The Music of Gordon Lightfoot Comes To Life at Opera House

Events

Aug 29

**Crowd of 240** shows up for Steve Rae and The Pony Man Band as they return to the Gravenhurst Opera House to delight crowds once again with “Lightfoot: The Legend Lives On”

Steve Rae and the Pony Man Band made a triumphant return to the Gravenhurst Opera House with their compelling tribute, Lightfoot: The Legend Lives On. The evening was a heartfelt homage to the legendary Gordon Lightfoot, showcasing many of his greatest songs that have become staples in Canadian music history. Rae’s rich vocals, paired with the band's skilled instrumentation, brought new life to classics such as “If You Could Read My Mind,” “Sundown,” “Don Quixote,” and “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald,” captivating the audience from start to finish.

Steve mixed the beautiful music of Lightfoot with stories about some of the songs. “Sundown,” Steve shared, was written for one of Lightfoot’s ex-girlfriends. Infamous for getting herself thrown in jail, she was the one that gave John Belushi the drugs responsible for his death. Past Gravenhurst mayor, Paul Kelly has some ties to Lightfoot as one of Paul’s relatives, Mike Heffernan was Lightfoot’s keyboardist and still plays, to this day, with The Lightfoot Band. Steve was also fortunate to have met Lightfoot at a concert and talk to him about when he played at Dunn’s Pavilion, now more commonly known as, The Kee to Bala. After intermission Steve and the band continued entertainment and graced the audience with 2 additional encores giving the crowd of 240 an unforgettable evening of Canadiana music.

The intimate setting of the Opera House provided the perfect atmosphere for this tribute, allowing the crowd to connect deeply with the timeless storytelling embedded in Lightfoot’s music. The Pony Man Band’s dedication to preserving the spirit and authenticity of Lightfoot’s work was evident in every note played, making the night a memorable celebration of one of Canada’s most beloved singer-songwriters. The performance reaffirmed the enduring impact of Lightfoot’s legacy and left attendees eagerly anticipating future shows by Steve Rae and the Pony Man Band. Rotarian Rae and his band mates including Gerry Holden on electric guitar and Mick Torbay on bass, donated their proceeds “to a good cause,” while hitting all the highlights of the Orillia singer’s long, memorable life.