Barbara Lewis opens St. Columba Concert Series October 22

A Soaring Tribute to Canadian Music in Celebration of Canada’s Upcoming 150^th

Local singer/songwriter, Barbara Lewis, continues her My Canada: Singing the Soul of a Country concert tour, leading up to Canada’s 150^th birthday in 2017, with a one-night only performance Saturday October 22 at St. Columba By the Lake Presbyterian Church, part of its annual concert series. Proceeds from the show will go to the Pierrefonds non-profit organization, Montreal Youth Unlimited, which offers meals and after school programmes to underprivileged elementary school students.

My Canada: Singing the Soul of a Country is Lewis’s personal tribute to the powerful sounds and ideas of Canada. In her twenties Lewis traveled across the country in search of musical adventure. Since then she has visited numerous other countries and for many years lived in New York City but after witnessing 9/11 she returned to her home and found Canada to be a haven. Lewis, whose style of voice has been described as an unusual blend of country star, Anne Murray, and folk-legend, Judy Collins, sings songs by Leonard Cohen, Joni Mitchell, Claude Dubois, Ian Tyson, Gordon Lightfoot, Stompin’ Tom Connors and many more to celebrate her homeland.

Barbara’s plan is to cross the country throughout the anniversary year singing to audiences, large and small, wherever she can. “I love Canada; it’s my anchor and a part of my soul. We’re a country bursting with great singers and song writers; I just couldn’t wait until 2017 to sing our praises! If I were a visual artist, I would paint what Canada means to me but I’m a singer, so I’ve chosen to sing songs by Canadians. In blending their musical vision with my own stories, my pianist and arranger, Doug Balfour, bass player, Sage Reynolds, and I take audiences on an exciting and poignant musical journey through Canadian time and place.” In a recent review of My Canada Montreal free-lance journalist, Tracey Arial, wrote, “Lewis’ ability to share her personal successes and disappointments with the audience as she sang made the show more like a hero’s odyssey than a musical performance.”

Saturday, October 22 at 7:30pm at St. Columba By-the-Lake Presbyterian Church, 11 Rodney Ave., Pte-Claire, QC, H9R 4L8. 514-697-2091. A $15 suggested donation can be made at the door. General seating; first come first served.