Part nostalgia, part history, part about today; a John McLachlan concert is a journey through story, with songs that connect us with who we are and where we come from.
“Call it Home” is a musically dramatic journey that re-ignites glowing memories of summer vacations, explores the pains of growing up, and sheds light on the realities of adulthood with its realization that we are all part of a bigger ebb and flow. The songs tell of youth, the passage of time, and the vibrancy of life on Hornby Island which John McLachlan now calls home.
From a poignant memory of his dad’s 8mm home movies to a story about the first car ferry and its captain, this concert is part nostalgia, part history and part present day. Images and movie clips weave throughout, adding a richness and authenticity recognizable to every childhood summer holiday spent on islands, at lakes, or in the countryside. “Call It Home” traces a personal yet universal journey of appeal to all ages.
75-minute show
Biography
John McLachlan became hooked on historically-based songs in grade 4 when student teacher Ms. Dolan played Gordon Lightfoot’s “Canadian Railroad Trilogy.” As a teenager he picked up his dad’s old guitar and started to learn words and chords of singer-songwriters he loved. He wrote his first song at 19 when he began playing at a small folk club in North Vancouver.
In 1985 he formed a band and presented his first (of many) concerts at the Vancouver East Cultural Centre. Heavily stacked with friends and family, the sell-out show gave him a major kick to know that there was something there worth pursuing.
Over the next 15 years he travelled to many corners of British Columbia—from Nazko to Kyuquot, Fort St. John to Princeton, Prince George to Vancouver— presenting hundreds of community concerts and developing several programs for schools featuring BC or Canadian history. He took his school show to Saskatchewan, toured folk clubs as far east as Ottawa, and performed in Bogotá, Colombia accompanying a festival of West Coast Canadian cuisine.
After a 15-year break, starting in the late 90s, in 2014 it was time to get back to music, songs and performing.
Discography: “Rhythm in my Run”, “McLachlan Sings Lightfoot”, “Time Broke”, “Wind & Bones”, and “Call It Home”.
Don’t miss out. Only 50 seats per performance!!!
Each performance will be an exclusive event in The Bailey Theatre for a maximum of fifty people. Only individuals from the same household, or your “double bubble”, may be seated together.
Tickets are $25 and on sale from noon on Tuesday, September 8. Tickets may only be purchased online 24/7 or by phoning the Box Office at 250-368-9669 from Monday to Friday 12-4 pm.
Anyone attending will have to adhere to our safety protocols to ensure social distancing and to prevent mingling. Ticket buyers will be emailed the week of the show to confirm their show time and to provide our Covid protocols. Masks will be mandatory until you are in your seat. We will also be giving out full refunds to anyone who can no longer attend if they feel ill.
No tickets will be issued for this show, but we will have a list of confirmed attendees at the door. After purchasing tickets please check that you receive an email confirmation so that you know you are on the list of confirmed attendees.
If you are unable to come to the performance a recording of the live show will be streamed the following weekend and will be available for 48 hours. Bookings must be made to watch the stream. Streaming is by donation with proceeds going to charity.
These performances are part of the 6 Beats Apart series that also includes:
- jazz series favourite Melody Diachun & Friends with a celebration of togetherness through music on Saturday, October 10 at 5 pm and 7:30 pm
- Lazy Poker Blues Band on Saturday, October 24 at 5 pm and 7:30 pm
- a country double-bill with Son of John opening for Lisa Nicole on Saturday, November 14 at 5 pm and 7:30 pm.
- comedian Mike Delamont's Socially Distant Stand Up Comedy Tour on Thursday, November 19 at 5:30 pm and 8:30 pm
- Hornography, a nine-piece horn driven band inspired by the sounds of world beat and funk, on Saturday, November 28 at 4 pm and 7:30 pm
- the Clinton Swanson R&B Revue, a high energy eight piece performing old school soul, R'n B, and blues, on Saturday, December 12 at 4 pm and 7:30 pm.
Shows not sold as a series.
This show is made possible thanks to funding from the Columbia Basin Trust, Kootenay Savings Credit Union, the Province of British Columbia, BC Arts Council, BC Touring Council, Creative BC and Canadian Heritage.