The Assiniboia and District Arts Council kicked off its fall concert series with “Oh Canada, We Sing for Thee” featuring Leisa Way and The Wayward Wind Band on September 29. The concert was part of the Stars for Saskatchewan concert series organized by the Assiniboia and District Arts Council and the Organization of Saskatchewan Arts Councils.
Way and the five-member Wayward Wind Band offered the Assiniboia audience one of the best performances of the concert series. Way’s fantastic voice covered a huge vocal range that allowed her to effortlessly dig deep for the low tones of Joni Mitchell to the heights of Celine Dion tunes. The performance also received two thumbs up for its costuming. While the band remained in red and white Team Canada jerseys, Way changed outfits to emulate the singers such as wearing 1970s style clothing while singing Anne Murray’s early hits. The band and Way smoothly took turns leading the songs.
Way and her bandmates shared an easy rapport on stage and brought in the audience to participate as they introduced song sets and shared a few jokes. This concert celebrated Canada 150 with covers of the best Canadian music from coast-to-coast over the decades. The “Oh Canada” concert was musically challenging featuring a variety of genres and styles – French-Canadian, Acadian, country, rock, fiddle and folk. There were also a few national favourites like the Hockey Night in Canada theme song.
They performed such Canadian musical greats as Gordon Lightfoot, Anne Murray, Celine Dion, Michael Buble, Shania Twain, Stompin’ Tom Connors, Buffy Ste. Marie, Leonard Cohen, Joni Mitchell, The Guess Who, Ian and Sylvia, Neil Young, Don Messer, Bryan Adams and BTO. The audience heard favourites such as Buffy Ste. Marie’s Oscar-winning hit “Up where we belong”, the theme song from An Officer and a Gentleman, and Leonard Cohen’s classic “Halleluiah”.
Way and her band brought a phenomenal level of musical prowess and professionalism that seldom gets heard at concerts in rural Saskatchewan. Introductions flowed smoothly into songs that were performed flawlessly as if hearing the original recording on a radio. Way and Wayward Wind created a fast-paced, upbeat night of toe tapping, hand clapping and singing along.
Way and the band kept the Assiniboia audience entertained for over two hours with excellent music and plenty of Canadian trivia. For example, the baseball glove was invented by a Canadian, and one of Cohen’s favourite sayings was, “For me, the road to success is often under construction.”
Way was born in Kitchener and raised in Sudbury and, as she grew up, music became her passion. With her huge voice, she performed solo by the age of 16 for Queen Elizabeth, Terry Fox, Teddy Kennedy and Wayne Gretzky and sang the national anthem for such high-profile events as the Special Olympics, the Labatt Curling Briar and at a Canada-Russia hockey game. Her career has taken her to more than 50 countries, performing at major theatres in Canada and the U.S. in various musical roles.
Way then switched to producing and creating shows. She has now created seven hugely successful concerts that have performed to sold-out houses at over 60 theatres across Canada. She is now working on an eighth concert celebrating the music of the legendary Canadian singer and songwriter, Gordon Lightfoot. Upcoming concerts in the Stars for Saskatchewan series in Assiniboia include Chris Henderson on January 10, 2018 at 7:30 p.m., emerging folk band 100 Mile House on February 5, 2018 at 7:30 p.m., the Derina Harvey Band on April 16, 2018 at 7:30 p.m., Hillsburn on April 27, 2018 at 7:30 p.m. All performances take place in the auditorium of the Prince of Wales Centre in Assiniboia.
