The Provincial Government delighted islanders when they announced they would be bringing Come From Away The Concert and the new musical comedy Tell Tale Harbour to Newfoundland and Labrador as part of the Arts and Culture Centres’ program line up for Come Home 2022.

The Tony and Olivier Award-winning international hit musical Come From Away  returns to the Steele Community Centre in Gander and premiers at the Mary Brown’s Centre in St. John’s reuniting  members of the Toronto cast and band along with original Broadway cast member, the province’s own Petrina Bromley. 

Come From Away The Concert will be presented in Gander, from Sept.13-15 and in St. John’s from September 19-20, as marquee events for Come Home 2022.

Later in October, the province’s Arts and Culture Centres’ present Tell Tale Harbour, based on the screenplay, The Grand Seduction. This new musical comedy from the Confederation Centre of the Arts in Prince Edward Island will see its Newfoundland and Labrador debut as another marquee event for Come Home 2022. 

Co-written by and starring the province’s own musical icon Alan Doyle, Tell Tale Harbour also features the talents of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians Jillian Keiley and Edward Riche.

“Exciting things are happening in Newfoundland and Labrador for Come Home 2022. The stage is set for some incredible performances. Along with the impressive performances that will grace the stages of our Arts and Culture Centres province-wide, we are thrilled to be bringing Come From Away The Concert and the Tell Tale Harbour musical home to our province,” said Premier Andrew Furey at the announcement. 

“We are beyond thrilled to bring Come From Away back to its home in Newfoundland this year. When we first performed our show there, it was a life-changing experience for us – and the Come From Away Company – and we are grateful to be invited back with a Canadian cast including several Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, like Petrina Bromley, coming home from Broadway. It means the world to us to share these stories with the community that was so generous with us and has now inspired millions around the globe,” said Irene Sankoff and David Hein, Come From Away’s creators. 

The Herald spoke to Bromley who said she was “excited” to be returning to ‘The Rock.’ “The idea of bringing the show home to Newfoundland for people to see is an incredible experience. Sharing that story and seeing that it gets told so that everyone can get a sense of how important it is and how big a moment it was is just magical,” she said.

Bromley’s favourite memories of the show’s run are the performances on home soil, she added. “It was just the most unbelievable experience to be welcomed and embraced into the community and to have that feeling of pure nervous joy. I always say for me it was like bringing your new boyfriend home to meet the family.”

When The Herald spoke to the legendary Myles Goodwyn he was just brewing his first coffee of the day. Taking the opportunity to enjoy some “quiet time at the cottage”  is part of his strategy when it comes to staying energized before he hits the road later this month he said, taking his first sip. The April Wine frontman has two live concerts scheduled in this province later this month, one in Gander (Fri, May 20th) and one in St. John’s (Sat, May 21st) at the local Arts & Culture Centre. 

April Wine is one of the most successful rock bands in Canadian music history, rising to stardom in the ’70s and ’80s and is still going strong today. Goodwyn is bringing his solo acoustic show, Just Between You and Me, to Newfoundland along with special guests Jim Henman, another original member of April Wine, and Bruce Dixon who previously performed with Rita MacNeil and Roch Voisine.

 Henman has been both friend and bandmate since 1963. “We played in a high school band together and we started April Wine together, so we have a lot of history and it’s remarkable that we’re still best friends who are still sharing the stage together. It’s really cool,” he said.

Seeing the two “besties” along with bass player/singer Dixon will be “good fun,” Goodwyn added. 

While COVID forced many in the music business to slowdown, hitting the road again just “feels right,” he added. 

“The fan base is a loyal group that has supported April Wine and they support the acoustic show too. And radio has been so good to us.  We like to sing the songs as they were written. It’s almost like you’re sitting around a kitchen table with three guys with acoustic guitars and antidotes and music. Some of the songs are very true to the heart, close to the heart, and it’s nice to play them that way.”

There’s still song performances where you get  “overwhelmed” by the audience’s reaction, he continued. 

“The reaction to the songs can surprise me. You can do a song, a hit song, and you just expect the audience to enjoy it. But when they jump out of their seats in a standing ovation in the middle of the show, it’s quite remarkable and it’s a remarkable feeling.”

From You Won’t Dance With Me to Tonight is a Wonderful Time to Fall in Love, the music is timeless. 

But there’s new music as well, like his For Ukraine, currently available to enjoy on YouTube.  

“The song came out about three weeks ago and it’s one I wrote that’s emotional for me when I sing the song,” he said.

The song will be available to purchase on a new CD titled Long Pants which will be released on June 23rd – his birthday. “I titled it Long Pants (as opposed to a kid’s short pants, he added later) as  it’s a pretty mature album, and it deals with all kinds of things, like the situation in Ukraine.”

 Goodwyn, an award-winning hall of famer and multi-platinum selling producer and songwriter, added that Long Pants “is an eclectic collection of personal songs.”

Since 1971, April Wine has released 16 studio albums, with Goodwyn himself releasing three other solo efforts in 2018 and 2019.

On the song For Ukraine, the artist who swears he tries to stay out of “anything political” had more to say. “This war is in all of our livingrooms. Over 4 million people have been displaced out of Ukraine because of the invasion by Russia. It’s quite a serious thing, and as a songwriter we’re able to sometimes sing about things and tell stories in a way that isn’t news and it can spread the word and touch the heart, and that’s why artists do these things.” 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMf6yEpY0H4

Talk turns to other “Canadian” things like hockey, and the loss of Guy Lafleur, someone Goldwyn refers to as “a Canadian treasure gone too soon.” We ask about the time Hockey Hall of Fame coach Don Cherry referred to Goodwyn as a ‘good Canadian boy.’ He laughed.  “Am I? Well, I’m not a bad boy….” 

To see Myles Goodwyn live in Gander or St. John’s, visit artsandculturecentre.com

Today, Multi-Platinum, award winning artist Johnny Reidannounced his 2022 Canadian tour, Love Someone: An Intimate Evening with Johnny Reid. The national tour kicks off on February 10 in London, ON at Centennial Hall and is set to be one of the longest running artist tours in Canadian history with over one hundred shows once all tour dates are announced. Boasting a stripped-down set and stops in smaller communities that rarely get to see an artist of Reid’s caliber during a National tour, Reid is making it his mission to connect directly with fans across the country.

Love Someone is Reid’s 11th studio album and was released on October 15 via Universal Music Canada. A return to his country roots, the album marks his most inspired collection of songs to date. Complementing the album’s inherent intimacy, the tour will give fans a rare chance to hear Reid live in a highly up close and personal setting as opposed to the major market venues and colossal crowds he typically draws. The past ten years has seen Reid perform to over 1 million people; on this tour, fans can expect an uplifting evening of songs and storytelling with the chart-topping, singer-songwriter.

With an incredible 1.5 million albums sold, Reid is a critically acclaimed singer widely known for his lyrical honesty and musical capability, as demonstrated by an extensive catalogue of hit songs and Platinum selling albums. His illustrious career has also garnered him 26 Canadian Country Music Awards, 6 JUNO Awards and multiple sold-out national arena tours. Reid is also a recipient of the Slaight Music Humanitarian Award and the SOCAN National Achievement Award. His songwriting connects with audiences of all ages from across the globe, inspiring fans with his unique ability to uncover beauty behind life’s ebb and flow.

“The pandemic has taught me a lot about the value of time. I’ve given a lot of thought about how and where I want to spend my time. I’m really excited to bring this tour to as many places as possible. I can’t wait to reconnect with all of the people that have supported me all of these years in a more intimate concert experience”, said Reid.

Information on tickets can be found here.

Johnny Reid – Love Someone Tour Dates

** Tickets Already on Sale

Tartan Army Presale – Wednesday, November 24 @ 3:00 PM (Local time)

On Sale Friday November 26th at 10:00am local time

February 10, 2022 – London, ON – Centennial Hall

February 11 & 12, 2022 – Oshawa, ON – Regent Theatre

February 14, 2022 – Pembroke, ON – Festival Hall

February 15, 2022 – Ottawa, ON – Meridian Theatre

February 16, 2022 – St Catharines, ON – FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre

February 17, 2022 – Kingston, ON – The Grand Theatre

February 19, 2022 – Brantford, ON – Sanderson Centre for the Performing Arts

February 22, 2022 – Belleville, ON – Empire Theatre

February 23, 2022 – Mississauga, ON – Living Arts Centre

February 24, 2022 – Brampton, ON – The Rose Brampton

February 25, 2022 – North Bay, ON – Capitol Centre

February 26, 2022 – Huntsville, ON – Legacy Hall @ Deerhurst Resort **

February 28, 2022 – Chatham, ON – Chatham Capitol Theatre

March 2 & 3, 2022 – Markham, ON – Flato Markham Theatre

March 4 & 5, 2022 – Burlington, ON – Burlington Performing Arts Centre **

March 7 & 8, 2022 – Peterborough, ON – Showplace Performing Arts Centre

March 9, 2022 – Sault Ste Marie, ON – Sault Community Theatre

March 15 & 16 – Winnipeg, MB – Club Regent Event Centre

March 18 & 19, 2022 – Prince Albert, SK – EA Rawlinson Centre for the Arts

March 23 & 24, 2022 – Fort Saskatchewan, AB – Shell Theatre

March 25 & 26, 2022 – Fort McMurray, AB – Keyano Theatre

March 28 & 29, 2022 – Camrose, AB – Jeanne and Peter Lougheed Centre

March 31 & April 1, 2022 – Saskatoon, SK – Broadway Theatre

April 3 & 4, 2022 – Lloydminster, AB – Vic Juba Theatre

April 5 & 6, 2022 – St Albert, AB – Arden Theatre

April 8, 2022 – Moose Jaw, SK – Mae Wilson Theatre

April 9 & 10, 2022 – Regina, SK – Casino Regina Show Lounge

April 12 & 13, 2022 – Medicine Hat, AB – Esplanade Theatre

April 14 & 16, 2022 – Lethbridge, AB – Yates Theatre

April 19, 2022 – Calgary, AB – Jack Singer Concert Hall

April 20, 2022 – Red Deer, AB – Memorial Centre

April 22, 23 & 24, 2022 – Prince George, BC – PG Playhouse

April 25 & 26, 2022 – Grande Prairie, AB – Douglas J. Cardinal Performing Arts Centre

April 28 & 29, 2022 – Fort St John, BC – North Peace Cultural Centre

April 30 & May 1, 2022 – Dawson Creek, BC – Mercer Hall

May 7 & 8, 2022 – Sidney, BC – Mary Winspear Centre

May 9, 2022 – Duncan, BC – Cowichan Theatre

May 11, 2022 – Nanaimo, BC – Port Theatre

May 12, 2022 – Victoria, BC – McPherson Playhouse Theatre

May 14, 2022 – Courtenay, BC – Sid Williams Theatre

May 16, 2022 – Vernon, BC – Vernon & District Performing Arts Centre

May 17, 2022 – Trail, BC – Charles Bailey Theatre

May 19, 2022 – Cranbrook, BC – Key City Theatre

May 21 & 22, 2022 – Melfort, SK – Kerry Vickar Centre

May 31 & June 1, 2022 – Summerside, PEI – Harbourfront Theatre

June 2 & 3, 2022 – Moncton, NB – Capitol Theatre

June 5, 2022 – Stephenville, NL – Stephenville Arts & Cultural Centre

June 6 & 7, 2022 – Corner Brook, NL – Corner Brook Arts & Cultural Centre

June 9 & 10, 2022 – Grand Falls-Windsor, NL – Gordon Pinsent Centre for the Arts

June 11 & 12, 2022 – Gander, NL – Gander Arts & Cultural Centre

June 15, 2022 – Halifax, NS – Rebecca Cohn Theatre

June 18, 2022 – Saint John, NB – Imperial Theatre

June 19, 2022 – Fredericton, NB – Fredericton Playhouse

June 22, 23 & 24, 2022 – Glace Bay, NS – Savoy Theatre

As the world prepares to mark the 20th anniversary of 9/11, Gander’s mayor Percy Farwell takes a moment to reflect on the day the people of the region embraced 6,600 strangers who arrived on 34 passenger flights the morning of September 11, 2001.

Facing the almost unbelievable reality of having the town’s population almost doubling in mere hours was quite the day for the man who was, at the time, the Deputy Mayor.

MONUMENT UNVEILING

Though Gander and many surrounding communities have been celebrated in both documentaries and on Broadway, the upcoming events will be focused on the victims of the September 11 attacks.

This year’s events include a non-denominational service at the town’s arena on the afternoon of September 11, as well as a monument unveiling that features a piece of World Trade Center steel that was donated to the Town of Gander by New York firefighters in 2011.

Many of the events will be virtual and available for viewing online, with NTV set to broadcast the non-denominational service. Farwell says there’s been massive interest in the events from national and international media and he’s moved each time he’s asked to speak on the topic.

“The whole intent of this is certainly not a celebration of anything. This is a reflection on those horrible events and which really, in many respects, changed the world,” he began.

“It’s a reflection for those who were impacted either by losing their lives or by losing loved ones or those who were a first responder,” he continued.

A COMMEMORATION

“Many will never get over what happened so this is a reflection and a commemoration for those people. But it’s also a reminder of the importance of kindness and compassion in times of adversity. The type of things that happened here and elsewhere in the days following that tragedy hopefully provided some reassurance and comfort to the people that were distressed about the events that were going on,” he said.
At a time when events driven by hatred were occurring, love showed the way, he added.

“Hopefully it’ll be seen as personally uplifting because, fortunately, there were some good on display and that message and the importance of that has been picked up worldwide.”

HELPING HANDS

The story of hope and helping hands is what we need to remember 20 years later, he continued.

“The story of Gander has certainly been told far and wide and it’s been impactful to some people hearing the story. I think that’s important,” Farwell shared

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Two decades later, the town still hears from people who were affected, or who were moved after hearing the story of ‘the plane people.’
“I’ve received packages of letters from school-aged children who were writing to thank the people of Gander and those in the area for what we did during 9/11. They share how they reflect on the importance of kindness and generosity in their own actions since hearing the story. They were not born in September 2001. But this story has continued to have a positive impact on people as it’s being relayed in the school system.”

It’s both humbling and very encouraging, he added.

“That’s the legacy that will be attached – a thank you to those that stepped forward and did what we all would do. Nobody did anything that they wouldn’t expect someone else to do for them, it just seemed to be an instinctive reaction. Wherever help was needed, help was provided just instinctively.”

HONOURED TO SHARE

It’s a legacy the town and the province is honoured to share.

“Hatred gave rise to those attacks, but let’s focus on the goodness that followed and the affirmation of the importance of basic human values and basic human kindness and how important that is and how those individual acts of kindness on a one-on-one basis made such an impact on people in times of distress.”

Kindness didn’t make up for the lives lost, of course, he added thoughtfully, but it does give hope that good and thoughtful deeds can prevail.
“The horrors of that day and the people that have to go the rest of their lives with loved ones missing or gone is never far from anyone’s mind, but it’s humbling and it’s encouraging that there’s some good that came out of that day, and we can be thankful for that.”

Stay tuned to NTV for “The Power of Many: 9/11 Commemorative Service.” NTV will broadcast love from Gander from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm. The program will also repeat on Sept. 12th from 8:00 am to 10:00 am