Quick recap of ALBERTA trip-Edmonton-Banff-Calgary-Nov.2011

[charlene]

Edmonton, Alberta
Friday November 25,2011
Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium

1. Did She Mention My Name
2. Carefree Highway
3. Sea of Tranquility
4. 14 Karat Gold
5. Never Too Close
6. A Painter Passing Through
7. Let It Ride
8. Christian Island
9. Shadows
10. Beautiful
11. Watchman's Gone
12. Ribbon of Darkness
13. Sundown
14. The Wreck of The Edmund Fitzgerald
BREAK
15. Sweet Guinevere
16. Cotton Jenny
17. Restless
18. Home From The Forest
19. Make Way For The Lady
20. Waiting For You
21. Minstrel Of The Dawn
22. If You Could Read My Mind
23. Don Quixote
24. Baby Step Back
25. Canadian Railroad Trilogy
ENCORE
26. Rainy Day People
27. In My Fashion

Banff, Alberta
Saturday November 26,2011
Eric Harvie Theatre-Banff Centre

1. Sweet Guinevere
2. Watchman's Gone
3. 14 Karat Gold
4. Never Too Close
5. In My Fashion
6. A Painter Passing Through
7. Rainy Day People
8. Shadow
9. Beautiful
10. Carefree Highway
11. Hangdog Hotel Room
12. Ribbon of Darkness
13. Sundown
14. Cotton Jenny
15. Alberta Bound
BREAK
16. The Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald
17. Ringneck Loon
18. Red Velvet
19. Let It Ride
20. Don Quixote
21. If You Could Read My Mind
22. Baby Step Back
23. Early Morning Rain
24. Restless
ENCORE
25. Blackberry Wine

Calgary, Alberta
Monday November 28,2011
Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium

1. Sweet Guinevere
2. Watchmen's Gone
3. 14 Karat Gold
4. Never Too Close
5. In My Fashion
6. A Painter Passing Through
7. Rainy Day People
8. Red Velvet
9. Beautiful
10. Shadows
11. Carefree Highway
12. Hangdog Hotel
13. Ribbon of Darkness
14. Sundown
15. Cotton Jenny
16. Alberta Bound
BREAK
17. The Wreck
18. Ringneck Loon
19. Restless
20. Clouds of Loneliness
21. Let It Ride
22. Minstrel Of The Dawn
23. If You Could Read My Mind
24. Don Quixote
25. Baby Step Back
26. Early Morning Rain
27. Song For A Winter's Night
ENCORE
28. Blackberry Wine

more details and pics to come!

[BILLW]

Nice - thanks for sharing Char!

Bill

[charlene]

Edmonton, Alberta - Friday Nov.25,2011
I flew into Edmonton on Thursday night and my friend and fellow Lightfoot fan Bonnie met me and we headed to her sisters place to stay overnight. Surprisingly it was not very cold despite temps being well below freezing a few days earlier.

A parking lot of chaos at the venue caused us to miss the first song of the night. We had 2nd row/dead centre seats and slipped into them just as he started the 2nd song.

This would be the 5th concert in a row for them so I wasn't sure what to expect. Gordon had a slight hoarseness and mentioned it a few times during the show but his voice was strong and the sound system was terrific. Every instrument and vocal could be clearly heard and the venue was full. The 'hits' were recognized with applause and Gordon told his usual 'rabbit on the hare' joke.

Two hours went by so fast it seemed impossible that he sang 27 songs so quickly.
While waiting to attend the Meet&Greet I finally met an online friend of over a year, a lovely young lady who is 2nd cousin to the man himself.! She had last met Gordon when she was a young teenager and had some copies of family photos to give to him. When she did get the chance he was quite happy to see her and the pictures. Time constraints didn't allow her too much time with him but they had a nice reunion.

The boys in the band came over to Bonnie and I to say hi and chat for a bit while we waited for Gordon to make his way around the room. We spent a few minutes with him, snapped some pics and then headed out.

Edmonton, Alberta
Friday November 25,2011
Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium

1. Did She Mention My Name
2. Carefree Highway
3. Sea of Tranquility
4. 14 Karat Gold
5. Never Too Close
6. A Painter Passing Through
7. Let It Ride
8. Christian Island
9. Shadows
10. Beautiful
11. Watchman's Gone
12. Ribbon of Darkness
13. Sundown
14. The Wreck of The Edmund Fitzgerald
BREAK
15. Sweet Guinevere
16. Cotton Jenny
17. Restless
18. Home From The Forest
19. Make Way For The Lady
20. Waiting For You
21. Minstrel Of The Dawn
22. If You Could Read My Mind
23. Don Quixote
24. Baby Step Back
25. Canadian Railroad Trilogy
ENCORE
26. Rainy Day People
27. In My Fashion

[charlene]

Banff, Alberta - Saturday November 26,2011

Bonnie and I drove to Banff and checked into the hotel after driving up the mountains to see Lake Louise earlier int he day. We were happy to give Mr. Fiedler a lift to the venue and find our way to our seats. As the band made their way onstage the crowd of approximately 900 rose en masse and began applauding, bursting into cheers when Lightfoot strode confidently to centre stage. Having never played there it was clear the crowd was thrilled he had finally made it to their beautiful little spot in the Rockies.

Prior to singing The Watchman's Gone he said he wrote it about "the train to the promised land."
During In My Fashion he lost his voice for a whole line due to the dry air and a hoarseness that crept in once a while all night.
While introducing Carter he also mentioned Carter's website and CD's. This was the only night he mentioned Terry 'leaving the planet in February."
He mentioned Ian Tyson living with Sylvia on Dunbar Avenue in Toronto and being there when he wrote "Red Velvet."
He spoke about folks wanting to give him a cowboy hat to wear but not accepting one because he doesn't wear cowboy hats..altho Prince William wore one when he was in Alberta earlier this year.
Prior to singing "Baby Step Back" he gave us a demo of how his brother-in-law swung a golf club, crouching down a bit with very bent knees and a crazy swing.
Other than some breathiness and hoarseness the voice and sound was excellent and the audience was the most receptive and boisterous of all 3 nights. It seemed everyone knew everyone!

After the concert the meet and greet was held in the theatre near the stage. There were only a few people but we waited, as usual, until everyone else had their moment with Gordon. I then asked him about the video that was taken on the second night in May at Massey Hall and if we'd ever see it. He laughed and said "that's mine!" I asked how it looked and he said, "it's good enough, good enough, some songs are too fast tho."
I told him that the fans would certainly love to see it soon because the energy at Massey that night was electric. The band was revved up and it was a very memorable concert that was captured in a one chance event.

We headed to the hotel and met with the band for a drink and some conversation. They had the next day/night off so enjoyed relaxing for a while. The next day on Sunday as we left at noon they were all in the lobby waiting for Gordon and then driving on to Calgary. The jet needs a longer runway so they had to drive. They left after Gordon arrived and we started our drive to Lake Louise and the Fairmont hotel. As we drove there were radio reports of downtown Calgary being hit by high winds, a complete power outtage and lots of damage. I made a call to see if they were ok and was told they were all fine. Bonnie and I were staying at the Fairmont and would drive to Calgary on Monday.

Banff, Alberta
Saturday November 26,2011
Eric Harvie Theatre-Banff Centre

1. Sweet Guinevere
2. Watchman's Gone
3. 14 Karat Gold
4. Never Too Close
5. In My Fashion
6. A Painter Passing Through
7. Rainy Day People
8. Shadow
9. Beautiful
10. Carefree Highway
11. Hangdog Hotel Room
12. Ribbon of Darkness
13. Sundown
14. Cotton Jenny
15. Alberta Bound
BREAK
16. The Wreck of The Edmund Fitzgerald
17. Ringneck Loon
18. Red Velvet
19. Let It Ride
20. Don Quixote
21. If You Could Read My Mind
22. Baby Step Back
23. Early Morning Rain
24. Restless
ENCORE
25. Blackberry Wine

[charlene]

Calgary, Alberta - Monday November 28,2011

After walking around the grounds of the hotel and snapping a million pics of it and Lake Louise we drove to Calgary for the last of our 3 concerts in Alberta. We wouldn't be heading to Medicine Hat on Tusday which would be about 4 hours south of Calgary.

As Lightfoot made his way onstage he received a standing ovation and started right into the first tune of the night. And he nailed it...and every one after that. His voice was strong, clear and none of the hoarseness or dry throat issues were apparent. The day off had been good for him! He powered through the tunes with only a few spoken words between some songs. The audience was receptive but nothing like the folks in Banff. He brought me to tears with IYCRMM (I stood for an ovation as did a few others around me), Restless and Beautiful. Both nights that he sang Alberta Bound the crowd sang and clapped along, hooting and hollering between lines.

We attended our last meet and greet, speaking with the boys in the band for a while when Gordon was speaking to other fans. I told him how terrific he sounded and he drew the conversation to his being part of a team that work together. And of course The Leafs then got mentioned and how well they are doing this season. lol
After a couple of hugs and pictures we were on our way and the Excellent Adventures of Bonnie and Char was coming to a close. On Tuesday Bonnie drove me to the Calgary airport for a noon flight, a quick stop in Winnipeg and then arrival in TO at 7 p.m. to a torrential rainstorm for the 2nd day in Toronto.
We had a grand time driving around Alberta from Edmonton to Banff, to Lake Louise and then to Calgary...the weather was mild and the day at Lake Louise in that mountain setting was gobsmackingly stunning.

A week ago tonight I was starting my Alberta Bound adventure, the prairie lights were burning bright and the Chinook winds blew into Calgary. I'm back home with 3 more Lightfoot concerts tucked carefully away in my heart, thankful that I am able to spend time with good friends and travel around to see and hear The Man as he lets us keep on tagging along....


Calgary, Alberta
Monday November 28,2011
Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium

1. Sweet Guinevere
2. Watchmen's Gone
3. 14 Karat Gold
4. Never Too Close
5. In My Fashion
6. A Painter Passing Through
7. Rainy Day People
8. Red Velvet
9. Beautiful
10. Shadows
11. Carefree Highway
12. Hangdog Hotel
13. Ribbon of Darkness
14. Sundown
15. Cotton Jenny
16. Alberta Bound
BREAK
17. The Wreck
18. Ringneck Loon
19. Restless
20. Clouds of Loneliness
21. Let It Ride
22. Minstrel Of The Dawn
23. If You Could Read My Mind
24. Don Quixote
25. Baby Step Back
26. Early Morning Rain
27. Song For A Winter's Night
ENCORE
28. Blackberry Wine

[buzzard]

Hey Char,

Glad to hear you had such a good time enjoying the music and the beauty of Alberta. Sounds like a great trip!

Thanks for posting the details.

Brian

[T.G.]

Whew quite an expedition, thanks for all the cool pics.

[charlene]

this is what the wind was like in Calgary the day the Lightfoot boys were heading to town: http://en.video.sympatico.ca/index.p.../1301627955001

[charlene]

thanks you two-it's always interesting to see Gord in different venues and cities. and especially nice for me to get a chance this time to actually see some of the province.. seeing Bonnie is always a good time too.
Off to Stratford (Biebertown,Ontario.lol) on Friday!

[charlene]

http://www.shutterfly.com/lightbox/v...944dfefaeb216b