Canadian folk-pop legend Valdy will return to White Rock's Blue Frog Studios this weekend with a Christmas-themed show featuring some of his favourite compositions from over the years.
The shows are scheduled for Friday and Saturday (Dec. 9 and 10), at 8 p.m, at the intimate venue, 1328 Johnston Rd.
Now 71, the Juno-award-winning, Order of Canada honoured singer-songwriter-storyteller – born Valdemar Horsdal, in Ottawa – has amassed some 22 albums all told, plus 22 singles and four gold records over a career spanning more than 50 years.
He has toured everywhere from Denmark to Australia – and was even featured on the iconic Canadian TV series The Beachcombers – but is probably best remembered for Play Me A Rock and Roll Song, his bittersweet recollection of facing a rambunctious crowd at the Aldergrove Rock Festival in the late 1960s.
"I play that at almost every concert I do, and the surprising fact is that I'm still doing it in the key I wrote it in, now almost 50 years ago," he told Peace Arch News by phone from his home base on Saltspring Island.
"I consider it still a valid song – a lot of people still find themselves in front of a crowd that isn't right for them, and they're not right for the audience."
Fortunately that doesn't happen to him a lot these days – his loyal audience knows what to expect and turn out faithfully, as they did for the last three times he appeared at Blue Frog.
"I also find a lot of people are coming to see for the first time, which is just lovely."
He said his favourite part of performing is singing "the latest song" – which, currently, is his tribute to the victims of the Fort McMurray fire, Rolling North on Highway 63.