Canadian folk legend Valdy is about to be surrounded by the Okanagan’s bounty when he performs at a fruit orchard in Lake Country.
The concert is being presented by the Arts Council of the Central Okanagan, which has began a new partnership in agri-tourism with The Orchard, located in Oyama.
Overlooking Kalamalka and Wood Lakes, The Orchard provides a unique place for musicians to perform in a warm and relaxing setting among the trees.
No stranger to these parts, Valdy, born Valdemar Horsdal in Ottawa, has been part of the fabric of Canadian pop and folk music for almost 40 years.
The Order of Canada recipient is a man with a thousand friends, from Newfoundland to Vancouver Island to Texas to New Zealand.
Remembered for Play Me a Rock and Roll Song, his bitter-sweet memory of finding himself as a relaxed and amiable storyteller facing a rambunctious audience at the Aldergrove Rock Festival circa 1968, Valdy has sold almost half a million copies of his 13 albums.
He has two Juno awards (Folk Singer of the Year and Folk Entertainer of the Year), a total of seven Juno nominations and four Gold albums to his credit.
Valdy’s recent CDs include Read Between the Lines as well as The Contenders Two, Still in the Running, a collaboration with friend and fellow singer-songwriter, Gary Fjellgaard, with whom he has toured with on numerous occasions through the Okanagan and beyond.
Valdy’s other more recent solo release, Viva Valdy: Live at Last, is a two-CD package, one live, one studio, with a total of 25 tunes, and a lyric booklet.
He has also been touring lately with Toronto bassoonist Nadina Mackie Jackson and pianist Karel Roessingh.
Other concerts taking place at The Orchard this summer include The Dharma Dolls, featuring Vernon’s own Judi Rose, Melina Moore and Tanya Lipscomb on July 5, B.C. folk legend, and former Valdy Travellin’ Band mate Shari Ulrich July 18, and blues artist Harpdog Brown Aug. 9.
Valdy kicks off the series Friday at 6 p.m. and tickets and information are available at www.theorchardwebsite.com under events. The Orchard is located at 14924 Middle Bench Rd. in Oyama.
