SCUGOG: John Stinson and the Classic Lightfoot Live – GORDON
LIGHTFOOT Tribute show performed at the historic Town Hall 1873 music hall in 2016 and again in 2023. Stinson is excited to play once again at the Town Hall 1873. "This venue is really a great fit… the set-up, the seating; it's a perfect spot for our show. And the audiences have always been great."
Originally from Toronto, Stinson has been performing for more than 30 years. While raising his family in Aurora, he became neighbours with Lightfoot's original lead guitarists, Red Shea and Terry Clements. Red Shea's early work on Lightfoot's records helped to define Gord's music.
"Spending time with Red Shea and Terry Clements brought me even closer to understanding the details and nuances of Lightfoot's music," Stinson said. "To me, his music really does reflect what it means to be Canadian. His lyrics tell stories: his stories, our stories, Canadian stories. They reach out and touch audiences in deep emotional ways." Stinson has been recreating Lightfoot's music in a full theatre show since 2011. Thousands of patrons have filled theatres across Ontario with many returning again and again.
"Others can tell, even if they don't know how or why John's renditions come off as being so faithful. I've been told before, and many did that night; they can't believe how well John sings Gord's tunes." John Swartz, SunOnlineMedia.ca, Nov 2023
All the band members have close relationships with Lightfoot. You can't get much more real than having Lightfoot's nephew, Steve Eyers, on board as the bass guitarist and Lightfoot's record producer, Bob Doidge, as Music Director. Steve Eyers is the son of Beverly Lightfoot (Eyers) of Orillia; she was Gordon Lightfoot's sister and managed Gordon for a period of time in the 1970s. Bob Doidge produced Lightfoot's last five albums at his Grant Avenue Studio in Hamilton, Ontario. Eric Kidd, the lead guitarist, is a long-time Barrie resident and an accomplished professional musician and music teacher. He plays "mind-blowing guitar," said Stinson, adding he also knew and studied with Red Shea from Lightfoot's first band and Eric channels Red and Terry's guitar style perfectly.
A connection to Lightfoot runs deep in this band. Stinson's most memorable experience so far was performing while Gordon was in the audience. "We played in Orillia in November of 2016 with Gordon in the audience. That was the thrill of my life. Gord came up after the show and congratulated us on the performance." The Classic Lightfoot Live show, featuring highlights from Lightfoot's 20 studio albums, will be sure to have Lightfoot lovers tapping their toes. They can expect to hear some little-known tracks along with the much-loved ones, such as Rainy Day People, If You Could Read My Mind, and The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.
Find out more about the Port Perry show at https://townhalltheatre.ca/ and Classic Lightfoot Live at www.classiclightfootlive.com.
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