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Folk musician Valdy is a seasoned, well-travelled performer and one of Canada’s best-known cultural ambassadors. A double Juno Award winner with 16 albums, four of them gold status, he continues to perform throughout Canada, doing as many as 200 shows per year.
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Valdy will perform in Rankin on Saturday, November 9, the final concert of the season organized by Lynne and John Epps of Eganville. Their successful Off the Grid Productions (OTGP) concert series featured two spring and four fall concerts in 2024.
Valdy’s distinctive voice, skillful guitar work, and meaningful lyrics have captivated audiences around the world for almost 40 years. His music is a little bit folk, a tad country, a smidgen of rock ‘n roll, and a slice of blues, and it is as relevant today as when he first came to prominence in the 1970s. Many fans have followed him since then, and some younger music enthusiasts happily discovered him through their parents’ record collections. Today he can still be heard on classic, country and campus radio stations, his songs spiced with a wry wit and reflecting the joys, struggles and accomplishments present in all of our lives.
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Guitarists pay particular attention to Valdy. His playing seems effortless, but it masks an underlying musical complexity and prowess. This skill is in demand throughout the year, when he frequently teaches workshops on guitar accompaniment.
Valdy is one of the nation’s hardest working musicians; he tours continuously. He regularly performs in New Zealand, is invited to dozens of music festivals each year – some as far-flung as Texas — and has performed extensively in Europe, including Austria, Germany, Holland, Spain, Sweden, Denmark and Switzerland. Because he understands that people have come to be entertained, he tailors each of his shows to suit the audience at that specific venue.
A testament to Valdy’s status as a Canadian musical icon is his investiture as a member of the Order of Canada in 2012. He was recognized for his achievements as a folk musician, as well as for his support of charitable causes, and for his long-time advocacy for literacy in Canada.
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A review in the Edmonton Journal said, “Valdy’s show is a disarming and practical blend of respect for the audience and show business expertise.” A glowing review from the Charlottetown Evening Patriot described his performance as “One of the best evenings of entertainment the Confederation Centre has ever seen …… a man of formidable talents.”
Valdy’s show is at the Rankin Culture & Recreation Centre on Saturday, November 9 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets and details are available on the OTGP website at www.offthegridproductions.ca. For more information, email Lynne Epps at eppsoffthegrid@gmail.com or phone 613-628-5897.
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