Cameron Penney
Organizers of “Tour de Fort” already have been busy preparing for the 2016-17 season this fall.
The six-show lineup was announced recently and passport sales are underway.
“Passport sales have gone very well so far,” enthused John Payne, the programming and hospitality director of “Tour de Fort.”
“Every year we start to sell our passports at the final show of the season, and this year we sold almost double of what we sold at the start of last season,” he noted.
Passports can be purchased at From the Grind Up on Scott Street or online at www.tourdefort.com
They currently cost $100 but that will rise to its regular cost of $125 after Sept. 1.
“There have been a large number of requests for individual ticket sales lately,” Payne remarked.
“But unfortunately, there are no individual tickets sold for the shows at this time as the focus is on the series.”
“If the passports do not sell out, there may be tickets available,” he noted.
“But with the early sales this year, it is looking less likely that we will have individual tickets available for this season,” he warned.
Payne added expectations for the coming season are high and passports are expected to sell out completely.
“This is our first year as programmers—a role that I took on with my wife, Sheri,” he said.
“We have a real connection to this lineup, and have seen and met with all but one of these performers.
“As diverse as last season was, I think we have pushed it even further this year and provided something for everyone’s tastes,” he enthused.
When planning a lineup for an upcoming season, Payne said organizers emphasize “high-quality Canadian acts at an affordable price.”
“We focus predominantly on music, but do try to stray from that format from time to time,” he admitted.
“We try to cover all genres and have showcased country, blues, folk, roots, and rock in the past.”
Payne noted “Tour de Fort” aims to included at least one recognizable name each season. Past seasons have featured performers such as Chantal Kreviazuk and Serena Ryder, among others.
“Over the past years that I have been involved with ‘Tour de Fort,’ I have seen many acts that I would not normally listen to,” Payne noted.
“But after seeing them live, I have worked them into my playlists and expanded my music horizons.
“I have heard so many times over the years that there is nothing to do in Fort Frances, and yet for less than $17 per show, I can see the same act that people are paying three-four times as much for in a city,” he stressed.
“On top of that, I am seeing the act in a small, intimate venue and getting the opportunity to meet the artists after the show—something that you do not get in the cities.”
The new season will kick off Sept. 23 when 2015 Juno nominee Alysha Brilla performs with a six-piece band.
Then Terri Clark will hit the Townshend Theatre stage on Oct. 11.
“This is the most recognizable name in this year’s series, and we are happy to be a part of her ‘Back to My Roots’ solo acoustic tour that is taking her across Canada and the United States,” Payne enthused.
“She is a five-time CCMA Female Vocalist of the Year and the only Canadian female artist to be a member of the ‘Grand Ole Opry.’”
The trio of Tannis Slimmon, Jude Vadala, and Katherine Wheatley, known as “Boreal,” will perform here Dec. 2.
“The three women join together every year to deliver their show, ‘Songs for the Snowy Season,’ where they perform a collection of original winter-themed songs as well as some Christmas classics,” Payne explained.
“We had the pleasure of hearing them perform, as well as meeting them, this past November and instantly were drawn to them,” he added.
“Their harmonies are terrific, and the interaction with each other and the audience make the show very special.”
The first performance of the new year will be on Jan. 22 when the Fitzgerald family band, known as “Everything Fitz,” takes to the stage.
“There was no doubt that we wanted them in our lineup,” Payne said.
“This will be a very entertaining show for the whole family.”
Rebecca Perry will perform a solo show she wrote, entitled “Confessions of a Redheaded Coffee Shop Girl,” on March 8.
“After seeing an excerpt of this show in a showcase, we quickly drew a comparison to Emma Stone, both in look and delivery of her material,” Payne noted.
“This show is a must-see for anyone that has worked in retail or at a job they didn’t like.”
Peter Katz will conclude the season April 11 with music from his latest album, “We are the Reckoning.”
“After hearing him perform, he has become a favourite in my playlist and I think he will round out the season nicely,” Payne said.
