NANAIMO singer-songwriter Tim Harrison shares his personal experiences through song.
“My songs are story songs – not strictly 18-verse folk songs – have some narrative personal stories,” said Harrison. “I hope my experiences are kind of useful to someone else.”
He loves performing his music live and getting the audience involved in the music.
“I really love that feeling of community,” said Harrison.
He performed throughout Canada and the United States in the 1980s and ’90s.
He was inspired to create music because of folk performers that came out of the Greenwich Village music scene during the ’60s.
“As a young person, I was just fascinated by the romance and storytelling,” said Harrison.
He performs at the Vault Café with Amelia Thomas on trumpet and David Baird on bass on Thursday (Sept. 29) at 9 p.m.
Harrison will perform music from his previous albums and some newer unreleased songs during the show at the Vault Café.
Harrison came across Thomas playing during a Nanaimo concert and said her music struck him.
“The bell-like quality of her tone takes me to other worlds,” he said.
Harrison said he likes the freedom to improvise during shows.
Harrison looks for musicians with the same attitude to collaborate on shows with.
“Sometimes the song will just go places you have never been before and that is just exciting,” he said. “I am really driven by the music – lyrics and the music. I’m looking for communication between the musicians ... looking for more spontaneous expression.”
Harrison started focusing full time on his career in 1999. Previously he toured, worked as a concert promoter and as an artistic director for various festival throughout Canada, including Summerfolk.
Harrison has been featured in articles running in Folk Roots, Acoustic Guitar and others.
His latest album, Grey County, was one of the top 10 Canadian albums that received airplay in the international market in 2005, according to Harrison’s biography.
For more information about Harrison please go to www.timharrison.ca.
arts@nanaimobulletin.com