Ian Tyson tribute act hits Lethbridge

By Ry Clarke on September 22, 2022.

The Gift: A Tribute to Ian Tyson will be performing Friday at Southminster United Church at 7:30 p.m.

Steward MacDougall and the New Chinook Arch Riders will play alongside Amos Garrett, Tracy Millar, Ian Oscar, and John Wort Hannam playing tribute to Tyson and his career in the country, folk roots, and cowboy culture scene.

Formed 18 years ago when collaborators and musical admirers came together to perform in a sold-out weekend at Sherwood Park’s Festival Place and Arden Theatre in St. Albert, The Gift continues to perform around Alberta and B.C. to fans of Tyson’s work.

“It’s a very authentic show with our cast,” said Peter North, producer of The Gift. “These people know his music from a place that’s at the very foundation of it. Ian loved the show and he’s sat in a couple of time, years ago, when we first started doing it. It’s really authentic and we cover his whole career.”

Tyson is an internationally acclaimed western music singer and songwriter, best known for songs including “Four Strong Winds” and “Someday Soon.” His career has spanned five decades, inspiring artists like Bob Dylan, Neil Young, and Gordon Lightfoot. His work encapsulates the life of the west through vivid descriptions of Alberta and the cowboy life. Born in 1933, the cowboy grew up riding horses and working his family’s farm in BC. Tyson was inducted into the Canadian Country Music Association Hall of Honour and Hall of Fame in 1989.

“He is a Canadian icon. Standing up there with Joni Mitchell, Leonard Cohen, Neil Young, and Gordon Lightfoot. The guy’s a heavyweight,” said North. “He’s worthy of a tribute, with a staggering body of work.

Many of these tributes happen after somebody has passed. So we wanted to let him know how we all felt about him while he was still active and vital. I’m glad we did.”

With a vast catalogue and many influences, the tribute is never the same and always changing.

“We’ve done hundreds of shows, between festivals, radio broadcast, and theatre shows, it’s a very well rehearsed show. We are always tuning it up. We swap songs in and out to keep it fresh,” said North. “Because Ian’s not on the road anymore, we are giving audiences a taste of his music, with the scope of his styles. These songs are timeless.”

Paying homage to a Canadian legend, The Gift will showcase Tyson’s work with a host of performers dedicated to the legacy, and giving audiences an experience true to the cowboy who inspired the tribute.