Lambton lands part of 30×30 project
Two years, 730 live performances later, Spalding takes “a little break”
March 31, 2022
After two years of daily concerts to lift the spirits of people in Lambton County during the pandemic, Joan Spalding “is taking a little time off.”
The Plympton-Wyoming singer – known as the First Lady of Bluewater Country – has turned on her phone, strapped on her guitar and harmonica and performed some of her favourites for her fans live on Facebook for the last 730 days.
To put that in perspective, Canadian singer Celine Dion – known as the Queen of Las Vegas – performed 717 shows in her epic show new day. She performed them over four years.
Today, Plympton-Wyoming Mayor Lonny Napper stopped by before her show and presented her with a plaque for her musical mission. Napper says over the last two years Spalding “has done a lot to help us enjoy the day.”
Spalding has played every bar with live music in Lambton, recorded albums with friends including Doug Springstead and entered music competitions she she was a teen. She is the only woman to win the Canadian Open Singing Contest three years in a row.
When the pandemic hit and the gigs stopped, she learned how to livestream and started entertaining her fans every day either from her home or from an outdoor venue.
“You work so hard, keeping your career up, and then all of a sudden you think you’re gonna lose it. Anyway, that’s how I continued,” she told The Independent on the first anniversary of her daily concerts.
Her fans showed their appreciation of her dedication as she serenaded them again today. “Thank you Joan for getting us through the past two years,” said Pat Sayers on the Spalding’s Facebook feed. “Your dedication is unbelievable.”
“Thank you for your beautiful music that has kept me strong during this fight, making the days so much brighter. Now, enjoy some deserved time for yourself,” wrote Bonnie Francis.
While today’s virtual show is the last in the daily streak of 730, fans won’t have to wait long to get their Joan Spalding fix. She’s going to be off until Monday or Wednesday – she wasn’t sure, she told her fans.
But Spalding, like many other musicians who have been waiting to get back to what they love, has a gig this weekend and so the streak ends at 730.
You can see Spalding’s performance today here: https://www.facebook.com/joan.spalding.7/videos/480210407081171
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