Leaving you with country
Paul Valdemar Horsdal (left) — better known as Valdy — and Gary Fjelgaard bring their Contenders musical concert to the Sagebrush Theatre on Nov. 7, in celebration of the George Ryga Centre’s 15th anniversary.
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Updated: October 27, 2009 9:59 AM
Life’s pretty good on the road right now for Gary FjelGaard.
He’s travelling in a new motor home, with his wife and year-old puppies, “and it’s the most luxurious travelling we’ve had in a long time,” the veteran singer-songwriter says.
As he speaks, he’s in a campground in the Ontario town of Atikokan, the self-proclaimed Canoeing Capital of Canada, just a short drive from the Manitoba border.
“We go anywhere we’re wanted,” he says of his touring.
And that means he’ll be in Kamloops on Nov. 7, with his long-time friend and musical partner, Valdy, for a concert at
the Sagebrush Theatre to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the George Ryga Centre.
The link with the centre comes through his friendship with Ken Smedley, the man who has made it his life’s work to keep the memory of Ryga alive and still inspiring others.
“It didn’t take much convincing,” Fjelgaard said.
“I got to stay where Ryga did his writing and we’re writers, too, so we have this kinship.”
During the eastern part of the tour he’s on, Fjelgaard has been without his buddy, Valdy, and says he’s looking forward to the B.C.Interior leg.
“It just doesn’t get any better than that,” he says of sharing the stage with the man he’s appeared with for the past decade.
“We get half the money but twice the fun.”
Although they come from different musical genres — Fjelgaard with his roots firmly planted in country soil, while Valdy has a strong overlay of folk — they work well together, Fjelgaard adds.
“We fee off the other’s energy,” he says.
They share music, tell stories and share the spotlight every time they take to the stage.
And, while the two are on the Sagebrush stage, just a couple hours’ drive south of the city, the wrap-up of the province’s George Ryga Week will occur with a celebration at the Okanagan College Theatre.
The night will see the launch of Ryga: A Journal of Provocations and the Ryga Award will be presented to a writer in the province who has, through the publication of a book, enhaced the understanding of social awareness in B.C.
Tickets for the Contenders are $23.50 and available at the Kamloops Live! Box Office, 1025 Lorne St., 250-374-5483 or online at kamloopslive.com.
For more information on George Ryga and the events that commemorate him, go online to ryga.ca.
To learn more about the Contenders, go online to livetourartists.com/roster/valdygary/index.htm, valdy.com and fjelgaard.bc.ca.
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