EARLVILLE – The Earlville Opera House welcomes Canadian Fred Eaglesmith in a 6-piece Traveling Steam Show on Sunday, November 18 at 7 p.m. at Madison Hall. His full ensemble includes the fabulous Ginn Sisters on this tour. Fred Eaglesmith has earned comparisons to John Prine, Woody Guthrie, Neil Young, and Merle Haggard while mixing country, rock and folk in his stunning narrative songs. Onstage his tales and observations are as keen and compelling as his songs and frequently as hilarious as the best stand-up comedians.
The Ontario-based singer-songwriter has recorded 19 albums and written more than 1000 songs since the early 1980’s. If you can imagine “Tom Waits meets Pink Floyd meets Hank Williams,” (Calgary Herald) you may understand why this artist has such devoted fans. He inspires devotees called Fred-heads to follow him from one show to another delighting in what one reviewer calls the “fury and fun” of his concerts. His releases consistently hit the upper reaches of the Americana charts. His songs have even become part of the course curriculum at two colleges. Eaglesmith is creating a body of stunning contemporary roots music that is all its own.
Eaglesmith left the family farm at age 15 to become an itinerant rambling troubadour. His life story could in fact be the subject of one of his songs, which is one reason why Eaglesmith has such a deft touch for finding the literary significance within the lives of seemingly common people and rendering their tales, thoughts and feelings with profound humanity. He has a knack for creating a contextual sense of time and place that resonates with reality.
Eaglesmith is touring in support of his latest CD “Six Volts” that drew this review: “Every genre and roots subgenre he’s ever worked in is represented here; alt-country, stone cold folk, dry as dust roots, road songs, Gospel and it’s alter ego the murder ballad, all get their moments in the Eaglesmith sun and that’s a special place.
“Backed by a full band, featuring quick pickin’ mandolin player Mike Zinger, and … made edgy upon occasion by bursts of skronky electric guitar and made vital by Eaglesmith’s lived-in vocals. Subject matter includes stories of the down and the downtrodden, cheating wives, truckers on amphetamines, singers, crazy women, nights on the town, days on the road and da country music life.”
Fred Eaglesmith brings his Traveling Steam Show to the EOH at Madison Hall at 100 Route 20 in Morrisville, NY on Sunday, November 18th at 7pm. Advance Tickets are available online or by calling EOH at $22, $20 EOH members, $17 students. You can also get them on the Day of the Show for $3 more. Delicious refreshments will be provided by Madison Hall. For more information, or to reserve your ticket www.earlvilleoperahouse.com or call 315-691-3550.
EOH events are made possible, in part, with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature, and through the generosity of EOH members.