A slight threat of rain - in fact, a few drops did fall - failed to dampen the enthusiasm of a sell out crowd who turned up at the Grist Mill on August 30 to hear Valdy.
It was the second to last concert in the Grist Mills’ summer concert series, and probably the most popular one as the 200 member audience began assembling in front of the Grist Mill’s outdoor kitchen well ahead of the 7 p.m. concert start.
Tree ripened fruit made set up under the apricot tree a potentially messy proposition for concert goers, who brought their own lawn chairs to the performance.
“Valdy boxes” were prepared by Grist Mill kitchen staff and sold at the venue, as were wines presented by Eau Vivre and Forbidden Fruit Wineries. Grandmothers For Africa also set up a canopy under which to present their hand crafted wares for sale.
Valdy provided some pre-concert entertainment with his sound checks prior to the show. He presented a casual, laid back atmosphere that was comfortable to an audience made up largely of fans who have followed Vlady’s career since his 1972 hit, “Rock and Roll Song” launched his solo folk career.
“How totally civil to have booze at a gig!” he said to the audience, declaring himself a “Keremeos virgin,” as his appearance at the Grist Mill was his first performance in the area.
Paul Valdemar Horsdal - Valdy - Valdy has won two Juno Awards for Folk Singer of the Year and Folk Entertainer of the Year, in addition to receiving seven additional Juno nominations.
He has produced fourteen albums which have achieved sales of nearly half a million copies, four of which are certified gold. Of Canadian folk artists in the mid-1970s, only Gordon Lightfoot was more popular.
Valdy lives on Saltspring Island in British Columbia with his wife Kathleen.