Multiple Juno award-winner Ron Sexsmith makes a stop in Meaford on his cross-Canada tour.

Showtime at the Meaford Hall is 8 p.m. on Saturday Feb. 11; tickets are just $40.

For his 11th album, Long Player Late Bloomer, the award-winning troubadour has paired himself with a fellow Canadian, the producer of bone-crunching classics by Metallica, Mötley Crüe and The Cult -- the genuinely named Bob Rock. "Know any good producers?'" Sexsmith asked Rock jokingly. "He told me he was a fan, but I hear that sometimes and I'm skeptical." The reassuring news for Ron's loyal fanbase is that Bob Rock's production does full and eloquent justice to another wonderful collection of Sexsmith songs. And the great news for everyone else is that every one of them sounds like an honest-to-God hit you turn up when it pops up on the radio.

"To some people, Ron Sexsmith is a rock star. Actually to rock stars, Ron Sexsmith is a rock star." Fresh off the heels of new album release, St. Catharines native Ron Sexsmith is at the pinnacle of his hugely successful career and regarded by many as one of Canada's finest singer/songwriters. Sexsmith maps the human heart with surgical skill and great compassion.

He offers us hard-earned pieces of wisdom, all set to strong melodies and sung unaffectedly, with emotional eloquence and genuine heart and soul. These are his creative signatures and they have earned him immense respect from his peers, critics and a devoted international audience.

The Toronto Star noted that "Ron Sexsmith has produced a body of quality work that's unequalled in contemporary Canadian music in originality and musical daring."

It is no stretch to extend that statement into the international arena, as a vast number of Ron's peers would agree. Such musical luminaries as Paul McCartney, Elvis Costello, Diana Krall, Sheryl Crow, Bono, Sir Elton John, kd lang and Gord Downie are all major admirers of his work.

Of Sexsmith's new album Long Player Late Bloomer, "Not a lot of people have Ron's gift: the ability to see a tiny snapshot of a feeling, then expand upon it and deliver a beautiful song. The songs are like Polaroids."

Tickets are avail-ab le online at www.meafordhall.caor calling the Box

Office 1.877.538.0463. $5 tickets are available for this performance to high school students through the eyeGO to the Arts program. Please ask the Box Office for details.

Coming up next On the Stage: hailing from Owen Sound, former Tanglefoot performers My Sweet Patootie is comprised of Sandra Swannell and Terry Young. Since 1999 their dazzling fiddle & guitar solos and joy of live performance brought fans from Canada, the USA and England to their feet at Tanglefoot shows (CFMA "Best Vocal Group" 2007).

Today as My Sweet Patootie, Terry Young and Sandra Swannell embrace a forgotten brand of showmanship that's "two parts exemplary musicianship and one part vaudeville comedy."

Their clever, off-center original songs have "elements of western swing and old-timey music that updates the flapper feel and gives it a real twenty first century pizzazz... a delightful sound with a hundred years in its soul." (FATEA Magazine)

Swanell's voice has been described as "hot buttered rum," and Young's tremendous dexterity and aggressive approach to finger-style guitar described as "virtuosic."

During his years with Tanglefoot, Young gained a reputation as a talented multi-instrumentalist, performing on banjo, mandolin, whistles and guitar.

"Musical mayhem expertly played and executed by two outstanding musicians who no doubt will paint a grin on the longest faces with their good humoured and quirky songs."

Show starts at 8 p.m. on Friday Feb. 17; tickets are $20/adults $10/students.

Live Music

Huron Club:

Tonight: Wipper and Haines Saturday: Mo 'Vista

Sunday: Brunch with Mo 'Vista

Casbah:

Wednesday: Ronnie Hayward, 8 p.m. Tickets $5.

-Do you have a live music or art event? Email to let us know: iadams@theenterprisebulletin.com.