A documentary about the life and times of iconic Orillia singer/songwriter Gordon Lightfoot will be screened tonight at Orillia’s Galaxy Theatre.
The documentary, co-produced by Martha Kehoe and Joan Tosoni, titled, Gordon Lightfoot: If You Could Read My Mind, made its world premiere at the Hot Docs Film Festival in Toronto earlier this year.
CBC has said it will air the documentary later this year.
But if you don’t want to wait, you can view it in the living legend's hometown of Orillia on Wednesday. Showtimes are 4 and 7 p.m.
According to a CBC release, the documentary “is an exploration of the career, music and influence of legendary Canadian musical icon, Gordon Lightfoot.
“With unprecedented access to the artist, the film takes audiences from high school auditoriums in straight-laced, small-town Ontario in the '50s to the coffee houses of Yorkville and Greenwich Village in the '60s, through Lightfoot's turbulent, substance-fuelled arena shows of the '70s, and finally to the artist in present day.”
The documentary features interviews from a range of “notable voices in the music industry” including Ian and Sylvia Tyson, Randy Bachman, and Steve Earle; famous fans Alex Lifeson and Geddy Lee from Rush, Alec Baldwin, Anne Murray and Sarah McLachlan; as well as behind-the-scenes stories from members of his longtime band.
Audio of his singing at St. Paul’s Church in Orillia is also featured as the documentary traces his evolution from Christian choirboy to troubled troubadour to international star and beloved Canadian icon.
The documentary “is an intimate and emotional examination of the artist's profound relationship to his music and his Canadian roots.”
Gordon Lightfoot: If You Could Read My Mind will be shown Wednesday at Orillia Galaxy Cinemas, located at 865 West Ridge Blvd.
Ticket sales start the day of the showing at 3 p.m. at the door and are just $10 (cash only).
Click here to watch the trailer for the documentary.
