The King Winter Tour of Western Canada (Alberta, Saskatchewan and British Columbia) lasted 27 days for Ray and 25 for Tom. It was the longest tour Ray had done solo and the longest trip ever for Tom. We drove over 6,000 km which is just over 4,000 miles. That is the distance of driving from Oxford to Moscow and back.
Ray played 18 concerts in total, 14 house concerts, 3 public shows and one radio session. He played a selection of songs from his three albums and introduced some new songs which were very well received by the Canadian audiences.
We both enjoyed the tour immensely. Seeing new places and meeting new people. The hosts of the house concerts do an amazing job to bring live music into a personal space, either their home for their family and friends, or a small venue for the local community.
Concert highlights include supporting Tom Jackson at the Calgary Folk Club where Ray received a standing ovation and gained an encore. Also playing to packed rooms at the Elkford Golf Club and Beatty Heritage House in Eastend. Another highlight was meeting Andy Donnelly, who has done so much for folk and roots music in Alberta, and doing a session for him on CKUA radio.
Every house concert became a special occasion, meeting the hosts, their guests, then conversations over breakfast.
Tour highlights are too many to list them all – the scenery of the Rocky Mountains and the Canadian Prairies will live long in our memories. Driving to and from Frontier up through the Cypress Hills and driving through the Crowsnest Pass then up the valley to Elkford were particularly special days.
Special thanks to Andrea and Tom for making us welcome in their home and providing a home-from-home that helped break down the trip into three more manageable stages. The Home Routes organisation made the tour possible. Thanks to all the hosts for looking after us so well, and to all those who came to enjoy the music of someone who most of them had never heard of and who, after each concert, everyone wanted to invite back. We hope that can happen.
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The King Winter Tour 