Fans of the late Gordon Lightfoot can celebrate his life and songs as the Highlands Summer Festival presents Early Morning Rain: The Legend of Gordon Lightfoot Aug. 6-10 at the Northern Lights Performing Arts Pavilion.
The HSF said the award-winning Leisa Way & The Wayward Wind Band will take audiences on a musical journey through the remarkable life and career of the Canadian folk-rock legend who would have turned 85 this year.
“What makes this performance special is the storytelling and the great connection these musicians have to the music, and to their audience,” said show creator Leisa Way.
She added, “they love the music, they love Gord, and they perform these tunes from the heart. Audiences naturally respond with standing ovations and the best part is hearing the audience sing along to every song.”
The all-star Canadian band of accomplished singers, under the musical direction of Bruce Ley, capture the magic of Lightfoot’s live performances in a twohour celebration, with fascinating stories, facts and anecdotes paying homage to the iconic Canadian singer-songwriter.
The fully staged concert has a five-piece band including Way, Fred Smith on guitars and vocals, Bobby Prochaska on bass and vocals, Don Reid on drums and vocals and Bruce Ley on piano and vocals.
This concert includes hits such as Early Morning Rain, If You Could Read My Mind, Carefree Highway, Sundown, For Lovin’ Me, Canadian Railroad Trilogy, Ribbon of Darkness, and The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.
Lightfoot recorded 20 albums, had five Grammy nominations, 17 Juno Awards, earned 16 number ones, 18 top 10s and 21 top 40 hits. Other great artists who have recorded his songs include Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan, The Grateful Dead, Blue Rodeo, Johnny Cash, Eric Clapton, Neil Young, Sarah McLachlin, Harry Belafonte, Judy Collins, Barbra Streisand, Peter Paul & Mary, and Toby Keith.
In 2012, Lightfoot’s legacy was further enhanced when he was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and decorated with the Governor’s General Award and the Companion to the Order of Canada Honor of Merit. In 2019, a documentary of his life If You Could Read My Mind, was made.
Way has created 12 concerts, including Across the Pond (The British Invasion) which sold-out for Highlands Summer Festival last summer. Way has also created the popular concerts Rock n’ Roll is Here to Stay, Rhinestone Cowgirl (Dolly Parton), Sweet Dreams (Patsy Cline), Opry Gold, and Oh, Canada, which played to audiences across the country on a 44-city Canada 150 tour in 2017.
For tickets contact: highlandssummerfestival.on.ca or call 1-855-457-9933.
