“It really is. We are getting to meet the people who come to see us. They don’t have to be in any kind of pass classification or buy into anything. We come out and meet them,’ Rick said.
Rick Haynes, Andy Mauck, Barry Keane, Carter Langcaster, Mike Heffernan
“We agreed really early on, counter to the ever increasing tendency of promoters and venues to want have VIP things and charge people extra for meet and greets, no,” Andy said.
“We think that’s an insult to our fans who pay money to see us. We just tell them hang out after the show in the lobby and give us a few minutes and we’ll come out and just mingle with you. That’s what we’ve been doing and it works great. They want pictures taken and autographs and stuff, which just blows my mind because I’m not worthy of that. It’s been great.”
Another change for audiences is how the show unfolds.
“We do about 22 songs typically where they used to play maybe 28.We take time for the band to tell their stories, which the crowd, they seem to love that. We think it is really important, because we’re not trying to do the exact same show because the exact same guy isn’t here. What we’re trying to do is keep that music and let the fans get even closer to the goings on with these fabulous stories they (band members) have with Gord on the road. That brings the fans a little closer to Gord, we think. In my mind it’s good to get the fans focused on the band and get to see what good guys they are,” Andy said.
“The stories they tell are great, some nights it gets hysterical. Like (Mike Heffernan’s story was so funny everyone was just cracking and I almost couldn’t do the next song.”
How do Andy and Rick view this concert on a stage named for Gord?
Gordon Lightfoot at the 2022 Mariposa Folk Festival
“This is another milestone. This thing coming up has been on the emotional radar for quite a while. I totally do realize if Massey is the church of Gord, this is the house of Gord and this is his hometown. It’s a really big deal and it kicks off the big celebration. Just to be a part of that, I started out as a fan, so to be doing all this is just bazaar. I’m sure when I walk on that stage with these guys it will be very similar to the El Macombo. This is a big emotional deal for a lot of people,” Andy said.
“Orillia really is a huge deal to us. They (the organizing committee) doing a great job and we’re trying to support it and we’re trying to get the word out,” Rick said.
The band is staying over for a special event at Creative Nomad Studios Friday afternoon and evening. The band members will hold a workshop and demonstrate how the music was put together and give insights into Gord’s music. It’s at 1 p.m. and repeats at 2:30. You can get tickets ($30) by etransfer to
orillialightfootdaysfestival@gmail.com.
At 7 p.m. they will all participate, along with Gord’s long-time agent Bernie Fiedler, in a panel discussion as part of the festival’s free Memories of Gordon Lightfoot: Stories and Music. Also on hand to tell stories are Steve Eyers (Gord’s newphew), Wanda Hawkins (Ronnnie’s wife) and this writer. Linda Leatherdale will emcee and the music between tales will be performed by Steve McEown, Don James and Steve Porter. Nicholas Jennings will also be there to autograph copies of his biography, Lightfoot.
There is a list of performers to enjoy at various venues throughout the festival, which you can check out here. And, St. Paul’s Centre’s Sunday service at 10:30 a.m. is a remembrance of Gord. It features a new hymn composed by Jim Lewis and the Orillia Community Children’s Choir will sing along with recordings made in 1951 by Gord when he was a member of the church’s choir.
Andy gets the last word.
“I’m just thrilled to be a part of this. I can’t believe a year has gone buy almost. This is pretty addictive. It ought to be illegal.”
(Photos by Swartz – SUNonline/Orillia and Images Supplied)