Canyon
reigns
The
award-winning Canadian country music star wasn't deterred
by the weather.
By JAMES REANEY, FREE PRESS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT COLUMNIST
George
Canyon didn't make the fans at the Western Fair grandstand
wait too long for the Canadian Country Music Association song
of the year.
The
lanky country star from Nova Scotia opened his headlining
set with Somebody Wrote Love a couple of days after its triumph
at the Saint John, N.B., gala. Canyon also won male artist
of the year at the CCMAs, but last night he was more concerned
with the weather.
"Lord
willing, it's not going to rain. I think we've had enough
. . . today," Canyon said, looking skyward after hitting
the stage with his big hit and following it with Who Would
You Be and Your Smile before a crowd of 2,200 fans.
It
didn't rain during his 75-minute set, but the weather wasn't
all that had the Nashville Star runner-up keeping a lookout
in the early going. He went to the side of the stage early
in the set for an adjustment in his sound equipment while
his fiddler filled in.
The
sound woes that clouded Canyon's big voice in the Unplugged-style
Your Smile had definitely been solved by encore time. Canyon
came back on stage with the sensitive ballad My Name -- written
for friends who had suffered a miscarriage -- and his tender
big man's touch with the lyrics could be felt way back in
the grandstand.
The
finale of the two-song encore was Folsom Prison Blues, a loud
and raucous tribute to one of Canyon's country idols, the
late Johnny Cash.
Canyon
has a fine touch when doing Cash, even down to the deliberate
stage movement.
Unfortunately,
his six-piece band -- which can move right along with Canyon,
whether he's in a traditional groove, or a more contemporary
style -- was one big blur behind him on the closing Cash tribute.
Maybe the band was leaving a challenge in the air for the
Road Hammers, who headline tomorrow night.
The
Hammers had a fine run at the CCMAs, too, and are probably
the loudest country band ever to hit London.
Still,
a little moisture in the air and a glitch or two in the sound
system is never going to hold back somebody like Canyon. He
struggled 14 years for recognition, but has kept on working
hard since his Nashville Star breakthrough three years ago.
To the fans who stood and cheered for more after Time for
Goodbye, the main set finale, he's the man. To Canyon, they're
his friends. "I can't go without visiting. That wouldn't
be very Nova Scotian of me," he said in promising to
meet and greet after the show.
Six
years ago this week, it was last night's openers, the Wilkinsons,
who were winning six CCMAs. The Canadian family trio of Steve
Wilkinson and his grown children Amanda and Tyler had a 30-minute
set to show off their first hit, 26 Cents, and a funny new
one about everybody being a six-pack away from perfection.
Father and daughter shared the emceeing and spotlight duties
-- not always smoothly. Amanda Wilkinson, who does all the
heavy lifting as dancer, cheerleader and lead singer, joked
she wouldn't kick the other two out. She already has her own
CD.
Newfoundland
and Labrador rockers Great Big Sea headline on the grandstand
tonight.
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