The longevity of a Canadian icon anchors a decade-long project that two celebrated Greater Victoria performers take to stages across the province this summer.

When Glenna Garramone and Oliver Swain first took Tower of Song: a creative tribute to Leonard Cohen on the road, they used to say they were two of the biggest Cohen fans you害羞草研究所檇 ever meet.

It was part of the banter in the show.

The quip seemed harmless enough until they toured a bit and met superfans with lyrics tattooed on their bodies.

The seed of the show was planted in 2011 while Garramone lived in Vancouver. She fully figured the performance to 害羞草研究所減ay tribute to one of Canada害羞草研究所檚 most amazing poets and singers and songwriters害羞草研究所� was a one-night deal.

Inspired by the the concept of a dialogue between artists, the show is rooted in the Tower of Song verse: 害羞草研究所淚 said to Hank Williams, how lonely does it get? Hank Williams hasn't answered yet; But I hear him coughing all night long; Oh, a hundred floors above me in the Tower of Song.害羞草研究所�

That conversation transcends time and space. Every person has their own tower of inspiration, no matter their art from.

害羞草研究所淵ou害羞草研究所檙e looking to them for this inspiration and you kind of overhear what they害羞草研究所檙e doing through the tower walls,害羞草研究所� Garramone said.

That same inspiration likely led her to invite Swain 害羞草研究所� who she害羞草研究所檇 heard perform an impressive Cohen song before 害羞草研究所� and together, they were reminded of the power of harmony.

The tribute performance became an annual activity the next year, this time in Victoria.

害羞草研究所淚 see it as sacred ground. His poems and songs are loved by so many. There害羞草研究所檚 a bit of a risk,害羞草研究所� Garramone admits. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 about bringing our own voices and our own interpretations to his material.害羞草研究所�

Audiences responded and since then, they害羞草研究所檝e performed it at festivals, theatres and folk clubs more than 200 times 害羞草研究所� from Victoria to Cohen害羞草研究所檚 homeland of Montreal.

害羞草研究所淭he project took on a life and a momentum of its own in the last 10 years,害羞草研究所� she said.

Songs are added, removed, reinterpreted and even Cohen's spoken word built around music.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 more a conversation between two people. Every song we害羞草研究所檝e chosen to include in the show has its own kind of magic.害羞草研究所�

Aside from the duo害羞草研究所檚 compelling vocal harmonies, Garramone brings piano, guitar and percussion to the show, while Swain adds standup base, banjo and guitar.

Tower of Song: a creative tribute to Leonard Cohen is back on the road with shows in Sidney, Harrison, Keremeos, Kelowna, Duncan and Salt Spring Island this summer.

It all starts Sunday at Sidney害羞草研究所檚 Mary Winspear Centre where fans will enjoy another local talent with the addition of Daniel Lapp. Mixing in other musical flavours creates some of Garramone害羞草研究所檚 favourite shows because they害羞草研究所檙e 害羞草研究所渂ringing out these different sonic textures, different musical palettes.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所�(Lapp) can really paint with so many colours sonically and it害羞草研究所檚 really fun to work with someone who has such a diverse range of expression.害羞草研究所�

Garramone remembers fondly being onstage in Kelowna for the project害羞草研究所檚 sold-out CD release 10 years ago and looks forward to the return on July 19 at Rotary Centre for the Arts.

The venues this summer run the gamut from The Grist Mill outdoors in Keremeos on July 18, to likely their largest audience in the Duncan害羞草研究所檚 Cowichan Performing Arts Centre on Sept. 21. They perform the day before at ArtSpring Theatre on Salt Spring Island.

Among the fun is the July 20 Harrison Festival of the Arts.

害羞草研究所淪ummer is festival time, so any time I get to participate in a festival whether it害羞草研究所檚 on stage or as an audience member I feel lucky,害羞草研究所� Garramone said.

The Victoria singer anticipates it could be collaboration that continues as long as they have the energy. Cohen害羞草研究所檚 songs are durable and flexible, they withstand 害羞草研究所� and even hold up 害羞草研究所� as a work of art with their treatments, Garramone said.

害羞草研究所淗e didn害羞草研究所檛 release any duds, there害羞草研究所檚 a lifetime of songs to work with.害羞草研究所�

For more information on show dates and times,