Award-winning author Grant Lawrence, whose resume includes an extensive musical career and various hosting gigs for CBC, brings his mix of music, humour and storytelling to SidneyB次元官网网址檚 Mary Winspear Centre on May 4.

B次元官网网址淚 often describe it as a West Coast version of Stuart McLeanB次元官网网址檚 touring version of the Vinyl Cafe. I have been compared to him,B次元官网网址� Lawrence said of the late CBC radio host, in an interview with Black Press Media.

B次元官网网址淏ut instead of his stories about Dave and Morley and the record shop, my stories are about hermits and people who build flying machines and fly them over the mountains and oceans and cougar ladies and stuff like that.B次元官网网址�

Lawrence, for the record, does not mind such comparisons at all.

B次元官网网址淪tuart McLean was a friend of mine. He came to our wedding, (he was) a friend of my wifeB次元官网网址檚 and when I was getting into writing, I turned to him for advice. He had me over to his home in Kensington Market in Toronto and he served me crumpets with blueberries B次元官网网址� the only time I have ever eaten crumpets in my entire life.B次元官网网址�

Ultimately, Lawrence will present stories and songs that allow audiences to see themselves, relate to the experience and relax.

A trio of accomplished musicians, each of them members of leading Canadian pop groups, will help Lawrence along the way. Kathryn Calder, previously of Immaculate Machine, now of the New Pornographers, Jay Malinowski of Bedouin Soundclash and Ashleigh Ball of Hey Ocean! will join him on stage.

B次元官网网址淏ecause I worked at CBC Music for many years and because I was in my own band The Smugglers for many years, you meet people. One of the greatest things about being a touring musician is that you connect with a community of other touring musicians and you find common ground and you make these very long-lasting friendships. The show is called Grant Lawrence and Friends and these people really are my friends.B次元官网网址�

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The poster also promises special guests, raising the question of whether LawrenceB次元官网网址檚 wife Jill Barber, herself an accomplished musician, will appear on stage.

B次元官网网址淢y wife does periodically show up and play, so maybe,B次元官网网址� he said. Inevitably, something or someone unexpected shows up, he added.

During a show on Hornby Island, the eight-year-old son of the promoter came onto stage. B次元官网网址淎nd he was really adept at doing BeatlesB次元官网网址� songs,B次元官网网址� Lawrence said. B次元官网网址淎nd I swear, the kid sat at the grand piano and within 20 seconds, everybody was clapping and singing along. The kid stole the show.B次元官网网址�

That same show Lawrence asked Judith Lawrence, the longtime puppeteer on childrenB次元官网网址檚 show Mr. Dressup, to bring up the iconic Casey and Finnigan for a back-and-forth bit. B次元官网网址淭hose type of things have been known to happen. I canB次元官网网址檛 guarantee that level of Canadian celebrity in Sidney, but it is still a stellar show from top to bottom.B次元官网网址�

LawrenceB次元官网网址檚 tour happens against the backdrop of the release of his book Return to Solitude, the sequel to Adventures in Solitude, the latter title derived from a New Pornographers song.

LawrenceB次元官网网址檚 father had bought property in Desolation Sound on the Sunshine Coast for a summer cabin in the 1970s and both books explore the colourful characters from diverse backgrounds who found their way to the rugged area.

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B次元官网网址淢isfits always have the best stories,B次元官网网址� he writes at one stage, quoting a crusty oyster farmer.

This raises the question of whether Lawrence considers himself a misfit.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 a misfit and I always had been a misfit. When I was a kid, I was a total nerd and I was bullied quite a bit. I couldnB次元官网网址檛 really fit in. I really didnB次元官网网址檛 fit in in my own family. My dad was very athletic and very handsome and very ambitious and my mom was very pretty. I just felt like, B次元官网网址榳hat happened to me?B次元官网网址� Who smacked me around with the ugly stick?B次元官网网址� So I had gimpy knees, very hinged knee braces when I was a kid and big thick glasses.B次元官网网址�

Lawrence responded to this outsider status by finding a niche in music, putting on all-ages rockB次元官网网址檔B次元官网网址檙oll shows with his friend, Nardwuar the Human Serviette, whose unique personality and interview style has seen him become a YouTube sensation.

B次元官网网址淚 have always been attracted to misfits or people that walk on the edges of society or even right outside of it.B次元官网网址� What interests him are those who buck the human nature of gathering in spaces with others, instead choosing to live in remote places, he added. B次元官网网址淭hey fill both my books (about Desolation Sound).B次元官网网址�

Ever since the First Peoples, people have recognized the richness of the area, he said. While Captain George Vancouver may have dismissed the area by giving Desolation Sound its name, he also forever added poetry to the place.

B次元官网网址淭hat name has forever captured the imagination of people looking to escape,B次元官网网址� Lawrence said. B次元官网网址淪o that name has drawn a certain breed of people from around the world.B次元官网网址�

For ticket and other information about the May 4 show, visit marywinspear.ca.

Do you have a story tip? Email: vnc.editorial@blackpress.ca.

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