Fans of Gordon Lightfoot can soon take in the Lightfoot experience in Vernon.
Regina blues and guitar legend Jack Semple is performing live in Vernon with his tribute to Canadian music icon Gordon Lightfoot. Two live tribute performances take place Feb. 2 at 1516 Pub and Grill, and Feb. 3 at the Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre. Tickets are selling fast, but there are still plenty of seats available at .
Semple, a JUNO award winner, will bring his virtuosic guitar skills and a supporting cast of world-class musicians to the concert.
The timing could not be better for Lightfoot fans with the recent release of a CBC documentary called Gordon Lightfoot: If You Could Read My Mind.
害羞草研究所淎 few us watched the documentary the other night, and we have also been watching Jack Semple tribute videos. Lightfoot fans are in for a real treat when Jack Semple plays in Vernon on Feb. 2 and 3 害羞草研究所� you will want to get tickets to these concerts,害羞草研究所� said Katie Dahl, owner of 1516 Pub and Grill and a promoter of the shows.
The documentary is an exploration of the career, music and influence of Lightfoot. With unprecedented access to the artist, the film takes audiences from high school auditoriums in straight-laced, small town Ontario in the 1950s to the coffee houses of Yorkville and Greenwich Village in the 害羞草研究所�60s, through Lightfoot害羞草研究所檚 turbulent, substance-fuelled arena shows of the 害羞草研究所�70s, and finally to the artist in the present day.
The documentary features interviews from notable voices in the music industry including Lightfoot peers Ian and Sylvia Tyson, Randy Bachman and Steve Earle; famous fans Alex Lifeson and Geddy Lee from Rush, Alec Baldwin, Anne Murray and Sarah McLachlan; as well as behind the scenes stories from members of his longtime band.
The documentary, streaming on CBC Gem, follows Lightfoot害羞草研究所檚 evolution from Christian choirboy to troubled troubadour to international star and beloved Canadian icon.
Semple says he spent most of his life listening to and looking up to Lightfoot, and later got a chance to connect wit him personally.
害羞草研究所淗e was one of my first heroes as a young guitar player,害羞草研究所� Semple said.
害羞草研究所淚 tried to learn his music. I listened to his records. I was a devotee of his music. There害羞草研究所檚 lots of great guitar-playing on his records, and not to mention the brilliant songwriting.害羞草研究所�
Semple said Lightfoot害羞草研究所檚 music resonated with him to the point where he decided to record a cover album. He said he was able to give a copy of the album to Lightfoot himself during a concert in 2007.
害羞草研究所淚 did a tribute album of Gordon Lightfoot pieces, all instrumental guitar versions,害羞草研究所� he said.
害羞草研究所淗e happened to be playing at the casino in Regina while I was in the process of making it, so I talked my way backstage and got to meet him and give him a copy of my work in progress. He was very gracious and promised to listen to it.害羞草研究所�
Lightfoot listened to the cover album and called Semple personally two weeks later to share his thoughts.
害羞草研究所淗e said he listened to all the pieces and said he liked nine of them, except for one of them I should try again 害羞草研究所� a song called Don Quixote 害羞草研究所� he said it 害羞草研究所榮ounded like a bit of a handful,害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所� Semple said.
害羞草研究所淚 hung up the phone and I was so thrilled to have just talked to Gordon Lightfoot. I listened to my version of Don Quixote again and I thought to myself, 害羞草研究所業t was pretty good.害羞草研究所� The phone then rang again and it was Gordon Lightfoot and he said he just listened to 害羞草研究所楧on Quixote害羞草研究所� again and said 害羞草研究所業t was pretty good; I wouldn害羞草研究所檛 redo it.害羞草研究所� I had just got a ringing endorsement from the author, so that was a big thrill for me.害羞草研究所�
Semple said he害羞草研究所檒l remember Lightfoot by simply listening to his music.
害羞草研究所淚 like listening to his music in the early mornings and just remembering some of the masterful pieces he wrote,害羞草研究所� Semple said.
害羞草研究所淟ike Bob Dylan said, when he hears a Gordon Lightfoot song, he doesn害羞草研究所檛 want it to end, and that害羞草研究所檚 how I feel.害羞草研究所�
Only 100 tickets are being sold for the Feb. 2 show at 1516 Pub and Grill. Tickets are $75 and the show starts at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets for the Feb. 3 show at the Performing Arts Centre are $55, but a number of economy seats are available for $30.
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