Page 18 - Biz X Magazine - July/August, 2014 Issue

COVER STORY Canadian Icon Canadian Icon Bruce Bruce Cockburn Cockburn To Help Put “Kingsville To Help Put “Kingsville Folk Music Festival” Folk Music Festival” On The Map On The Map Canadian music icon Bruce Cockburn has been wowing audiences for more than 40 years. Known for his penetrating lyrics and intricate guitar work, Cockburn remains connected to his fans through intimate events such as the upcoming “Kingsville Folk Music Festival.” Photo courtesy of Kevin Kelly. By Steve Colm All artist photos courtesy of the artist Canada’s quintessential restless musical for the Ottawa-born artist/activist whose professional intensity, his quest for spirit and humanitarian is coming to song-writing skills and acoustic guitar perfection and even his insecurities. He frst Kingsville, Ontario in August. Folk music icon acumen have earned him 12 “Juno” Awards, saw the fnished product at a flm festival in Bruce Cockburn, an artist whose spirituality induction into the Canadian Music Hall of B.C. shines through 31 albums across four decades Fame and designation as an Ofcer of the “I had to sit in the audience to watch it so of performance and activism, and who will Order of Canada. I made sure I was in the back of the room,” forever be linked to fghts for social justice As a veteran of many festivals over the he recalls. “It was quite interesting to see around the world, is headlining the inaugural years, Cockburn recalls having time to do how people reacted to it … watching it in the “Kingsville Folk Music Festival” August 8 to workshops and watch other acts. context of the festival was very interesting 10, 2014 (KingsvilleFolkFest.org). “I discovered a lot of great music that and, happily, I didn’t have to skulk out of the It’s quite a coup for festival organizers way I wouldn’t have otherwise run across room or anything.” Michele and John Law, the harmonic duo and for me that was one of the best aspects Hardly. Te documentary DVD features behind two years of research and planning of festivals,” he says. “For a lot of people it’s Cockburn refecting on his life and to put Kingsville on the folk music map. a chance to go see the person whose name career, interspersed with appearances by Cockburn, whose 2011 album “Small you know, but then, in the process, you’ll songwriters Jackson Browne, Sylvia Tyson Source of Comfort” featured poetic be exposed to all kinds of other stuf. And and Bono among others, and best–selling observations of life and death from his visit of course the atmosphere is nice, you get authors Michael Ondaatje, William Young with the Canadian Forces in Kandahar, families around, it’s a pleasant atmosphere.” and Lt. Gen. Romeo Dallaire. Afghanistan, in a rich blend of folk, blues, “Pacing Te Cage” follows Cockburn jazz and rock, recently carved out 45 minutes DVD “Pacing The Cage” Documents Intensity through sold-out shows and a series of to speak with Biz X from his home base in While he doesn’t have any new songs in beneft concerts, with intimate discussions San Francisco. the hopper these days, Cockburn has been on his tour bus along the way, and at 65 We started by asking him how he signed busy with a new DVD called “Pacing Te minutes, it seems to go by in a blink. on with the “Kingsville Folk Music Festival.” Cage” and his memoir “Rumours of Glory” For an artist whose successes span four “Te timing is very good because we plan due out November 4. decades, Cockburn is refreshingly self- to do a lot of touring in August and Kingsville “Having a flm crew poking around in deprecating in the flm and on the phone. In worked out to be a perfect beginner for that my dressing room and on the tour bus was a refecting on his new DVD and the efusive tour,” he says. “Festivals have a nice, relaxed unique experience, and it worked out really praise from fellow artists, his assessment is atmosphere that gives you a chance to walk well. I think they got a lot of good footage,” thoroughly Canadian. around and talk to people.” says Cockburn. “It feels very good, of course,” he says It’s a simple, down-to-earth aspiration “Pacing Te Cage” captures Cockburn’s sofly. “Tese are people that I respect 18 BIZ X MAGAZINE • JULY/AUG 2014 BizX2014JulyAug52.indd 18 2014-07-01 7:53 PM