LIGHTFOOT DAYS in Orillia

[charlene]

http://www.orilliapacket.com/2016/11...lightfoot-days

This year’s Lightfoot Days had more Gord.

Gordon Lightfoot slipped into town Sunday to see the Spirit of Mariposa exhibit at the Orillia Museum of Art and History, and to take in a performance of The Kidd Gets Even at Lake Country Grill.

Here, Lightfoot congratulates John Stinson, the band’s primary singer, with Lightfoot’s nephew, Steve Eyres (left), and Eric Kidd looking on.

[charlene]

Karen Hilfman Millson photo

[paskatefan]

Awesome!

Gail

[lighthead2toe]

Hi Friends.

Finally after a monumental weekend of festivities in the Gordon Lightfoot hometown of Orillia, Ontario, the opportunity has arrived as promised to recant a few of the enjoyable moments encountered in that quaint little town.

The weather was just beautiful throughout the whole weekend. Warm sunny days and bright starry sky nights.

I love to brisk walk for thirty minutes every day if at all possible so the golden opportunity was there for me to accomplish that each day. In fact the walk included passing by Gord's original home at 283 Harvey Street. Just a short pause to look at the house and reflect on the lyrics in his song, "Old Dan's Records." "High above the fireplace there's a smile on Old Dan's face." So much rich history there.

Many local folks were outside on this lovely autumn day raking leaves and taking care of the usual work that needs to be done before winter sets in. Lots of civic pride in that neat little town.

On my way back to the downtown area I stopped off at the Orillia Opera House and took in Nicole Howard's concert being held in the "Gordon Lightfoot Auditorium." Nicole's performance included a mixture of classic folk songs, many from the early Lightfoot era. She had a very fine harp accompanist who also provided harmony. A most satisfying concert performance. Unique version of "Ode to Big Blue."

The festival began Oct 1st and runs till Dec 31st with the weekend of Nov 4th, 5th and 6th being the musical part and the one that makes the town come alive. The itinerary overlaps in places as there's so much going on that the pie has to be shared.

Lucky for me I received an invitation from Paul Bartlett to accompany him and his singing partner, Lilly Mason and her husband for the drive from Toronto so we sort of went as a team. Lilly and Paul were on the bill for two performances and boy, did they ever make a hit. They performed Friday and Saturday evening, and Sunday afternoon they were called on to fill in for "Circle is Small" lead singer, Adrian who came down with a bout of laryngitis. Hope you're better by now Adrian. The cake cutting ceremony was also included during the Sunday performance so it was a highlight event. Another fine entertainer, Don James helped out as well. Don has a very nice Lightfoot sounding voice.

Orillia Mayor, Steve Clarke was most impressed with Lilly and Paul's performance and he gave them lots of stars. Steve is a huge Gordon Lightfoot fan and praised Lilly and Paul for their version of "Beautiful." It was the song Steve and his bride danced to at their wedding.

As many can now see from the postings on social media, etc., Gord was in town and did show up to greet the folks and mingle about. His presence sure made everyone's day who came to the gig. It's always an unknown if he'll show up, and even then, where and when? Nothing is for certain, eh?

Now it's on to Toronto and prep for the Massey Hall Concerts. It just keeps getting better!

[charlene]

http://www.orilliapacket.com/2016/11...surprises-many

Gordon Lightfoot’s attendance at local venues on weekend surprises many

By John Swartz
Wednesday, November 9, 2016 7:23:32 EST PM

There was a surreal moment at Lake Country Grill Sunday afternoon.

John Stinson is singing a tune. Of course, it’s Lightfoot Days, so it’s something from the Lightfoot compendium of music. Stinson does most of the singing for the group The Kidd Gets Even.

Eric Kidd is playing lead guitar. His affinity for Gord’s music is natural; his guitar teacher was Red Shea. Steve Eyers is playing bass. His ability to get inside a tune Gord wrote comes from growing up with it; he’s Gord’s nephew.

Stinson played previous Lightfoot Days with another band before hooking up with Kidd and Eyers. His voice is too much like Gord’s in tone. Add an ability to phrase like Gord and other vocal idiosyncrasies and he sounds just like the voice on all of the records. He doesn’t appear to be trying too hard to be a Memorex machine; it’s more natural. With your eyes closed, you’d think you were in the room with Gord.

Then you open your eyes and sitting right across from you is Gord.

He’d come to hear his nephew’s band at what amounts to a bit of a family reunion with more than a dozen other relatives on hand. Between conversation with a niece or other family member, he pays attention to Stinson. How does an observer process that? Seeing the icon watching a darned good band performing the icon’s tunes so well? Heck, how does the singer process that? Stinson said before he stepped up to the mic, he was a bit nervous, on top of not feeling 100% chipper. He’d sung every day of the festival. But he pulled it off. When the set was done, Gord shook his hand and congratulated him.

Other than the family, no one in the restaurant had any idea Gord would be joining them for brunch. As he stepped through the door, the restaurant erupted in applause. Some out-of-towners couldn’t believe their luck.

Same for those at the Orillia Museum of Art and History when Gord visited to see the Spirit of Mariposa exhibit celebrating Leacock, Elizabeth Wyn Wood, Arthur Shilling and Gord. Those on hand for a storytelling workshop wondered why so many others were there – until Gord stepped off the elevator. It was a Sunday full of surprise for a few people.

Backtracking a bit: The previous afternoon, Nicole Coward had a concert at the Orillia Opera House. She mixed Lightfoot songs with some Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen. She’s got a nice voice and uses strange phrasing at times that makes hearing familiar songs different. She also slips in some bars that shift the beat a bit forward or backward, which the audience found out when clapping along a couple of times.

I caught Paul Bartlett playing an instrumental version of If You Could Read My Mind at Rustica. That gave me reason to think there are so many of Gord’s tunes that can stand on their own without the lyrics because he writes so well and completely. The next night, I caught him with Lilly Mason singing. She told me she only knew three Lightfoot tunes a few weeks ago and learned a couple of dozen for this gig. She sang very well.

Adrien Robitaille, of The Circle is Small, a festival staple, developed laryngitis Saturday night, putting the band out of commission for the rest of the weekend. Many of the other acts jumped in to cover their gig at the cake cutting at Mariposa Market Sunday afternoon.

Kirty was at The Brownstone Friday night. She played music from her new CD, plus a few others, but no Lightfoot. This was not a problem because her band is good. Nothing flashy, but they play together better than most other bands. Devin Cuddy opened, and what a great singing voice he has.

Lindy Vopnfjord played the next night, doing tunes from his new CD. I don’t recall he did any Lightfoot. I do recall finding out how to pronounce his name, but I’m not going to try right now. He’s very tall. Hearing his upper-register tenor voice seems at odds with the giant in view, but it was good.

Last week, I said this was the third year for the festival. It’s actually the fourth. Time flies when you are having fun. The festival is growing in terms of venues, artists, events, and attracting people to come to town. I think Lightfoot Days has solidified itself as an event and will only get better.