As a solo artist and as one of the creative forces in Blue Rodeo, Jim Cuddy has received nearly every accolade Canada can bestow upon a musician including 15 JUNO Awards, The Order of Canada and, along with bandmates Blue Rodeo, has been inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, received the Governor General Performing Arts Award and a Star on the Walk of Fame.
Cuddy has written many of the songs that have become indelible in the soundtrack of Canadian lives. With the release of his sixth solo album, All The World Fades Away, he continues to contribute to that extraordinary songbook. The songs on All The World Fades Away map Cuddy’s unique compendium of memories and the emotions they stir. They are poignant, personal, and relevant, not just to his life, but also to our own.
Jim Cuddy will be playing at Stan Rogers Folk Festival in Canso, NS, throughout the weekend of July 25-28.
What does it mean to you to perform at the Stan Rogers Folk Festival, a festival known for its dedication to celebrating songwriters?
I’ve always been a Stan Rogers fan. I first saw Stan at The Scarecrow Club in Kingston when I was a student at Queen’s. It is an honour to play his namesake festival. I’ve been once before and I recognize the elements are a big deal there when we played there was definitely a coastal rainstorm. I look forward to coming back to see what it is like this time!
As part of a festival that honors the legacy of Stan Rogers, how do you incorporate storytelling into your performances to connect with the audience on a deeper level?
My new record, All The World Fades Away, is essentially a fictionalized memoir of stories so it will be an easy transition for me to tell stories about the new songs and it is always fun to chat with an audience.
Stanfest is known for its intimate and community-oriented atmosphere. How does performing in such a setting differ from larger venues or other festivals you’ve played at?
Every show has a different, enjoyable element. Large shows are big gestures and big excitement. Smaller shows are ways to see people’s faces and connect with them. I love an intimate audience as well as large ones. I’m looking forward to it.
What new projects or upcoming releases are you working on, and will Stanfest attendees get a preview of any new material during your set?
I have a new record out with my solo band, it has been for about a month and I will be playing a couple of songs from that record in my set.
Collaboration is a big part of the folk music tradition. Are there any artists on this year’s lineup that you’re particularly excited to collaborate with or watch perform?
I’m lucky enough to have my son Sam Polley performing at the same festival and I always enjoy collaborating with him!