Juno Award winner Fred Eaglesmith will be bringing his Travelling Show to the Fergus Grand Theatre on June 4, presented by the Fergus Arts Council.
It was the idea of arts council member Peter Mandic, a devoted fan and self-proclaimed “Fredhead,” to curate a one-night art show of Eaglesmith’s art in the Grand Theatre’s lobby to coincide with the concert.
Eaglesmith agreed and offered the Arts Council a portion of art sales to help fund various projects including The Riverwalk Festival set for the end of June.
Eaglesmith, with his 30-year, 18-album, 250-shows-per-year musical career, is a declared amateur on canvas. His art, like his music, is inspired by his upbringing in the small rural Ontario village of Castor Centre, and his adventures on the road since he left there at age 15.
“My paintings are accidents – if I try to manipulate them they almost never work out. If I let them take their own shape, then even I am surprised by the result,” said Eaglesmith.
“I’ve been a very careful songwriter but now I know that I can throw it together and manipulate what happens. I am learning from my painting that I can go with my first instinct.”
His instinct has gained him widespread recognition, including an appearance on David Letterman and songs covered by Miranda Lambert and Alan Jackson.
But to him the greatest success is being able to play in front of a few hundred people, close to home and share a bit of his creativity through his music or his art.
