The fellow who wrote the piece above is an entertainment writer - music section/folk/roots etc. for the TORONTO STAR. Originally from Australia he has been here for years and years and is himself a wonderful singer/songwriter/performer. He has performed at Hugh's Room where the Lightfoot Tribute shows are held and all over the city and Toronto area at different venues.
It's nice that this was written by someone other than a Canuck trying to toot our horn.
http://www.gregquill.com/news.html
Greg Quill is an Entertainment Columnist with the Toronto Star, Canada’s largest daily newspaper. For most of the past 20 years, he has written a lot about music, and for the last five years, almost exclusively about roots music in its various forms – folk, country, blues, world music, rhythm ‘n’ blues, country-rock, folk-rock, gospel, art song and pure balladry.
He is also a singer and a songwriter, first in Australia, where his love of traditional music was nurtured in the 1960s and 70s with the award-winning band Country Radio, and then in Canada. Greg performs regularly on the folk club and festival circuit in Canada and Australia, both solo and with his band The Usual Suspects. For more information:
www.gregquill.com
I'd have to agree with everything he wrote - the amazing songwriters we have is astounding..they tell stories of the people, the geography, politics, the industries in this country, mingled with stories of relationships, love, loss, family, history...all the things that Lightfoot writes and sings about yet each is so individual in their revelations that their story of a sinking ship, a train, or a lost love makes you appreciate all of the others you've heard before but yet not compare them as they were the inspiration for the new ones.
They are humble stories from humble people driven to tell what they feel...it's not the bottom line for so many of them..it's a need to communicate, to connect, to make even a small impact on those who listen...that is teir legacy, their drive.
I've just rec'd my tix to finally see Ron Sexsmith in May...I hope to see Aengus and Jory in March, possibly that Lightfoot fellow again..and any others I am blessed enough to be able to connect with this year.
Hugh's Room offers these artists a most glorious place to be heard..there are many, many other spots in and around Toronto as I'm sure there are places all across Canada, fostering and encouraging the storytellers of yesterday, today and those who will come next to continue to write and get onstage and perform the songs of our lives.
Attending the Lightfoot Tribute shows has opened me up to numerous songwriters/performers that take the stage. While I listen to them sing Lightfoot tunes I have also become a fan of their own creations...I now have CD's that are not just listed in the "Lightfoot" section of my CD rack...!
Because of Lightfoot music these artists were inspired to put themselves out there with their own stories, in their own style, and because of Lightfoot I have been exposed to these Canadian songwriters who have enriched my life.
Here's to the Canadian songwriter!
Char