Fred Eaglesmith launched his 18th Annual Springwater Charity Picnic weekend at the CASO Railway Station Thursday evening (August 16th). This is the second year that Fred and his Travelling Steam Show have kicked off the picnic at the historic venue.
As Eaglesmith’s band and the Fabulous Ginn Sisters warmed up the audience a wonderful breeze wafted through the open station windows, bringing pleasant air circulation and Fred to join in the first set of music.
The station is particularly suiting venue for Eaglesmith’s music as he has spent considerable time working on, singing about, and writing award-winning train-themed songs. He was honoured earlier this summer with induction into the North America Railway Hall of Fame at the CASO station.
As Eaglesmith’s band and the Fabulous Ginn Sisters warmed up the audience a wonderful breeze wafted through the open station windows, bringing pleasant air circulation and Fred to join in the first set of music.
The station is particularly suiting venue for Eaglesmith’s music as he has spent considerable time working on, singing about, and writing award-winning train-themed songs. He was honoured earlier this summer with induction into the North America Railway Hall of Fame at the CASO station.
The packed house responded enthusiastically to the Travelling Steam Show’s performance of a sampling of songs from Eaglesmith’s nineteen albums, and to the Fred-commentary on life, being on the road, his present audience, etc. He railed (a few times) about the 4 ½ hour ceremony at which he was inducted into the Railway Hall of Fame. He demanded that hand-drying in the washrooms be stopped immediately after wondering aloud what the noise was. And he asked if "that great St. Thomas music store" was still around. Audience members assured him that Maestro Music was still open although “you have to go to the back door”, giving Fred reason to pause.
Eaglesmith is known for bringing memorable music to the masses. “In the final analysis, it’s a simple equation. ‘We just play rock’n’roll,’ Eaglesmith asserts. And in the process deliver music based on passion and truth, with an emotional union and a shared sense of fun. “The root of it all is my little bit of creativity, that little ball of fire inside me. I just do what feels like the truth to me. And when it feels like the truth it’s really not that hard to do or hard to listen to.” (From the Fred Eaglesmith Press Kit)
Although he travels relentlessly, Fred Eaglesmith also makes it very clear through both music and commentary that he loves southern Ontario. It’s nice, when he returns home to this area, to be part of an audience whose members obviously love listening to his take on music and “the truth”.
Proceeds from Thurday evening’s refreshment sales were in support of the CASO Railway Station. Find out more at www.narhf.org. Support from Fred’s Annual Picnic at Springwater has helped the Long Point Basin Land Trust to protect series at risk, restore important natural habitats, and purchase new nature reserves along the Lake Erie shore. Find out more at www.longpointlandtrust.ca.
Although he travels relentlessly, Fred Eaglesmith also makes it very clear through both music and commentary that he loves southern Ontario. It’s nice, when he returns home to this area, to be part of an audience whose members obviously love listening to his take on music and “the truth”.
Proceeds from Thurday evening’s refreshment sales were in support of the CASO Railway Station. Find out more at www.narhf.org. Support from Fred’s Annual Picnic at Springwater has helped the Long Point Basin Land Trust to protect series at risk, restore important natural habitats, and purchase new nature reserves along the Lake Erie shore. Find out more at www.longpointlandtrust.ca.
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