushes. "Very rarely do you get to meet guys like that ... they have different schedules, are in different hotels, different soundcheck times and you're usually in a different part of the venue.
"But after my set, (Clapton's) entire band came into our dressing room and said, 'Cor, we've never heard you before, but we thought it was great.'
"It made my band feel really good."
Even Arden's parents came out to support their daughter at her biggest Calgary show ever.
"My mom liked the parts when he was sitting down," Arden says dryly.
She then adopts her patented nasally mom voice and adds: "Oh, your dad and I liked the quiet songs when he was sitting down, but when he stood up -- watch out!"
There shouldn't be too much to watch out for when Dylan hits the stage , except for Arden gazing up from the side of the stage again.
"It's a neat opportunity," says Arden, who was introduced to Dylan's music at a young age by her older brother. "I don't think we're dissimilar in our styles of music ... he's not Nirvana and neither am I.
"I don't know if I'll be able to meet him, but I'm glad he's giving me the chance to play with him.... We were in negotiations for two months."
As for the future, Arden plans to finish off this tour and head into the studio in February to record a new album, as well as heading to Europe and the U.S.
"I know everyone's sick of seeing my face around here. But don't worry -- I'll be disappearing for a long time."