Tamblyn to perform at Harrington Hall April 19

Ian Tamblyn, singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and storyteller, will bring his Canadian music to Harrington this April. (Submitted photo)

Amanda Nelson, Echo Contributor

The Harrington and Area Community Association is hosting a concert at Harrington Hall, 539 Victoria St., Embro, on Sunday, April 19, at 2 p.m. Doors open at 1:30 p.m., and snacks, soft drinks and desserts will be served to guests.

Ian Tamblyn, a multi-award-winning singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and storyteller, will perform for the first time in the region next month and says he’s looking forward to visiting somewhere new.

“This will be a new experience for me, and despite the fact that I’ve been playing for over 55 years, I’ve never been to Harrington,” said Tamblyn. “For one reason or another, I seem to find myself in small places with little enclaves of community-based concert halls and coffee houses. I’ve been doing that for many, many years, and really, I prefer playing in such places.”

Tamblyn was nominated as English Songwriter of the Year by the Canadian Folk Music Awards in 2022, and in the same year, he was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada.

His music reflects diverse themes, including Canadian landscapes and people. His upcoming album focuses on small communities across Canada.

“I did four albums celebrating the four coasts of Canada — the Superior coast, the West Coast, the Arctic coast, and the Labrador Coast,” said Tamblyn. “I’ve been to all of them, and I wanted to do an album reflecting those parts of the country, not just the landscape, but the people there as well.”

Attendees will hear a range of music, as Tamblyn says he generally gets a feel for the audience and bases his performance around that.

“Each evening, I don’t have a planned set list. I sort of go where I want to go and also get a general vibe from the audience and see what works for them,” he said.

The association is a volunteer-operated, registered non-profit that manages several local facilities and events. Its primary role is to oversee and maintain the Harrington Conservation Area and the Harrington Grist Mill, both owned by the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority, as well as manage Harrington Hall — the venue for the upcoming concert — on behalf of the Township of Zorra.

The association hosts a number of events each year, including a Christmas potluck, an open house on the second Saturday in August, and one or two concerts. Its largest fundraiser is the “Celebrate Harrington Community Auction,” an online event scheduled to take place shortly after the upcoming concert.

Tickets for the concert are $30 and available in advance at exploreharrington.ca or by calling 519-536-0955.