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SUBMITTED PHOTO GORDON LIGHTFOOT: Performs at Memorial Centre Saturday.
Lightfoot the legend in Brockville Saturday
By NICK GARDINER , STAFF WRITER
Updated 2 hours ago
The first venture into Brockville by Canadian legendary singer-songwriter Gordon Lightfoot Saturday night is guaranteed to be a good time, says promoter Dave Finlay.
Finlay told The Recorder and Times Thursday the publicity-shy Lightfoot has taken a liking to performing in small towns where longtime fans may be getting their first chance to see him in concert.
"He is very receptive to the small-town shows," said Finlay. "These are fun shows to do."
Saturday's show at 8 p.m. on the arena floor of the Brockville Memorial Centre is sandwiched between performances in Cornwall tonight and Napanee on Sunday.
Finlay said Lightfoot will be backed by a four-piece band and play more than 25 songs over two 45-minute sets on either side of a brief intermission.
"He will play all of his hits like Sundown, In The Early Morning Rain, Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald and If You Could Read My Mind."
But one of Lightfoot's early hits, Black Day in July, about Detroit race riots during the 1960's, is no longer on the 72-year-old's playlist, said Finlay, who admits it is one of his personal favourites.
Otherwise, fans will recognize all their favourite Lightfoot songs, he said.
More than 1,100 tickets have been sold for the show and Brockville Arts Centre manager Peter Dunn hopes to see a crowd of close to 1,500 on hand after late sales at the box-office and at the concert venue.
Dunn said the arts centre is a fabulous venue for some acts, but the first major concert in years at the Memorial Centre is a way to gauge the public's interest in seeing major acts come to the city.
"One of the reasons we were so interested in the show was to test the market.
"It's the first time we have ever tried to sell tickets at what I would call normal ticket prices," said Dunn, referring to a price range from $49.50 to $85.
Ticket prices for acts such as Blue Rodeo at the arts centre top out at about $45, he noted.
Dunn said he is encouraged that of the 1,131 Lightfoot tickets sold by noon Thursday, 550 were at the top price of $85 and another 330 were at the second level price of $69.50, said Dunn.
In addition more than 100 people have purchased $125 fan-experience tickets that includes a pre-show reception and a post-event meet-and-greet with the artist.
"It proves if we have a big enough show, people will pay normal ticket prices," Dunn said, noting the arts centre mandate is to attract shows that will generate economic benefits to the city.
In this case, fans are coming from the immediate area, as well as across eastern Ontario, northern New York and Ottawa, he said.
The local economic spinoff includes extra business for restaurants, hairdressers, hotels and even babysitters, Dunn said.
"People buying tickets can't quite believe they are going to see a legend like Gordon Lightfoot in Brockville.
"He truly is a Canadian icon." Dunn said Lightfoot has been writing
songs and performing on stage for decades and his tunes have been covered by the likes of Bob Dylan, Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash.
"At age 72, this is one of the last opportunities for people to see him perform."
Dunn said the show is being produced by the arts centre in conjunction with the Memorial Centre.
In addition, the Kingston promoter has also been involved in staging the show in what Dunn calls a "concert bowl for 2,000" dressed up as a "cozy and intimate setting."
For instance, a black backdrop will be rigged behind the stage, glass partitions and netting have been removed from the boards and a suspended state-of-the- art sound system will ensure rich accoustics, he said.
There will be a licensed bar set up on the floor one hour prior to the show and it will reopen during intermission, said Dunn.
Tickets may still be purchased online or at the Brociville Arts Centre box office until 3 p.m. Saturday.
Tickets will be available at the venue from 3 p.m. until showtime.
Brockville article
