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Doin’ it for a song… again

Juno Award-winner Norman Foote returns to host diverse night of music and stories at Brackendale gallery May 23
Foote

Juno Award-winning musician, performer and comedian Norman Foote likes to equate songwriters with historians.

“If you look at what singers and songwriters do, it is writing and telling stories about what’s going on, and what it is like in their times,” he said.

Foote said he’s looking forward to hearing at least a few original songs about Squamish on Saturday (May 23), when he hosts a variety of local songwriting talents for the 16th annual Doin’ It For A Song event at Brackendale Art Gallery (BAG).

“Is it really 16 years,” he asked? “It feels like it has been longer. I guess it is just that I’ve always played at the gallery. I guess I’ve been playing at that gallery since I was pretty young.”

Originally from Vancouver, Foote is best known for his humour and children’s songs, having been nominated for Juno Awards four times for Best Children’s Album – and winning it in 2010. He’s also written for Walt Disney Records, Shari Lewis, CBC’s syndicated TV show Scoop and Doozie, KOBA’s production of Nelvana’s Little Bear Live and Backyardigans Live.

He said the 16th incarnation of Doin’ It For A Song promises to be a very special evening. “This is going to be a really good one to come to,” he said.

“Most of the performers are right from the Squamish valley. It’s quite a diverse lineup of artists we have this year, too. It’s certainly a bigger show than we’ve had in the past.”

In addition to Foote, the evening of song includes Anne and Mario Iacovone, Anne and Stan Thomson, Cam Salay, Carolyn Grass, Rita Kyle and Ray Grieves, plus the bands Gas Station Sushi (Asia Mader, Brian Marchant, Todd Maer, Enzo Milia, John Bright) and Brackendale (André and Samantha).

“Squamish really has an incredible music scene,” said Foote.

“And a lot of enthusiasm and talent goes into this show every year. I haven’t quite figured out how the evening will go, but each act will play three or four songs in the first half of the show, and then we may mix things up a bit for the second half.”

He said tickets for Doin’ It For A Song sell quickly every year.

“It’s just a really great evening of music, stories and songs,” he said. “And with a live concert like this, you have to get off your couch and go see it to really experience it… you can’t download it.”

If you miss Foote on Saturday, the performer is scheduled to return to the area a few more times over the next few months, he said.

“I’m going to be performing at Squamish Days Logger Sports, the children’s festival and at a fundraiser for my old school, Squamish Elementary,” he said.

“And I will also be in Whistler next week for another school fundraiser and for their children’s festival. I am always so grateful that the Sea to Sky community has always embraced my music and sense of humour. I certainly hope to be doing this for another 20 years, for sure.”

Tickets for Doin’ It For A Song are available at BAG or Xoco.

For more on Foote, go to www.normanfoote.com.

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