Internationally acclaimed and celebrating five decades of performing, Ian Tyson is a house hold name when it comes to the country music scene. While he won't be in Yorkton personally, his music will come alive on the stage as The Gift: A Tribute to Ian Tyson performance unfolds.
A one-of-a-kind tribute to one of country music's most acclaimed artists, the upcoming show will feature everything Ian - from folk, to honky tonk, to cowboy.
Producer of the show, Peter North says it's going to be evening residents won't soon forget.
"It all started about nine years ago. We had only planned on doing it for one weekend, three shows in Edmonton but then we sold out," North details.
"A lot of people in the community, the people who are in this band, along with Corb Lund and some other individuals, we just felt it was time to pay tribute to Ian. Around that time it was like 45 years of extraordinary work, such a variety of work."
It's more common says North to "tip your hat" to someone once they're gone but in this case it's been very rewarding to have even Tyson himself attend the shows and give a thumbs up.
The Gift is not one of those Tribute shows where someone imitates or emulates the featured artist says North, rather it's a group of talented and many well known, musicians and singers (most of whom have worked extensively with Tyson), who want to keep his songs alive.
The initial show was so were such a successful that promoters started booking the ensemble, and before long The Gift had played concerts from The Jack Singer Hall in Calgary to the National Arts Centre in Ottawa.
Led by Stewart MacDougall, The Gift is featured at rodeos, concert halls and festivals, cutting across all facets of Tyson's inspiring career, from his folk days with ex-wife Sylvia to his country rock era with the Great Speckled Bird.
"Of course," adds North, "there are Tyson's honky tonk classics and his cowboy culture material that focuses on favourites like Navajo Rug, Springtime In Alberta, Alberta's Child and 18 Inches of Rain. Audiences also love this ensembles faithful treatments of major Tyson hits like Someday Soon, Summer Wages and Four Strong Winds.
"The show just sort of got this unexpected wind in its sails and here we are nine years later. It just sort of got started and couldn't stop."
Each show features up to 25 talented performers, all singing the tunes of Tyson.
There are tribute bands out there but this performance is unlike others says North.
In typical tribute shows the performer emulates the person they are paying tribute to. They generally copy the look and the sound, this show is different.
"This is more just a really great band doing their interpretations of Ian's material... our band leader is a great singer and he sings in his own voice, he's not trying to sound like Ian... I think what's also interesting is, three of the guys in this show collectively have about 40 years of experience working with Ian. They've all worked on numerous recordings with Ian. Stewart in fact co-wrote the title track on the latest Ian record - Yellowhead to Yellow-stone."
The whole concept - idea to the stage gets Tyson's seal of approval. He's seen the show a number of times and North says he loves it. So much so he's even made special guest appearances where he has performed.
"When we did the recording a couple of years back he just raved about it."
The album features both the core band and numbers sung by Jennifer Warnes, Blue Rodeo and Gordon Lightfoot.
Entitled The Gift: A Tribute to Ian Tyson, North says the album is "pretty outstanding" and available both at music stores and from the band when it comes on tour.
Now travelling as an acoustic trio himself, the other aspect about the tribute band that Tyson likes, says North, is it allows people to hear Tyson's music with a full band again.
"We can play all the old electric honky tonk stuff and the country rock stuff that he hasn't done in years."
It's a show fans will love assures North.
"People can expect to see high quality musicians and singers... the vocal arrangements are spectacular. Some of the interpretations of the songs are very faithful to the originals... some will have a slightly different spin to them. There's really a nice balance between the really well known songs and some of the lesser known gems.
"It's a show that's done with reverence and a very high caliber musicianship... much to my surprise and delight we've already got bookings into next summer so I guess this will keep going as long as people keep phoning...
The Gift: A Tribute to Ian Tyson show will take place in Yorkton at the Painted Hand Casino June 30. Call the casino for ticket info. and show times.
