From 2003-2019, I had the honour of hosting the annual Gordon Lightfoot tribute, “The Way We Feel.” On Friday, July 7, the show was performed again, to open the Mariposa Folk Festival. (See Mariposa 2023 Opens Big). Every iteration of the show has been different, but this was the first time it has been staged without its central focus, fervent supporter, and frequent participant, the late Gordon Lightfoot. His work united an incredible, eclectic, and inspiring range of performers over the years, and this year we were united again, in celebration of an unparalleled legacy in song. Seeing Gord’s daughter Meredith Moon, who first played the show as a teenager, own the stage at the heart of the set was one of the most moving and meaningful moments among twenty years of great memories.
Founded by Aengus Finnan and Jory Nash (who continued as the sole producer after year 5), The Way We Feel gathered musicians from across the roots music spectrum to celebrate Canada’s beloved master songwriter. Jory and I reminisced about Gordon Lightfoot’s support of the show in a recent video for Roots Music Canada.
It’s a host’s dream to get to work with the artists who have graced the stage for The Way We Feel:
Coco Love Alcorn, Matthew Barber, Barney Bentall, Christine Bougie, Kevin Breit, Cadence, Burke Carol, JP Cormier, Lori Cullen, Melwood Cutlery, Dala, Russell DeCarle, Digging Roots, Stephen Fearing, Rick Fines, Josh Finlayson & Andy Maize, Aengus Finnan, Mike Ford, Jason Fowler, Kevin Fox, Maury Lafoy, Bill Garrett & Sue Lothrop, Arian Gillis with David Gillis, Jeff Goodes, The Good Brothers, Good Lovelies, Dave Gunning, Chris Hadfield, Caitlin Hanford, John Wort Hannam, Tim Harrison, Hart Rouge, Gregory Hoskins, Dan Hill, Ron Hynes, Michael Johnston, Connie Kaldor, James Keelaghan, Jadea Kelly, Dan Kershaw, Richard Knechtel, Gregg Lawless, Tom Leighton, Treasa Levasseur, Gordon Lightfoot, Meredith Moon Lightfoot, Anne Lindsay, Brian MacMillan, Madison Violet, David Matheson, John McDermott, Catherine McKinnon, Buddy Mondlock, Jory Nash, David Newland, Ron Nigrini, Oh Susannah, Old Man Luedecke, Dick van Raadshooven, Mark Reeves, Garnet Rogers, Nathan Rogers, Justin Rutledge, Scarlett Jane, Ron Sexsmith, Alex Sinclair, Laura Smith, Bob Snider, Bill Stunt, Kurt Swinghammer, Ian Tamblyn, Julian Taylor, Brent Titcomb, Liam Titcomb, Terry Tufts, Trent Severn, Twilight Hotel, The Undesirables, The Young Novelists, Valdy, Suzie Vinnick, Katherine Wheatley, Jenny Whiteley with Joey Wright, Ken Whiteley, Michelle Willis, Tom Wilson, Royal Wood, David Woodhead.
The concerts took place annually at Hugh’s Room in Toronto, with occasional forays to venues across Ontario and a farewell show at CBC’s Glenn Gould Theatre. A later, trimmed-down version (minus yours truly in the host role) travelled to a few theatres, but The Way We Feel appeared to be pretty much done until Mariposa elected to celebrate Gordon Lightfoot with the show he loved in 2023.
More about Lightfoot
Because of my role with TWWF, I wound up writing writing, soliciting, or editing a lot of articles about Lightfoot. I helped create a 70th birthday package for the web portal Canoe.ca on Lightfoot’s 70th birthday. That tribute included good wishes from many of his peers as well as fans from across the country. I remember vividly what Kris Kirstofferson wrote:
Gordon Lightfoot is Bob Dylan’s favourite songwriter. That’s high praise from the best of us, echoed by the rest of us.
Tom Cochrane wrote an article for the occasion, which likened Lightfoot’s influence to that of the Group of Seven. Sadly, those articles have disappeared into the mists of internet past, but I have written a few things here at DavidNewland.com you may wish to check out.
Gord, On Lightfoot (2020)
The Way We Feel, Year 15 (2018)
Still feeling The Way We Feel (2013)
Lightfoot and me (2010)
The Voice of Gord (2009)
Please Play Again (2006)
Now What? (2006)
There is a Gord (2005)
The Tributaries (2004)
I still run into folks who were deeply moved by this show. There were many more of them at Mariposa. And the last time I spoke to Gord — an interview for Penguin Eggs magazine in 2020 — he led the conversation toward reminiscing fondly about what a great time we’d all had.
Did we ever!
Photo by James Dean