The longevity of a Canadian icon anchors a decade-long project that two celebrated Greater Victoria performers take to stages across the province this summer.

When Glenna Garramone and Oliver Swain first took Tower of Song: a creative tribute to Leonard Cohen on the road, they used to say they were two of the biggest Cohen fans youB次元官网网址檇 ever meet.

It was part of the banter in the show.

The quip seemed harmless enough until they toured a bit and met superfans with lyrics tattooed on their bodies.

The seed of the show was planted in 2011 while Garramone lived in Vancouver. She fully figured the performance to B次元官网网址減ay tribute to one of CanadaB次元官网网址檚 most amazing poets and singers and songwritersB次元官网网址� was a one-night deal.

Inspired by the the concept of a dialogue between artists, the show is rooted in the Tower of Song verse: B次元官网网址淚 said to Hank Williams, how lonely does it get? Hank Williams hasn't answered yet; But I hear him coughing all night long; Oh, a hundred floors above me in the Tower of Song.B次元官网网址�

That conversation transcends time and space. Every person has their own tower of inspiration, no matter their art from.

B次元官网网址淵ouB次元官网网址檙e looking to them for this inspiration and you kind of overhear what theyB次元官网网址檙e doing through the tower walls,B次元官网网址� Garramone said.

That same inspiration likely led her to invite Swain B次元官网网址� who sheB次元官网网址檇 heard perform an impressive Cohen song before B次元官网网址� and together, they were reminded of the power of harmony.

The tribute performance became an annual activity the next year, this time in Victoria.

B次元官网网址淚 see it as sacred ground. His poems and songs are loved by so many. ThereB次元官网网址檚 a bit of a risk,B次元官网网址� Garramone admits. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 about bringing our own voices and our own interpretations to his material.B次元官网网址�

Audiences responded and since then, theyB次元官网网址檝e performed it at festivals, theatres and folk clubs more than 200 times B次元官网网址� from Victoria to CohenB次元官网网址檚 homeland of Montreal.

B次元官网网址淭he project took on a life and a momentum of its own in the last 10 years,B次元官网网址� she said.

Songs are added, removed, reinterpreted and even Cohen's spoken word built around music.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 more a conversation between two people. Every song weB次元官网网址檝e chosen to include in the show has its own kind of magic.B次元官网网址�

Aside from the duoB次元官网网址檚 compelling vocal harmonies, Garramone brings piano, guitar and percussion to the show, while Swain adds standup base, banjo and guitar.

Tower of Song: a creative tribute to Leonard Cohen is back on the road with shows in Sidney, Harrison, Keremeos, Kelowna, Duncan and Salt Spring Island this summer.

It all starts Sunday at SidneyB次元官网网址檚 Mary Winspear Centre where fans will enjoy another local talent with the addition of Daniel Lapp. Mixing in other musical flavours creates some of GarramoneB次元官网网址檚 favourite shows because theyB次元官网网址檙e B次元官网网址渂ringing out these different sonic textures, different musical palettes.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址�(Lapp) can really paint with so many colours sonically and itB次元官网网址檚 really fun to work with someone who has such a diverse range of expression.B次元官网网址�

Garramone remembers fondly being onstage in Kelowna for the projectB次元官网网址檚 sold-out CD release 10 years ago and looks forward to the return on July 19 at Rotary Centre for the Arts.

The venues this summer run the gamut from The Grist Mill outdoors in Keremeos on July 18, to likely their largest audience in the DuncanB次元官网网址檚 Cowichan Performing Arts Centre on Sept. 21. They perform the day before at ArtSpring Theatre on Salt Spring Island.

Among the fun is the July 20 Harrison Festival of the Arts.

B次元官网网址淪ummer is festival time, so any time I get to participate in a festival whether itB次元官网网址檚 on stage or as an audience member I feel lucky,B次元官网网址� Garramone said.

The Victoria singer anticipates it could be collaboration that continues as long as they have the energy. CohenB次元官网网址檚 songs are durable and flexible, they withstand B次元官网网址� and even hold up B次元官网网址� as a work of art with their treatments, Garramone said.

B次元官网网址淗e didnB次元官网网址檛 release any duds, thereB次元官网网址檚 a lifetime of songs to work with.B次元官网网址�