Juno Award-winning musician, performer and comedian Norman Foote likes to equate songwriters with historians.
鈥淚f you look at what singers and songwriters do, it is writing and telling stories about what鈥檚 going on, and what it is like in their times,鈥� he said.
Foote said he鈥檚 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鈥� It For A Song event at Brackendale Art Gallery (BAG).
鈥淚s it really 16 years,鈥� he asked? 鈥淚t feels like it has been longer. I guess it is just that I鈥檝e always played at the gallery. I guess I鈥檝e been playing at that gallery since I was pretty young.鈥�
Originally from Vancouver, Foote is best known for his humour and children鈥檚 songs, having been nominated for Juno Awards four times for Best Children鈥檚 Album 鈥� and winning it in 2010. He鈥檚 also written for Walt Disney Records, Shari Lewis, C小蓝视频鈥檚 syndicated TV show Scoop and Doozie, KOBA鈥檚 production of Nelvana鈥檚 Little Bear Live and Backyardigans Live.
He said the 16th incarnation of Doin鈥� It For A Song promises to be a very special evening. 鈥淭his is going to be a really good one to come to,鈥� he said.
鈥淢ost of the performers are right from the Squamish valley. It鈥檚 quite a diverse lineup of artists we have this year, too. It鈥檚 certainly a bigger show than we鈥檝e had in the past.鈥�
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 (Andr茅 and Samantha).
鈥淪quamish really has an incredible music scene,鈥� said Foote.
鈥淎nd a lot of enthusiasm and talent goes into this show every year. I haven鈥檛 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.鈥�
He said tickets for Doin鈥� It For A Song sell quickly every year.
鈥淚t鈥檚 just a really great evening of music, stories and songs,鈥� he said. 鈥淎nd with a live concert like this, you have to get off your couch and go see it to really experience it鈥� you can鈥檛 download it.鈥�
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.
鈥淚鈥檓 going to be performing at Squamish Days Logger Sports, the children鈥檚 festival and at a fundraiser for my old school, Squamish Elementary,鈥� he said.
鈥淎nd I will also be in Whistler next week for another school fundraiser and for their children鈥檚 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.鈥�
Tickets for Doin鈥� It For A Song are available at BAG or Xoco.
For more on Foote, go to www.normanfoote.com.
