“I like playing where anyone wants to hear me, actually,” he chuckled. “That’s why I’m on the road all the time, because you don’t retire from this business, people just stop coming to your shows.” Valdy

He remembers performing in Campbellford back in the late ’80s

Article by John Campbell

Ccampbellford - Wed., Oct 12, 2022 - For the third month in a row a legend will perform at the Aron Theatre Co-op.
First it was the Godfather of Canadian comedy, Kenny Robinson, in August. Elvis (tribute artist Garry Wesley) followed in September. And this month it’s Canadian folk music icon Valdy who will be dropping by Oct. 20.

The two-time Juno Award winner (Folk Singer of the Year, Folk Entertainer of the Year) has toured Canada going on 50 years as well as performed in dozens of countries. He has four gold records to his credit and close to a half-million in sales of his albums and singles.

Interviewed by phone at his home on Salt Spring Island off the coast of British Columbia, Valdy said he will be singing the songs that are familiar to many (Play Me a Rock and Roll Song is his most famous), along with “some new things” during his solo concert, comprising two 45-minute sets.

“I have two recording projects on the go and I’ll be blending some of those songs in,” he said. “Plus I do some covers.”
Tickets are $25 in advance, $28 at the door. To order, visit https://arontheatre.com.

“It’s going to be a fantastic show,” said Aron general manager Russ Christianson. “People are really wanting to get out” now that the pandemic appears to be on the wane and the public’s response to the live concerts the Aron is hosting has been good thus far.

Valdy returned to going on the road this year after his musical travels were cut short by the pandemic (he’s been tested 19 times for the coronavirus, BTW, and has never tested positive, he said).
“I’m revving up the touring now,” said the 77-year-old singer. “Life is good and I’ve got my health.”

Valdy said he’s been “exceptionally lucky” to have made a career out of music.
“I’ve been doing what I like all my life,” he said. “I feel like I’ve been a little spoiled.”

The music industry has changed dramatically since he started out in the late 1960s and he has had to learn to adapt.
“It’s a whole new world out there,” he said, and the internet is largely responsible.
“YouTube’s the new market (but) it’s the box office I make my living in,” Valdy said.

He loves performing for audiences, no matter how big or how small is the venue.
“I like playing where anyone wants to hear me, actually,” he chuckled. “That’s why I’m on the road all the time, because you don’t retire from this business, people just stop coming to your shows.”

He’s still a draw wherever he goes – he regularly performs in New Zealand – and he has a good memory for where he’s been. He remembers performing in Campbellford back in the late ’80s.

The Valdy of today is much different from the one who started out in music in the ’60s.
“I learned to sing better and I play better, and I respect the audience in a different way than I did when I was younger,” he said. “If wisdom sticks to you like burrs when you walk through a field then I got lucky, I’ve got some.”

On his website, valdy.com, he talks about his interest in governance, which sometimes finds its way into his music.
“I do become overly political in my songs, I have to apologize for that,” he said