Rare Cobourg concert features legendary folk singer
By Marianne Marusic
Half-French-half-English, Cobourg resident Marie-Lynn Hammond has been called one of Canada's best songwriters by no less than Estelle Klein, a co-founder of the Mariposa Folk Festival, and Gary Cristal, founder of the Vancouver Folk Festival.
Hammond is know for her unique voice, her dynamic stage presence and her brilliant songs – in both official languages – that can range from wickedly satirical to hauntingly personal.
On Friday, Nov. 4, at 7:30 p.m., Hammond and her long-time keyboard accompanist Tom Leighton will appear in a rare concert at the Victoria Hall Citizens' Forum as a LOFT Production. With limited seating in the cozy room, the venue will take on a coffeehouse feel.
“What inspires me to write songs,” Hammond said, “is my love of words, poetry and story telling, and the magic that happens when you combine those with melody and you're able to touch other people with that magic.”
In the early 1970s, along with Bob Bassin, Hammond founded the legendary Canadian folk group Stringband. Criss-crossing Canada for 15 years, they also made forays into the USA, the former USSR, Japan, Mexico, France and the UK, and are considered pioneers of the Canadian indie-record scene.
By 1979, Hammond had established a parallel solo music career encompassing appearances at almost every major Canadian folk festival. With seven solo recordings to her credit, she is also a playwright, an editor and a former CBC radio broadcaster.
In 2015, she moved to Cobourg and has since been happily writing songs inspired by Cobourg and Northumberland County.
Hammond is not only acclaimed as a singer-songwriter, but is also highly regarded as a writer and copy editor. Her articles and essays have appeared in major publications, and her plays (and a screenplay she co-wrote) have all been produced. Hammond copy-edited Esi Edugyan's book that won Canada's biggest literary prize, the $100,000 Giller Award.
“Of all the excellent copy-edit's I've received over the year's Marie-Lynn Hammond's was by far the best,” Edugyan commented.
“Her work on Half Blood Blues was incredibly sensitive and astute.”
Leighton, a multi-instrumentalist and in-demand studio player, has accompanied Hammond for more than 30 years with his trademark musical versatility and enthusiasm, and can often be found performing in Cobourg.
Tickets for the Nov. 4 concert can be purchased from Victoria Hall on-line at www.experiencecobourg.ca, by phone at 905-372-2210 or 1-855-372-2210, or by sending an e-transfer of $30 to kenprue@gmail.com.
Although it is not mandatory, Health Canada suggests wearing a mask in light of rising COVID-19 cases.
