Last Ontario tour for Buddy and the Fellers

Don’t get Buddy Wasisname wrong: he and the Other Fellers aren’t hanging up their performing hats, by thunder. They’re just not going to it in all corners of the country.

After 36 years, this is the final Ontario tour for Kevin Blackmore (Buddy) and his merry men, playing Barrie next Friday, bringing their home-grown folk music and humour from Newfoundland that even we come-from-aways can appreciate.

Blackmore tells BarrieToday, that while picking, strumming and fiddling are always fun, leaving home to them is not.

“Age might be the first thing; travel is no easier. After 36 years doing engagements across the country, an active travel schedule is no longer necessary or desirable.” 

But Kevin says the touring won’t end without one more drink from the well of happy memories of Barrie, memories which started in the mid-1990s. 

"A Toronto-based agent brought us to the Georgian and also to Base Borden, which had a cinema theatre in which we performed… (and) we did appearances at the officers mess for some special occasions. 

“When in Barrie, we got time to walk the beautiful waterfront paths, see the town and experience the wonderful cafés and restaurants, but as well we built a large reservoir of contacts and friends. Going back there now, (we’re) going to see a lot of familiar faces, people who supported our shows over the years.” 

Don’t count on a twinge of jealousy the “Fellers” for their boyos back in Come-By-Chance, who took the $60-million LOTTO MAX jackpot last weekend. To Blackmore, who doesn’t gamble, the feeling is exactly the opposite. 

“I pity the winners. They’ll be badgered and swindled until they wish they’d never won such a large amount. The best thing you can win is your good health; that’s enough of a gamble in this world.”

Sure bet, though, Barrie fans of the “Fellers” will roll in the aisles from hearing the band’s favourite songs and “bits’.

“We are doing a lot of things from the past, the hit parade if you like,” says Blackmore says.  “(There’s) The Chocolate Song, Patsy, Still Some More to Go, Rock yourself on the Ocean, Da Yammie, Saltwater Joys, the whole show is a look back on some of the best things we’ve done.”

Buddy Wasisname and the Other Fellers and their last Ontario tour play Georgian Theatre Friday, March 9, starting at 8 p.m. To learn more, click here.