Leisa Way is looking forward to bringing her tribute to Canadian music to Estevan.
Oh, Canada We Sing for Thee, Created by Leisa Way, will be performed at the Estevan Comprehensive School on Oct. 1 at 2:30 p.m. Way and the Wayward Wind Band will perform songs from some of Canada’s most famous musicians in what she described as “a two-hour long party in celebration of Canada 150.”
The audience will hear just about every genre of music, she said, with No. 1 hit songs that people of all ages can sing along with.
“Audiences always say to us ‘Thank you so much just for making us feel so happy, and reminding us that we live in this amazing country and we have so much to be proud of,’” said Way.
And most audience members have a great time singing along with the popular Canadian hits.
Spectators can look forward to hearing the music of Celine Dion, Shania Twain, Michael Buble, Bryan Adams, Neil Young, Leonard Cohen, Don Messer, the Nylons and so much more.
“The fiddle section usually raises the roof, because I’ve come to believe that even if people don’t think they like the fiddles, they do,” said Way. “As soon as they hear it, they’re clapping their hands and stomping their feet.”
The concert also has a rock and roll section that appeals to young and old alike. People in their 50s, 60s and 70s identify with the music, because they grew up on it.
“The audience inspires us, because when the audience has fun, we have even more fun,” said Way. “The audience is a big part of our show.”
It’s not just about playing song after song, either. Way said they tell the stories of the musicians, songwriters and artists, and the songs are linked together through stories about Canada, or tales of what the musicians were experiencing when they wrote the song.
There are moments of humour mixed in with the concert as well.
The show was debuted at a small theatre near Ottawa a couple of years ago. Way said it sold out on a nightly basis, and generated positive responses from the audience.
“Every single person that came up to us said you have to take this show across Canada,” said Way.
At that time, she started planning the tour. It will be performed at more than 80 cities across Canada this year, and this segment of the tour includes 28 stops. Way said she hasn’t been to some of the communities before, including Estevan.
It was challenging to create a tour for a country as vast as Canada.
“When you do only major cities, usually you just fly,” said Way. “You go to Regina and you go to Winnipeg and you go to Vancouver. But on this tour, we’re driving, and we’re stopping in all of these smaller communities. It’s been such a joy … to meet the people, because I always say the heart of any community and any theatre, of course is the people. That’s what you remember.”
It has also been great to see Canada from the road as opposed to the air, she said.
The band members have phenomenal talent, she said. Audience members often marvel at the musicianship and the talent of the singers.
“It’s so much fun for all of us,” said Way.
Sam Cino, Bobby Prochaska, Bruce Ley, Fred Smith and Nathan Smith comprise the Wayward Winds.
It’s the talent of the band that allows her to put on such a show, with 12 costume changes and 11 wig changes.
The performance will be through the Estevan Arts Council’s Stars for Saskatchewan series.
