I really enjoyed listening to the songs Terry sent me when we started discussing if he would come and play in the shop. Wrapped in a very professional delivery he recounts some unusual but understandable situations. Ranging from how a newly-single guy adapts to the domestic workload, to what Her Majesty might have concealed in her little bag, he rolls out great ideas in original songs with a load of humour and fun! Terry has been described very aptly as: “a Canadian songwriter whose songs and music poignantly capture the lives of cowboys, loggers, misfits and as well, the trials, humor and pathos of everyday life.” Raised in a military family, Terry has worked as a grocery boy, farm hand, golf course greens man, forest fire fighter, tree planter, clerk and forest technician.
Major influences in his music and writing have been Steve Goodman, Ian Tyson, John Prine, Bob Dylan and Steve Earle. Bluegrass has also been a strong influence which can be heard in many of the songs on his self-titled, début album, “Terry McLeish”. His music career has taken him from folk, rock and blues bands to folk/roots singer-songwriter and performer, and his songs have been heard on CJOH television, CBC, CHCR radio, CHIP and Valley Heritage radio, CKCU radio, other artist’s albums and projects, compilation cd’s and a musical tour of the Upper Ottawa Valley’s Opeongo Line. Over the years, Terry has shared the stage with Colleen Peterson, Valdy, Long John Baldry, Reverend Ken and the Lost Followers, Jack De Keizer, Sneezy Waters, Ian Tamblyn, David Essig, Donnie Walsh of Downchild Blues Band, Paul Brandt, Ronnie Hawkins, Prairie Oyster, Leahy and many more. He has performed at festivals, clubs, kitchen parties, fairs and events of all kinds.
Recently, Terry was invited to act and perform in The Stone Fence Theatre’s current production of “The Opeongo Opera” which ran throughout the summer and into the fall of 2011 and 2012. Four of his songs were chosen to be featured in this acclaimed two-act musical as well. In early 2012 McLeish hosted The Terry McLeish Show; an eight week live stage show featuring some of Canada’s best folk/roots, singer-songwriters. Terry McLeish is currently working on a new studio album to be released in the summer of 2015.
This promises to be a fun evening of great original music – come along and enjoy Terry’s down-to-earth humour about life situations.
Terry McLeish plays at Gaia Java on Friday, May 1 at 7:00pm.