We were there when gord, terry and rick drove in-all in their own cars and I had talked with Kevin from City TV for a while before that. Lisa threw a video on last night when we got home to tape the BT show this morning.
Haven't watched it as Dan and his daughter just left to head back to Hamburg NY. HIs wife couldn't make it so Lisa came with us too when she heard Rayna was coming. It was a gorgeous day in Orillia-blue skies, breeze off Lake Couchiching and lots of people. Seats were saved and everyone was up walking around quite early in the afternoon. The beer tent was quite a popular place. We walked around and and ran into Brian from Sarnia! He was on his own and sitting further up front than we were. We spent time with him and then headed to the backstage area to see if anything was happening. Other performers were onstage prior to Gord. We spoke with Barry Harvey and after they arrived Rick, Terry and Gord. Mike H. was there to help tune but didn't perform. It was great to chat with Patti and Mike again. They had trailers for the performers and a tent set up with a buffet and tables etc. Elizabeth Lightfoot, Miles and Meredith were there too to enjoy the show. There were a few people standing around so Gord came over to say hi, sign some autographs and dazzle us with his smile. He seemed really happy and was gracious with everyone as always. I got my 39th Birthday calendar with a Lightfoot at Massey pic (given to me at the Delta) signed by everyone and I thanked Gord for coming to my party to sing.! Lisa got her Power Point CD signed. It was a school project on a "notable Person." Obviously it was on Lightfoot!
Murray McLaughlin sang just prior to Lightfoot and it was wonderful to hear him again. I first saw him when I was a teen at High Park in Toronto when he had "The Farmers song" on the radio. He sounded great and tells some great stories. I know Gord was wanting to get over to listen as well while he was signing autographs. I hope he got to as he had only a couple more folks to talk to when Murray started to sing. By the time Murray was finished, some awards given out to founders of Mariposa, Gord's stuff was set-up and a bit of delay for a sound problem it was 10:15 or so before Gord started. The humid air and coolness at that time may have played a part but Gord's voice was a bit raspy and not too strong. I wrote down a setlist and will follow up later. He sang for about 40 minutes, left to a standing "O" (as there was when he came on stage) and came back to sing CRT. 5 years ago he started around 8:30 or so and played longer-I'll have to check my notes! The bugs were deadly that year too-the stage was swarmed. Because he came out when it was already dark last night they didn't seem too bad and were higher up near the lights.
It was a clear night and with no "big-city" lights to interfere with the view and the black sky was just twinkling with stars. Gorgeous. What a way to see Lightfoot - at the place that he calls home, singing about Orillia and Couchiching, the railrod that runs through his town and across Canada, the memories of his life there so long ago, sitting with the proud townspeople and others who respect him so much on a beautiful summer night. I can't think of a better way to spend a "milestone" birthday and I'm so glad that Dan, Rayna, Lisa, the Lightfoot band and Lightfoot himself all were such a huge part in making the day so amazingly special. The birthday surprise at the Delta was fabulous too so last night was "the icing on the cake." (which Dan brought yesterday and put 50 candles on. When lit, which took forever, the words and icing melted into a blur....! LOL)
more later...
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