January 2026 Newsbetter

Happy New Year all, ( or what passes for Happiness in these challenging times ).

Hope you all had a wee break over the holidays.

Based on our experience welcoming in 2025, I'm wondering if instead of a new year we could get a slightly used one in good condition, like 1988., that was a GOOD year...

Here are a few things happening this month.. then a year-end-review, and your tale-of-month- which is in musical form this time..

GIGS: I'm pleased to be playing with my friend and neighbour Katherine Wheatley at the end of the month in Eastern Ontario.

First up: January 25th- Ottawa ON- House concert. 7 pm JAMES GORDON with Katherine Wheatley. 25 dollars. Email annemuryo@gmail.com to reserve and to get the address. Strictly hush hush until then.

Then :January 26th- Perth ON The Listening Room Series ​
7pm - $35 - with a portion going to a local charity. Doors open at 6:30pm
For information and necessary pre-paid Tickets, contact Sue....Sue.tennant12@gmail.com​

Here's Katherine and yours fairly truly singing together:

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And sneaking into next month: FEBRUARY 1st

I'll be making my second annual appearance in Toronto at the Tranzac Club as the guest of Howard Gladstone and his excellent band. A matinee performance from 2:30 to 4:30 pm.

AND, NOT ONLY that: I did a thing: Remember my one-man musical "Smashing the Oligarchy, and Other Fun Preapocalypse Activities ?

It debuted this past year, - Well there's been a lot of interest in the images used in the production, and the songs and rants therein, so I've made on online version.. available on Youtube. Check it out: Here's ACT One and Act Two. It was a fairly mammoth effort, so if you are watching and feel like contributing- support is greatly appreciated with an e-transfer to James@jamesgordon.ca ​

Act One:

​https://youtu.be/lyB-QtOI5YM?si=t7suGR5beJ7s04J3​

Act Two is here: https://youtu.be/3iIFo8WvDEU?si=8J5O2cKNegBPnnmQ​

I'll be touring with the show this year, so this gives an indication of what you might get if I show up in your town. Looking to partner with Environmental and Activist groups. Let me know If you have any suggestions.

THEN! It's the return of the Wednesday night song swap! Starting January 14th

I noticed that I had 8 consecutive Wednesdays free starting this month...so we're starting this online wingding up again. It was really fun last time. A safe online space where you can share songs and meet other songwriters. email me at james@jamesgordon.ca if you'd like the zoom link.

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OK! On to the year-end review... in picture form this time. 2025 certainly had a lot of variety for me. The highlights start with me getting to play with my 'exceptional ensemble' at Kitchener Ontario's great Registry Theatre. Here we are, ( Above ) singing "Keeping You In Mind" from the Wrinkles and Scars album:

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Then I got to perform with Connie Murch as the guests of the Guelph Concert Band at The River Run Centre. Here we are with 99 empty band chairs behind us!

Keeping the guesting thing going - I was also the guest of the Guelph Chamber Choir for their show at the Arthur

I took myself to Cuba for my annual personal writer's retreat and did the entire script for me aforementioned "Smashing The Oligarchy" production. Here's the proof:

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The next big adventure was on the Via Rail Canadian train as the on-board entertainer-- Toronto to Vancouver-

where I was banished from the 'posh car' performances after a white nationalist Mega supporter objected to The above song: it was worth it! The tour of Vancouver Island when I arrived on the left coast was a great one!

Here I am at the fabled Victoria Folk Club:

I did my annual songwriting/yoga/food retreat with Arvi Gosmo on Snake Island on Lake Simcoe: Here's the graduating class!

In June, as well as some great concert gigs with Katherine Wheatley, I debuted TWO, count 'em, TWO one-man shows... the aforementioned Smashing the Oligarchy show and the "JAMES GORDON Sings You A River" presentation.. all songs about Ontario's Grand River.

In the summer I got in some good holiday time onboard the Eramosa Belle, and toured Ontario Provincial Parks with my special family concert set geared towards songs of nature and the environment.

September was the 3rd annual Praise the Ward Festival here in my own 'hood in Guelph- I'm the artistic director and it was a fun celebration!

October was my American tour... a great trip at a challenging time for that beleaguered country-

Here I am at the People's Voice Cafe' in Greenwich Village NEW York, and at the NO Kings Rally in Wisconsin-

Last trip of the year was a lovely one to Nova Scotia, with Connie Murch- here we are at the Pink Piano Cafe in Lower Sackville.

That's it.. .thanks as always for your ongoing support and for listening and reading. As usual my albums and books are obtainable at jamesgordonmusic.bandcamp.com and I try to keep jamesgordon.ca up to date too.

Here's your story of the month: a little different this time... Instead of a road story, it's a tale from my childhood, set to music. I've told this story from the stage and each time I do folks say I should "Do Something With It".... so here, by popular demand is "the Hockey Stick"... In 1967, the last year the Maple Leafs won the Stanley Cup, I won a trophy playing peewee hockey, and the swag that came with it included, believe it or not, a hockey stick signed by every member of that Cup-winning hockey team... Here's the adventure that stick had.

Catch you down the road somewhere... James

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