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Fred Eaglesmith soaring into Sudbury

For nearly a decade, the Beef N' Bird has been warmly welcoming Fred Eaglesmith every time he rolls his vegetable-grease-powered van through town.
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Canadian music legend Fred Eaglesmith has littered his tour schedule with northern dates. Check him out at the Beef N' Bird in Sudbury Aug. 8. Supplied photo.

For nearly a decade, the Beef N' Bird has been warmly welcoming Fred Eaglesmith every time he rolls his vegetable-grease-powered van through town.

The legendary folk singer has an affection for playing small shows at intimate venues, so the Lorne Street sportsbar only makes sense. Since Eaglesmith began playing the Beef N' Bird, owner Anthony Toppazzini said he's growing more and more fond of the performer — there is little doubt his Travelling Steam Show that rolls through town Aug. 8 will be any different.

“It's a wonderful show to see,” Toppazzini said.

Eaglesmith's stop in Sudbury is one of many on his northern route. He's playing northern towns like Chapleau Aug. 9 and Espanola Aug. 15.

Cal Orok, a longtime 'Fred-Head' and the artist's northern promoter, said he's anxious to see Eaglesmith again, as he never plays the same show twice.

“I think as a songwriter, he's unmatched,” Orak said. “Sudbury has a huge following for him. He gets along with the audience, the audience gets along with him.”

Already, there has been good response to Eaglesmith's shows in the north. He's added new locations to his tour, stopping in places like Killarney and Espanola for the first time.

According to the legend himself, any excuse is a good excuse to roll through northern Ontario.

“There's no place to play rock 'n' roll like northern Ontario,” Eaglesmith said. “They get it.

“This is how rock 'n' roll started. It started in little clubs, and everybody crowded in a little too hot.”

Making stops in small towns in the north is reminiscent of the days he recalls most fondly — days when music was real, and the “music business” hadn't taken over.

“When I was a kid I went to (shows) all the time,” he said. “In Sudbury, there used to be music seven nights a week, probably at six different bars. That got stripped away by the music business.”

In an era of Ticket Master, Eaglesmith said playing shows at places like the Beef N' Bird is a luxury.

“Playing rock 'n' roll at the Beef N' Bird is about as good as it gets,” he said. “It's always packed, it's always full.”

To pick up tickets to see Eaglesmith in Sudbury, stop by the Beef N' Bird. 


According to Toppazzini, they are selling quickly. Sudburians can also catch the performer at his other northern stops by visiting his website, www.fredeaglesmith.com.

Posted by Arron Pickard


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