TORONTO - Legendary singer Gordon Lightfoot will embark on an extended tour this year, his first since almost being killed by stomach problems three years ago.
Known for chestnuts like Carefree Highway and Sundown, Lightfoot will kick off the road trip at the Sycuan Resort and Casino in El Cajon, Calif. on April 22.
Gordon Lightfoot
It will include a stop on July 10 at the storied Mariposa Folk Festival in his hometown of Orillia, Ont.
In 2002, Lightfoot was stopped mid-tour by a stomach aneurysm. He spent three months in hospital and had several surgeries to repair the damage he sustained.
Since then, he has made only rare, isolated appearances, such as last August's three-song set at a flood-relief concert in Peterborough, Ont. organized by Ronnie Hawkins.
This year's tour will keep the elder statesman of Canadian music, who has been rehearsing with his band since December, on the road until the end of the year.
It will also include stops at Toronto's Massey Hall, one of his favourite venues, as well as dates in Las Vegas, Detroit, San Francisco, Boston and Stratford, Ont.
Lightfoot will play the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City, N.J., in October.
The people behind the Mariposa festival say Lightfoot offered to come and help celebrate the event's 45th anniversary. Other artists scheduled to appear that weekend include Fred Eaglesmith, Tom Cochrane and Sarah Harmer.
Lightfoot made a surprise one-song appearance on the final night of last year's festival. Organizer Chris Lusty said the warm reception the singer got from the audience was probably a factor in his decision to play there this summer.
With 33 dates in total, the tour will wrap up December 3.
Lightfoot released the album Harmony, his first studio effort in six years, last May.
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