When you talk about Canadian songwriting, Gordon Lightfoot’s name sits near the very top of the list. His music has crossed generations, campfires and highways — the kind of songs people remember long after the radio fades.

That’s exactly why Canadian country artist Duane Steele is bringing his show “Troubadour: The Songs of Gordon Lightfoot” to Bonnyville.

I sat down with Steele ahead of the performance at the Strathcona Performing Arts Theatre, and it’s clear this isn’t just another tribute show. For Steele, it’s about honouring the music and the stories behind it.

“It’s not an impersonation show,” Steele told me. “We’re not trying to be Gordon Lightfoot. It’s really about celebrating the music and the history.”

The show was first conceived during covid, when Steele — like many artists — was looking for new ways to connect with audiences.

“I grew up listening to Gordon Lightfoot,” he said. “My older sisters had his records, so those songs were always around when I was a kid.”

What started as a passion project quickly turned into something deeper. As Steele dug into Lightfoot’s catalogue, he discovered just how vast and influential the songwriter’s work truly was.

“I think a lot of people know the big hits like Sundown or The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald,” he said. “But there are so many incredible songs beyond that.”

That discovery is now part of the show itself.

Through live performance, storytelling and multimedia images, “Troubadour” walks audiences through the music and the history behind it. Steele shares stories about the songs, the time they were written and the cultural moments that shaped them.

It’s a format that fits perfectly in Bonnyville’s recently renovated Strathcona Performing Arts Theatre, which Steele describes as an ideal space for a show built around storytelling.

“It’s such an intimate venue,” he said. “The audience is right there with you.”

For Steele, the biggest challenge isn’t copying Lightfoot’s voice — it’s mastering the complexity of his songwriting.

“Those melodies and chords are incredibly unique,” he explained. “And the emotion in those songs is so deep. That’s the part you really have to honour.”

Lightfoot’s music has long been considered part of Canada’s cultural fabric. His lyrics are often studied as poetry, and artists ranging from Bob Dylan to Elvis Presley have recorded his songs.

Steele hopes audiences leave the show with a renewed appreciation for the legendary songwriter.

“It’s really pure Canadiana,” he said. “I hope people walk away realizing just how powerful those songs are.”

The Bonnyville performance is presented with support from Northern Truck and Industrial Supplies.

For Steele, returning to the community is something he genuinely enjoys. He previously performed in Bonnyville three years ago in the show “The Legend of George Jones.”

Now he’s back with a different story to tell — one rooted in the music that helped shape Canada’s songwriting legacy.

And in a theatre built for storytelling, that feels like exactly the right place for it.

Tickets for “Troubadour: The Songs of Gordon Lightfoot” are available at bonnyvilletheatre.com.