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Halifax
Daily News
Thursday, October 26, 2006
Canyon's
comin' home
George
Canyon will perform for Metro Centre crowd tonight
By Dean Lisk
The Daily News
The
irony isn't lost on George Canyon. The first concert the Pictou
County
native ever attended was Randy Travis at the Halifax Metro Centre
in the 1980s.
"I
sat there, and was like 'If I ever get the chance to play here,
that will be
it,'" said Canyon, who performs for the first time at the
Metro Centre tonight -
two days after Travis did the same.
"I
just can't wait. I am so excited."
The
country singer is headlining his first cross-Canada tour, complete
with his
own equipment, two buses of crew and performers, and a semi-truck
packed with
equipment and staging. The tour is in support of his newest
CD, Somebody Wrote
Love.
"We
are having fun, that's for sure," said Canyon. He's just
played his first
of two shows in Belleville, Ont. - it was sold-out - and is
walking around town
looking for a gym.
"You
make fun out of it," he said about exploring a new city.
"You try to find
things and every corner you take is another corner in life."
Canyon
knows all about the corners people take in their life.
A
few years ago, he was still Fred George Lays, sitting next to
his wife on the
couch of their home in Hopewell, Pictou Co., and watching country
music award
shows.
"At
one point, I was excited to watch them. At another point I was
depressed
because I wasn't on them, and the next point I would be angry
thinking 'I have
been in this business for so long, when am I ever going to get
a break?'"
It
was his wife, Jennifer, who suggested in 2003 that Canyon take
another shot
at music, and apply for Nashville Star, a country music version
of American
Idol. Originally, he said 'No' to the idea. He didn't think
the family had the
money to fly back and forth for the auditions and the show.
Jennifer won the
arguement.
"She
has been the backbone of this operation" said the 36-year-old.
"There a
lot of people who encouraged me in different ways."
Finishing
second on the show, Canyon turned the corner. He got an album,
awards, and a Christmas special on Canadian Music Television.
"We
have been really blessed. My career in the last three years
is more than I
could have dreamed. It just shocked me - everyday I actually
have trouble
believing what is going on - half the time."
This
year, Canyon released Somebody Wrote Love, which went on the
capture him
the male artist of the year and single of the year at the Canadian
Country
Music Awards. He performed for Canadian troops in Afghanistan,
and will make an
appearance in the new season of the Trailer Park Boys.
"It's
humbling. It's very humbling when I walk out on stage and see
the people,
and know they are there to see me. I still can't get over the
support I have."
Canyon
was in Charlottetown on Tuesday night, so he didn't get to see
Travis
play in Halifax this time.
"Of
all the acts I have ever wanted to tour with, he is up there."
said Canyon.
"I
want to do an acoustic tour with him, that would be utterly
amazing.
"Just
us on stage with an acoustic guitar, and just pick and talk
and tell
stories."
----------------------------------------------------------------------
IF YOU GO
WHAT:
George Canyon with special guests Gord Bamford and Dave Gunning
WHERE: Halifax Metro Centre
WHEN: Tonight at 7:30 p.m.
TICKETS: $44.50. Call 451-1221.
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