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Cardiff chats with the Eagle prior to his return to Cochrane

Craig Cardiff is a busy, busy man. The folk singer/songwriter has produced an epic 16 albums and tours relentless around Canada, making a point of playing some of the more offbeat locales.
Craig Cardiff.
Craig Cardiff.

Craig Cardiff is a busy, busy man. The folk singer/songwriter has produced an epic 16 albums and tours relentless around Canada, making a point of playing some of the more offbeat locales.

The Juno and Canadian Folk Music Award nominee agreed to chat with the Eagle about his music, connecting to his audience and the historical relationship between beards and folk music.

Eagle: First off, could you explain the historical relationship between beards and folk?

Cardiff: I’m glad you asked that question; it’s been often unasked and it’s time we got ahead of it than letting it linger like the elephant in the room. I think it’s hard when there’s a travelling element to get clean-shaven over a period, you just give up. You just embrace the bread.

Eagle: Much has been said of your legendary relationship with your audience. What is the key to making that novel at every venue?

Cardiff: People would write in like, ‘Hey, we really appreciate your music, we’d love to see you out here, have you ever considered coming out to Salt Spring Island?’ But I found myself in a position where it felt hard financially and I realize part of it was because I was waiting. So I started asking for help from people who were recommending coming to play at places and seeing if they would host. That’s what got the ball rolling in a lot of different provinces for me. It has felt more real to me than billboards and radio singles.

In terms of keeping it novel, everyone’s got a story and it’s about finding a way to be open to that. Even if it means booking a show or organizing it, I feel like when you ask people for help in a gentle way, those people who are excited to, will. If it’s not for the people in the room, then there’s not a venue. You’re lucky enough to sell your songs, and it’s important to ask people for help with that in the least pushy way possible.

Eagle: Can you describe the most surreal on-stage audience interaction you’ve had?

Cardiff: Recently, a couple had come to a show in southwestern Ontario and brought their daughter who was 10 days old and they had named her Virginia because they heard that song (‘Virginia, In a Song’) and one of the lines stuck with them. That felt pretty special.

You’re now part of some kid’s history. They told me they tell everyone that! I believe them.

Eagle: The French word ‘terroir’ describes a sense of place— the geography, climate, the people and anything else that contributes to the uniqueness of an area. Could you describe your feelings playing in Alberta?

Cardiff: Some who are from Alberta, there’s a quiet pride. It’s pretty different than the flash and oil as some people perceive Alberta. I feel like I know more people who come from farming backgrounds than anything else around the province.

There’s the people who are displaced, who will never call Alberta home, and are planning to leave. There’s a sense of longing; when I speak with some people at shows.

Eagle: You’ve made a point of playing at some “alternative” venues, such as prisons, camps and even living rooms. Is there any place you’ve refused or wouldn’t play?

Cardiff: When we talk about venue, we’re focusing on the wrong place when we talk about entertainment. It’s about people and people coming together. I don’t care if it’s on a boat. If there’s people who are excited about being there and listening and connected, then that has meaning. I have loads and loads of respect for anyone who makes space for art to happen, but they’re just people containers and we come together and we sing along and perform for each other. The audience has to be as important a part as anything else. And there are a lot of places I wouldn’t play and it’s all connected to people who are not connected to music and who aren’t connected to the music.

Eagle: Your Book of Truths and living-room concerts provides the audience with a much more direct experience. Do you have any other concepts you’re experimenting with to provide that experience?

Cardiff: No. The thing that I need to get better at is catching more shows and making more time to watch other people. We’re going down to the Junos to be part of it this coming weekend and I’m excited to watch the music. But in terms of [the book] I don’t do it every show. When it feels gimmicky or when there’s a read on the audience like, “Oh, is the book going to be here?” Sometimes those are the nights I just focus on the show.

Eagle: What’s coming up next, creatively?

Cardiff: There’re no plans. I mean I’m always writing, I have a studio in my home and another studio that we’ve put up in Ottawa we’re just setting up. So in between those two places it’s just about carving out time to demo and to write. It’s like, ‘OK, that’s the idea, now let’s execute it’ and if it goes nowhere then leave it and have it to refer to.

Eagle: One last thing – you’re going to an epic folk throw down. Who do you bring to back you up? Dan Mangan, Father John Misty, or Iron and Wine?

Cardiff: Many would think Dan Mangan is lithe, able to dodge and work around a larger opponent, and he has a killer left-right combination a lot people aren’t aware of. But the reality is Iron and Wine’s stamina and constitution would allow for a longer, more protracted fight and would just tire out an opponent. So while I would love to have Dan along, not knowing the opponent, I’d go with Iron and Wine A and Dan Mangan B.

Be sure to catch Craig Cardiff at the Legacy Guitar and Coffee House Friday Mar. 20 at 8 p.m. Tickets available at craigcardiff.zoobis.com.

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