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Valdy to play MacLaren in early February

Folksinger on the mend
valdy
The legendary Valdy is at the MacLaren Art Centre Feb. 3. Photo supplied

A singer known simply by his first name, Valdy is a living legend, and part of what makes his legendary is his genuine humility. That extends to opening up about not (occasionally) being Superman. It happened to the singer born Paul Valdemar Horsdal near the end of last year, when he fell ill with an unspecified lung disease.

The 72-year-old troubadour tells BarrieToday he came out of that trying time in mid-January, giving a performance in Sidney, B.C., a gig to which he was able to battle to the end, as “my voice held until the encore, and I had been playing prior to the gig to get my fingertips in shape. I was nervous, having been out of the loop for six weeks of a lung disease, so I sang carefully and paced myself, and to good advantage, thankfully.”

Valdy fans in Barrie can thank their lucky stars, too, for he’s just weeks away from a return trip to town, to play the MacLaren Art Centre, Saturday, Feb. 3. The man who gave Canadian music fans such recognizable chestnuts as Yes, I Can, Peter and Lou, The Simple Life, and the autobiographical (and painful) Play Me a Rock’n’Roll Song, about the time he was booed off the stage by inebriated hecklers at a music festival near the beginning of his career.

Some songwriters shy away from naming a favourite piece, but Valdy has no such compunctions.

“My favourite song is usually my most recent one, although having just put a new last verse on Leavin' Ain't the Only Way To Go has brought it into my favourite list again. It's good (that) I enjoy Play Me a Rock’'n' Roll Song, because it is an essential song every show.”

But being a folksinger, telling stories to listeners far and wide, goes beyond hearing their applause; it’s to teach his audience something about the world, a responsibility Valdy takes very seriously.

“It is the folksinger’s mandate to be relevant, to hold feet to the fire, and to try to infect the populace with the enjoyment of music, either received or enjoined. I am an advocate for literacy and a ban on nuclear weapons.”

He has also done yeoman work on behalf of labour unions and other such organizations.

As for his views on the state of Canadian music, Valdy is somewhat diffident about waving the flag, voicing instead his preference for “original music. It need not be stellar or blockbusting, just as long as it's heartfelt and delivered with passion. The Canadian music scene is so vast now, I cannot say I have a handle on it, but I am delighted so many are playing so well for so many.”

Barrie and Valdy are old friends, and the days are hanging like weeks till his arrival in town and at the MacLaren.

“The Barrie Folk Society has developed a matrix of music fans that support a wide variety of folk music, so the audiences are both informed and enthusiastic. I particularly like the MacLaren building; the room lets sound breathe, and with a high enough stage, everyone has a good seat.”

Finally, to Valdy, folk music is not just a label for record promoters.

”Folk music audiences form a wide demographic, from skilled tradespeople to professors, from caregivers to engine mechanics, from students to teachers, and thus a common love of music melds people from vastly different homes and pursuits. This makes folk audiences receptive to a wide variety of topics and styles, perhaps more accommodating than specific genre audiences.”

To learn more about Valdy’s show at the MacLaren, click here.


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Glenn Wilkins

About the Author: Glenn Wilkins

Glenn Wilkins, in a 30-year media career, has written for print and electronic media, as well as for TV and radio. Glenn has two books under his belt, profiling Canadian actors on Broadway and NHL coaches.
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