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: Send him an e-mail for ordering information.
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.
Its about good times, lots of laughs, and lots of fun!
“...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”…
Edge of the World Music Fest, Haida Gwaii
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:
Tuesday, June 29: Eleven Days of Celebrating Canada event, Armstrong, BC. Come on down to Memorial Park at 5-8:00 pm to get in on some free festivities (Cake, etc., and a Songs for Canada Concert!) in honour of Canada’s birthday.
Thursday, July 1: CANADA DAY!!! Get over to MacLeod Park in beautiful, historic Langley BC for western Canada’s biggest two-day Canada Day Festival. Catch the Songs for Canada show on the main stage right at 12:00 noon.
Monday, July 5: Private concert in Armstrong, BC. Sorry!
Tuesday, July 6: Lunchbox Series Concert live Songs for Canada event, 11:30-1:30, at the Ross St. Stage in beautiful downtown Salmon Arm, BC.
Friday to Sunday, July 9-10-11: Get yourself around to historic Fort St. James, BC., for the renowned Cottonwood Festival! This is an encore performance for John. Get tix early for this one.
Thursday to Sunday, July 15-16-17-18: Billy Barker Days rocks the interior! Get to beautiful Quesnel, BC, and come on down to the Park Stage on Thursday, at 4:00pm, and to the Downtown Stage on Friday at 5:00 pm to catch Songs for Canada performances. Check the Billy Barker Days website for other listings!
Tuesday, July 20: Tuesday in the Trees Concert Series! John has been invited for the third straight year to perform Songs for Canada in Cenotaph Park in spectacular Vernon, BC. The show is free and runs through the lunch hour from 11:00 pm to 1:00 pm.
Thursday, July 22: Live @ Lunch Concert Series presents Songs for Canada from 11:00 to 1:00 in gorgeous downtown Penticton, BC. The action takes place at the Nanaimo St. Stage.
Saturday, July 24: The annual Kelowna Cherry Festival presents Songs for Canada in the Downtown Library Park. Get to downtown Kelowna in the early afternoon to catch all the action and events.
Sunday and Monday, September 5-6: Catch the special Songs for Canada performances at various walkabout locations in Fort Edmonton Park for the famous annual Storytellers Festival!
John's recent presentations, performances, acknowledgments, and bookings include:
2010
Sunday afternoon, April 25 2010: Edmonton Earthday Festival, McIntyre Park in Old Strathcona.
Friday, February 12, 2010: at the Northeast Alberta Teachers Convention, Mayfield Hotel, Edmonton. two morning sessions on The Songs For Canada Project.
Thursday, February 11, 2010: at The Calgary Teachers Convention Hyatt Hotel, a morning session on The Songs for Canada Project.
2009
Saturday, September 19: Alberta Earth Day Festival, Legislature Grounds Bandshell Park, Edmonton, Alberta.
Saturday and Sunday, September 6/7: Labour Day Festival, Fort Edmonton, afternoon shows.
Thursday, August 13: Williams Lake BC welcomes Songs for Canada in a special evening performance in beautiful Boitanio Park.
Friday/Saturday/Sunday, August 7/8/9: Edge of the World Festival: Haida Gwaii), a Songs For Canada return engagement, Tlell (Queen Charlotte Islands), B.C.
Tuesday, August 4: at Terrace Heritage Park, an evening Songs for Canada event in celebration of Riverboat Days.
Saturday evening, August 1: In Terrace, BC, John will be the feature performer for the Royal Canadian Legion’s 90th anniversary celebration event.
Friday, July 24: Cafe Voltaire/Books & Company return engagement, Canada Songs Concert, Prince George BC.
Friday-Sunday, July 17 to 19: The Cottonwood Festival in Ft. St. James, BC welcomes “Songs For Canada”.
Thursday, July 16: John will entertain in the Ft. St. James, BC Historic Walk, warm-up for the Cottonwood Festival.
Wednesday, July 15: Nakusp, BC MusicFest kickoff early evening event, park outdoor stage.
Thursday, July 9: The Junction Cafe, Armstrong, BC, return engagement, Songs for Canada event.
Wednesday, July 8: Salmon Arm welcomes a special Songs for Canada performance at Downtown Market square rolling through the afternoon.
Tuesday July 7: Vernon, BC Tuesday in the Trees Concert, Memorial Park, lunch hour event, Songs for Canada return engagement.
Friday, July 3: A return engagement to Revelstoke Streetfest, Grizzly Plaza.
Thursday, July 2: An encore performance of Songs for Canada in Merritt BC, an early evening concert in Rotary Park
Wednesday, July 1: Canada Day In Concert with ParksAlive Kelowna...an afternoon with OGOPOGO!!!
Monday, June 29: John is the feature first-event performer for Revelstoke Streetfest...an early evening show in beautiful downtown Grizzly Plaza.
Saturday, June 27: The Matchbox Theatre, Red Deer, presents The Songs for Canada Alberta Talent Showcase, with host/performer John Spearn and special guests.
Saturday, April 4: Forestburg Concerts Presents...an evening of CeltiCanada with John Spearn, Andy Donnelly and Stephen's Green in Forestburg, Alberta.
Saturday, March 14: In Concert at The Stop Coffee House, Black Diamond. Alberta.
Friday, March 13: Medicine Hat Folk Club Singer/Songwriter Evening, Medicine Hat, Alberta.
Saturday, February 21: Winterfest Event/Concert for the Uptown Folk Club at Norwood Legion, Edmonton, Alberta
Saturday, March 7: The Lethbridge Folk Club Presents...an evening of CeltiCanada with John Spearn, Andy Donnelly and Stephen's Green.
Friday, March 6: Fish Creek Concerts (Calgary) Presents... an evening of CeltiCanada with John Spearn, Andy Donnelly, and Stephen's Green.
Friday, February 20: SEATCA Teacher's Convention, Creating Songs For Canada Presentation, Medicine Hat, Alberta
2008
Friday thru Sunday, August 22-24: Robson Valley Music Festival, Dunster, BC.
Thursday, August 21: Parks & Life Festival, Celtic Night, Kelowna, BC.
Thursday, August 14: Okanagan Lakes Festival afternoon Concert, City Hall grounds, Kelowna, BC
Sunday, August 10: Sunday Nights on the SS Sycamous Concert, Penticton, BC.
Friday, August 8: Minstrel Cafe, Kelowna, BC.
Thursday August 7: Music in the Park BC150 Festival, Merritt, BC.
Tuesday August 5: Tuesday in the Trees afternoon Concert, Vernon, BC.
Friday thru Sunday, August 1-4: ArtsWells Music Festival, Wells/Barkerville, BC.
Friday July 25: Cafe Voltaire, Books and Company, Prince George, BC.
Friday thru Sunday, July 18-20: North Pacific Music Festival, Kitimat, BC.
Thursday, July 3, Walk4Justice (Edmonton segment stopover): Edmonton Native Friendship Centre, Edmonton, AB.
Tuesday, July 1: CANADA DAY, Edmonton River Valley Festival, Louise McKinney Park, Edmonton, AB.
Saturday, June 14: The McKenzie Towne Music Festival, SE Calgary AB.
Sunday, June 1: Little Big Run, Churchill Square, Edmonton, AB
Wednesday, May 28: 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
2007 and Prior
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.