When: August 3rd, 2023
Time: Doors 6:30 pm, 7:30 pm, 3 hours long
Where: All Saints Ottawa, 330 Laurier Ave East
Price: $54.58 • Click here for a ticket
Lennie Gallant, award-winning East Coast folk singer-songwriter, is returning to Ottawa to perform on August 3rd at All Saints Ottawa.
An icon of music, Gallant is an international touring artist who has performed all over North America, in Europe, for the troops in Afghanistan and at the Olympics.
Prince Edward Island native Gallant has released fourteen albums (11 in English, 3 in French) of original songs, winning a host of awards from Junos, Les Prix Eloizes and the East Coast Music Awards. His multimedia show, Searching for Abegweit, ran for 180 shows and toured Eastern Canada to sold-out performances. Lennie was made a member of the Order of Canada in 2003, and in 2019, his ‘maritime anthem,’ Peter’s Dream, was inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Gallant grew up in the picturesque Acadian community of Rustico, Prince Edward Island. His grandparents spoke French, but the language slipped away over his parents’ generation. Through music, he found it again and has released three Francophone albums under his own name and one with his partner, Patricia Richard, under the name of their two-person band, Siréne et Matelot. Richard will join Gallant on his summer tour.
Gallant speaks fondly of his home, the place that has influenced his music over the years. “It’s a vibrant place, very community oriented. People in the community get together anytime anyone needs a hand,” he said. Gallant is known for carrying on his community’s charitable values and is a recipient of the PEI Red Cross Humanitarian of the Year Award.
Gallant fell in love with music when he found his first guitar at 13. His parents were creative people themselves, known for putting on concerts in their community to raise money for anyone nearby in need. As soon as Lennie learned a few chords on the guitar, he became part of the show.
After school, Lennie would visit his uncle and rustle through his record collection, growing an affinity for singer-songwriters Bob Dylan and Gordon Lightfoot. “I would learn their songs, and that’s how I got my start,” Gallant said.
To this day, classics like Dylan, Lightfoot, and Bruce Springsteen inspire Gallant. “I love when you listen to a song, and you can feel a great blend of passion and artistry in the songwriting,” he said.
To Gallant, passion for the smaller moments in life is what music is about. “As with any artist, my music is my way of interpreting the world around me. Taking a moment and trying to hold it steady,” he said, “Life passes so fast that most of us don’t have the luxury to take a moment and say, wow, look at the beauty there, look at the pain in that, look at the difficulty, the joy.”
Now a household name in Canadian Folk Music, Gallant appreciates the opportunities to collaborate with other great minds and connect with his audience. Two months ago, he was invited to Key West to record two songs with Jimmy Buffet for Buffet’s next album. “Buffet is a mega-star in the world of songwriting. It’s so much fun to write and perform with people you were once in awe of,” he said.
Gallant is thrilled to return to Ottawa, a place where fans and friends welcome him with open arms. Gallant’s last concert in Ottawa was his Christmas show in November 2022. Now, he is excited to return and introduce brand-new songs alongside his classics, as well as a song or two from his and Richard’s album. “It’s always great getting on stage in Ottawa,” Gallant said with excitement, “Patricia is an amazing personality on stage with a fantastic energy. We have a blast.”
Come along for an unforgettable night with Lennie Gallant, a truly astounding performer — click this link to purchase tickets.
The evening will take place at All Saints Ottawa. Attached to the stylish restaurant Working Title, All Saints is a gorgeous venue of national historical significance, located at 330 Laurier Avenue East. Grab a bite before the concert begins!
Follow Lennie Gallant on Spotify!
Photo: Courtesy Lenny Gallant
