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20 November 2005

Greetings:

The following is reprinted with the express permission of The London
Free Press:

The London Free Press © Copyright 2005, Sun Media Corporation
STILL PLENTY TO SAY BRUCE COCKBURN IS IN LONDON FRIDAY FOR HIS
SPEECHLESS TOUR.
Wednesday, November 16, 2005
BY FREE PRESS STAFF AND NEWS SERVICES

Never at a loss for words, Bruce Cockburn is far from Speechless --
even if that's the name of his latest,all-instrumental album and the
tour supporting it. Speechless is a misleading name for the tour,
which brings him to the London Convention Centre Friday night, smiles
Cockburn. Speechless: The Instrumental Bruce Cockburn (True North/
Universal), just means there will be more guitar than "there normally
would be." In other words, Cockburn will sing a lot, too. The
Ottawa-born star's career includes 28 albums, numerous awards,
including the Canadian Music Hall of Fame and the Tenco Award for
Lifetime Achievement in Italy and a score of gold and platinum records
in Canada. The outspoken activist released his first solo work in
1970. His songs and his life reflect his environmentalism and
commitment to other social justice causes.

The awards and honours continue to flow his way. On Dec. 1, he will
receive the 2005 Winnipeg Folk Festival artistic achievement award. A
few days later, Cockburn will be in Montreal to sing If a Tree Falls
at the opening ceremonies of the UN Climate Control Conference. "The
whole point of writing songs is to share experiences with people," he
says. He wrote If I Had a Rocket Launcher after visiting a Mexican
camp for refugees from war-ravaged Guatemala. To his surprise,Rocket
Launcher received more radio play than any other song in his career
and its video became a regular on MTV. The song also deepened a
growing rift with some Christian organizations that had once embraced
Cockburn's music. Other Cockburn hits include Waiting for a Miracle,
Tokyo, Wondering Where the Lions Are and Lovers in a Dangerous Time.

Cockburn knows Speechless will remind anyone who might have forgotten
that, as Cockburn puts it, he can still play the guitar. As one record
critic puts it, "With 11 previously released acoustic instrumentals
from throughout his career -- and four new or rare cuts -- this
68-minute set showcases the 60-year-old folk icon's fingerpicking and
fretboard prowess in musical settings from blues and folk to jazz."
Speechless shows off Cockburn's influences, such as Belgian Gypsy
guitarist Django Reinhardt on Rouler Sa Bosse and U.S. bluesman
Mississippi John Hurt on Sunrise on the Mississippi. His acoustic
guitar wizardry and lovely compositions aside, Cockburn brings
something else to Speechless -- an impressive guest list. Not many
Canadian folk stars can call on jazz vibes superstar Gary Burton,
Stax/Volt organist Booker T. Jones, Toronto percussionist Rick Lazar
and Canadian bassist George Koller on the same, career-spanning
album.Producers include U.S. alt-rocker T Bone Burnett and Canadian
blues and roots star Colin Linden. Most of the guests are on hand for
a track or perhaps two. Burton is in stellar form on Mistress of
Storms from 1996. "We thought, 'Why not go for the best?' " Cockburn
says ofhis decision to seek out the U.S. star. The folksinger had
Burton's 1979 collaboration with pianist Chick Corea, Crystal Silence,
in mind.Burton was happy to join in. Even as he talks about his
Speechless album, Cockburn says he's been listening to the renewed
voices of anti-Bush protest on the U.S. leg of the tour. "I feel that
it's just being allowed to surface more," he says of like-minded
American performers. But it's not new, he says. Buffalo
singer/songwriter and activist Ani DiFranco has never changed what she
does, he says. "All of a sudden, that (perspective) is coming to the
surface."

Cockburn is back in the London region on Nov. 27, when he plays the
Chatham Cultural Centre at 7 p.m. Call (519) 354-8338 or 1-866-807-7770.

IF YOU GO
What: Solo performance by Canadian singer-songwriter Bruce Cockburn
When: Friday, 8 p.m.
Where: London Convention Centre, 300 York St.
Tickets: $65 reserved, $55 general admission.
Available in person at the Grand Theatre box office; by calling
672-8800; or via www.grandtheatre.com

BRUCE COCKBURN SET LIST
Bruce Cockburn's set list for an Oct. 30, 2005 show at Denver follows.
It was submitted by fans to a Cockburn-related website[The Cockburn
Project, http://www.cockburnproject.net]:
Rouler Sa Bosse
Going to the Country
Open
Pacing the Cage
King Kong Goes to Tallahassee
Wondering Where the Lions Are
If a Tree Falls
Elegy
Wait No More
Water Into Wine
All the Ways I Want You
Put It in Your Heart
Baghdad
Tell the Universe
After the Rain
Last Night of the World
End of All Rivers
Messenger Wind
(Encores)
If I Had a Rocket Launcher
Silver Wheels
cockburnproject.net/gigs/2005

For additional updates on the UN Climate Control Conference and the
Winnipeg Folk Festival artistic achievement award visit The Cockburn
Project at: http://www.cockburnproject.net

Peace,
Suzanne Myers
editor@...
The Cockburn Project is brought to you by:
Bobbi Wisby: webmaster@...
David Newton: setlists@...
Suzanne Myers: editor@...