Click here for John's "unplugged" version of "Dieppe."
To download sheet music for "Dieppe," click here.
And, here is the sheet music for "Edith Cavell". Purchase John's CDs:
Canada’s voice . . .
It’s about music.
It’s about song writing.
It’s about so many cherished experiences... performing at amazing festivals on the shores of the Atlantic, Pacific, and
Arctic Oceans, and countless wondrous places in between.
It’s about the art of performing live, and being inspired by so many wonderful, talented, humble people...so much real friendship, integrity, and so many people who care.
It’s about the wonderful gifts we’re all given... of voice, emotion, dexterity, energy...and magical musical instruments.
It’s about Canada...so vast, and with so many freedoms, so much humility, so much rich history... and so many wonderful stories that need to be told.
It’s about spreading the word...the real Canada being there for all to see, experience and abide...through so many indescribably wondrous
festivals, people, celebrations, the immeasurable scenic beauty, and the art of song lyric.
It’s about good times, the environment, and sharing, but also about sacrifice...feeling it when people get hurt...giving...honour...and remembrance.
“...We are particularily happy for the opportunity to alert you to John Spearn’s important Canada Songs Project.” -David and
Rosaleen Gregory, editors: Canadian Folk Music magazine (Summer 2007, Vol. 41.2).
Welcome... to the Canada Songs website. Thank you for clicking in.
John performing "Keeper of the Peace" and "Crimson Maple Leaf" at Earth Day in Edmonton -- click on the arrows to start playing the videos.
For a biography of John used for event progams, click here to download (bio is in PDF format).
Canadiana Touring Highlights: “From Sea to Sea to Sea”…
Stan Rogers Fest: Canso, NS
Peace Fest: Peace River, AB
OHASSTA Conference: Toronto, ON
Historica Summer Institute: Montreal, PQ
Historica S.I.: Sudbury, ON
Atlin Arts & Music Festival, Atlin, BC
Longest Days Fest: Whitehorse, YK
North Country Fair: Driftpile, AB
VJ Day 60th Anniversary: Ottawa, ON
South Country Fair: Ft. McLeod, AB
HKVCA Convention, Aurora, ON
WCMA Awards: Regina, SK
Sasquatch Fest, Easyford, AB
Rosebud Radio Hour: Rosebud, AB
Canadian History Society Conference: Winnipeg, MB
CNHS National Conference: Halifax, NS
InterPlay Fest, Fort McMurray, AB
Canadian Studies Assn. Conference: Ottawa, ON
Northern Lights Folk Club: Edmonton, AB
End of the Road Music Fest, Inuvik, NWT
New CD: The brand new Lonely Heroes is now being released after 5
years in the making! Help us celebrate this third CD in the Canada Songs project. Give a listen... click here to
download a sample from the project, titled "The War Bride."
To hear more music from John, visit his page at MySpace.
Upcoming gigs:
The 2008 Songs for Canada Tour is now commencing. Watch for more new performance listings in the days to come!!
Tuesday, July 1st, CANADA DAY, Edmonton River Valley Festival, Louise McKinney Park, Edmonton, AB.
Thursday, July 3rd, Walk4Justice (Edmonton segment stopover) Edmonton Native Friendship Centre, Edmonton, AB.
Friday thru Sunday, July 18th-20th, North Pacific Music Festival, Kitimat, BC.
Friday July 25th, Cafe Voltaire, Books and Company, Prince George, BC.
Friday thru Sunday, August 1st-4th, ArtsWells Music Festival, Wells/Barkerville, BC.
Tuesday August 5th, Tuesday in the Trees afternoon Concert, Vernon, BC.
Thursday August 7th, Music in the Park BC150 Festival, Merritt, BC.
Friday, August 8th, Minstrel Cafe, Kelowna, BC.
Sunday, August 10th, Sunday Nights on the SS Sycamous Concert, Penticton, BC.
Thursday, August 14th, Okanagan Lakes Festival afternoon Concert, City Hall grounds, Kelowna, BC
Thursday, August 21st, Parks & Life Festival, Celtic Night, Kelowna, BC.
Friday thru Sunday, August 22nd-24th, Robson Valley Music Festival, Dunster, BC.
John's recent presentations, performances, acknowledgments, and bookings include:
Saturday, June 14th The McKenzie Towne Music Festival, SE Calgary AB.
Sunday, June 1st, Little Big Run, Churchill Square, Edmonton, AB
Wednesday, May 28th, Songwriter’s Circle, Matchbox Theatre, Red Deer, AB
April 20, 2008 - Edmonton Earth Day Festival
April 12, 2008 - East Coulee Spring Festival, (near) Drumheller
April 11, 2008 - Friday-Ironwood Stage and Grill (with special guests), Calgary, AB
March 22, 2008 - Saturday-Headline Performance at World Water Day Concert, Fiddler’s Roost, Edmonton, AB
March 1, 2008 - Wunderbar on Whyte Ave, w/ special guests Light Travels
February 23, 2008 - Calgary Celtic Folk Club & Guest performing w/ Hot Doras at The Ironwood Stage, Calgary
February 22, 2008 - Lethbridge (SWATCA) Teacher’s Convention
Feb. 17, 2008 - Sunday Shows series: Boyle Street Co-op Community Center, Edmonton
Homefest, TransAlta Arts Barns on November 4, 2007.
Performing at the Edge of the World Festival, Haida Gwaii (Queen Charlotte Islands, B.C., on August 9-11 2007.
Performing at the Robson Valley Music Festival, Dunster, B.C., on August 23-25 2007.
On Friday, July 13, 2007, performing at the Village Cafe Salmon Bake in Haines Junction, Yukon.
On Tuesday, July 10, 2007, performing for the Arts in the Park Festival (a noonday show) in Whitehorse, Yukon.
The Atlin Arts & Music Festival, Atlin, BC, July 6-8, 2007.
The North Country Fair Music Fest, Driftpile Valley, Alberta, June 22-24, 2007.
The 14th Annual Earth Day Festival, April 22, 2007, at Hawrelak Park, Edmonton, AB.
July 28-30, 2006: John has a return engagement for this year's
Sasquatch Folk Festival near Drayton Valley, Alberta. See www.brassmonkeyproductions.com.
July 11-14, 2006: Performing at the Longest Days Festival in Whitehorse, Yukon.
June 16-18, 2006: Performing at the 28th annual North Country Fair,
near Driftpile, Alberta on the south shore of Lesser Slave Lake.
April 23, 2006: Performing at Edmonton's 14th annual Earth Day Festival at
Hawrelak Park at 2:00 PM (return invitation) on the main stage, and will also be co-host emcee for the event.
March 19, 2006: Performing at Edmonton's 2006 "Night of Artists" Festival at the Ramada Inn.
Friday, February 24, 2006: Live on CKUA Radio from 7-9 pm, The Celtic Show with Andy Donnelly celebrates its TENTH ANNIVERSARY, and John is honoured to be performing live as one of the guests.
February 9-10, 2006: John will be presenting the Canada Songs
Project at the North Central Teacher's Convention at the Shaw Conference
Centre in Edmonton.
November 4-6, 2005: Presenting and performing in Toronto at the Ontario History and Social
Studies Teachers Association conference (Ohassta).
Saturday, October 29, 2005: John will be presenting his Canada Songs
Project at the Fine Arts Council Conference being held at The Victoria
School for the Performing Arts in Edmonton.
Oct. 14-16, 2005: Presenting the Canada Songs Project at the Social Studies Council
Conference, Jasper Park Lodge, in Jasper, Alberta.
Sunday, September 18, 2005: "Run, Terry Fox, Run"...As a contribution to The
Terry Fox Foundation, John will play a live performance of this now
nationally-acclaimed song at the 25th Anniversary Terry Fox Run in Broadmoor
Park at Festival Place in Sherwood Park, Alberta. The song will be in an
opening ceremonies concert starting at 10:00am, which will then carry on
into the afternoon during the run event.
July 22 to 24, 2005: Performing at the 10th Annual Sasquatch Music
Festival near Drayton Valley, Alberta. Please catch the event information at
www.brassmonkeyproductions.com
August 12 to 14, 2005: Performing in Ottawa at the 60th Anniversary of
VJ Day. Please see information at www.hkvca.ca.
June 11, 2005: Performing at the Edmonton Inner City
Music Festival, to be held at Sacred Heart Park (afternoon).
June 25th, 2005: catch John at 6:45pm in the Water Valley, Alberta,
Community Hall (60km NW of Calgary), where he will be performing for the
Water Valley Celtic Music Festival.
April 29, 2005: A Canada Songs Presentation for The AMSA (Alberta Middle School Association)
takes place on Friday, 9:15AM, at Edmonton's Coast Terrace Inn, 4440,
Gateway Blvd. See www.middle-years.ab.ca for further information.
April 30, 2005 John will appear at the Ship and
Anchor Club in Calgary (534 17th Ave. SW) with Harry Welling, to perform
"Alberta and Me", a song chosen as a finalist for the Calgary Folk Festival
competition.
April 23, 2005: Bonnie Doon Folk Club, Bonnie Doon Hall, 8:00
PM, in Edmonton, with Harry Welling and Bob Jahrig.
April 24, 2005: Earth Day, Hawrelak Park in Edmonton, 1:30 PM.
February 5, 2005: Northern Lights Folk
Club at Queen Alexandria Hall in Edmonton. For details check
www.northernlightsfc.ca.
February 12, 2005: Tsunami Benefit Concert, Centre for Spiritual
Awareness, 7621 101 Ave., Edmonton, 5:00 PM.
February 18, 2005: John will be presenting a Canada Songs Workshop and performance at the Greater Calgary Teachers' Convention.
It’s about the art of performing live, and being inspired by so many wonderful, talented, humble people...so much real friendship, integrity, and so many people who care.