The Billboard FYI Bulletin: Nov. 23, 2023 — Celebrating Gordon Lightfoot, Andy Kim Christmas & More
Gordon Lightfoot's longtime band returns to the stage he played more than 170 times. Plus, some big Canadian songs are entering the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Tickets go on sale today for the Celebrating Gordon Lightfoot all-star Massey Hall concert that takes place on May 23, 2024. Blue Rodeo and Lightfoot’s longtime band (Rick Haynes, Barry Keane, Mike Heffernan and Carter Lancaster) are the house band backing a line-up that so far includes Allison Russell, Burton Cummings, Caroline Wiles & Bob Doidge, (daughter) Meredith Moon, Sylvia Tyson, The Good Brothers, Tom Cochrane and William Prince. Proceeds from the event benefit Massey Hall, and its music appreciation, education, community outreach and artist development initiatives.
The celebrated singer-songwriter performed on the Massey Stage more than 170 times. He died in May of this year.
– Andy Kim’s Massey Hall Christmas show on Dec. 6 is to be hosted by actor and comedian Seán Cullen, with appearances from Alex Lifeson, Maestro Fresh Wes, Men Without Hats, Ron Sexsmith, Tom Wilson, The Good Brothers and The Sadies. Tickets are scaled between $46 and $290.
– Jimmy Buffett had his Parrot Heads, Lightfoot his Light Heads, and then there’s Raffi’s longstanding legion of fans described as "Beluga grads." Since launching his career as a children’s singer-songwriter in the ‘70s, he’s released 25 albums on his Troubadour imprint, nine compilations and garnered a trophy chest of awards, including the Order of Canada and honourary distinctions from five universities. Now 75, he’s still in the game, having just announced nine 2024 shows, including LA’s Orpheum Theatre and two nights at Massey Hall next Oct. 5 & 6.
– The Songwriters Hall of Fame has announced its list of nominees to be voted on for induction at its NYC awards gala next June. Canadians making the list of eligible performing songwriters are:
Bryan Adams,is nominated for “(Everything I Do) I Do It For You,” “Heaven,” “All For Love,” “Have You Ever Really Loved A Woman?” and “Summer of ’69” as well as Randy Bachman & Burton Cummings with four songs from The Guess Who catalogue:“These Eyes,” “American Woman,” “Laughing,” “No Time,” and “No Sugar Tonight.”
– After a short run in London, the biographic stage musical Tammy Faye, with music by Elton John, traverses the Atlantic to find a new home at the Nederlander Theatre on Broadway next year. It’s based on a book by James Graham that charts the almost unbelievable story of the mascara-laden American superstar who built a Christian TV empire with her husband Jim Bakker that, at its peak, was more flamboyant and outrageous than anything Las Vegas or Los Angeles could have imagined. She died in 2007. Below is a clip from the UK show.
– The Rolling Stones make good on a cancelled Vancouver show next July 5, performing at Vancouver’s 54K-plus capacity BC Place. It’s the band’s only Canadian tour stop in its upcoming 15-show Hackney Diamonds tour. The Stones last performed in the city in 2006. A scheduled return in 2020 was cancelled do to the pandemic.
