FERGUS – The Scott Woods Band will hit the road this fall for two Canadian tours.
The first is a continuation of last year’s cross-Canada Yee Haw, with 11 more shows in Ontario from Sept. 25 to Oct. 6, including stops in Rockwood and Kitchener.
Fergus native Scott Woods said the tour is inspired by the “corny country music variety show” Hee Haw, which aired from 1969 to 1997. He said the show was characterized by silly skits and humour, but still had credibility as “everybody and their brother in country music” came on Hee Haw.
Yee Haw is not a tribute show or recreation, Woods said, merely a throwback, but the show does play into the inspiration in fun ways.
It starts with a director addressing the “live studio audience,” telling them to make lots of noise when the “On Air” sign turns on, he said.
“Then we’re away to the races.”
The mix of music and humour has the band calling back to people such as Stompin’ Tom Connors and comedian Minnie Pearl.
Woods works trick fiddling into the performance – a staple of his repertoire. He is nicknamed “The Flippin’ Fiddler” for his mid-fiddle running flip trick.
While the show is performative in nature, Woods said that onstage he still speaks from the heart and stays authentic.
The second tour is Christmas Hoedown, which as the name suggests, mixes classics from Christmas and country music.
Inspired by Don Messer’s Jubilee, Woods said the band plays well-known Christmas songs such as Silent Night and Away in a Manger, but incorporate fiddle tunes into instrumental sections.
“The emotion goes kind of up and down. Lots of silly stuff, but we have a lot of serious stuff too,” he said.
The musical variety show has 47 performances across Canada from Nov. 1 to Dec. 21, finishing the tour performing in Fergus.
“It’s kind of like a family RV vacation, but we gotta set up and play a show every night,” said Woods of the busy tour schedule.
He spoke highly of his four bandmates, regarding Steve Piticco as “one of the finest guitar pickers in Canada,” adding he’s known as the “Telecaster master”.
Bass player Kurk Bernard has an “absolutely amazing voice for county music,” said Woods, adding that Bernard also possesses great comedic skills.
“He’s kind of like being on tour with Jim Carrey, like he’s got voices and characters and this silly stuff all the time.”
Woods’ sister, Kendra Norris, is a longtime band member, as the Scott Woods Band was originally created from his family band growing up. He said it’s “a real treat” to have her on the road.
The fourth member, 21-year-old Leo Stock, is the “the star of the show,” said Woods. Stock plays fiddle, drums and sings in the performances and is a two-time Canadian Open Step Dance champion.
“We call him Spaghetti Legs. He’s tall and skinny and legs just go crazy when he step dances,” he quipped.
Woods has accolades of his own, such as being a multiple winner of the Canadian Open Fiddle Contest.
Like previous tours, many of the shows act as a fundraiser that give a cut of the revenue to a charity, or sometimes the church where the show is being played.
Woods said people don’t have to be country music fans to enjoy his show.
“The best compliment I get is when people come and say ‘I’m not a fiddle fan, I didn’t even want to come, but my sister-in-law made me come, or this is sponsored by the church and I belong to the church… but I really like this show.’”
Tickets are available for purchase at scottwoods.ca.
