Gord Bamford at Norfolk Fair

Written by Darlene Altmann & Photographs by Ray Williams.

What a great way to kick off the Friday night of the Thanksgiving long weekend at the 174th annual Norfolk Fair, by spending the evening with the 2014 Male Canadian Country Artist of the year, Gord Bamford!  Gord was happy to be back in his native land, making it a special night as this was his first time ever preforming at the Norfolk Fair!

Gord Mentioned he hasn’t been home in weeks and his son was playing hockey the next day at 10am Calgary time as determined he was going to be there. He came out on stage with his signature cowboy hat, which I don’t think any of his fans would recognize him without!  His first song he performed “I Would For You.” Gord was surprised at how many people came out in the cold October weather, He made a comment about the people in the Grandstand  that there sitting in the cheap seats, and then the other people sitting  on the track seating that paid. Bamford said all is good and let’s have some fun tonight.

Of course Gord performed all of his hits including “FARM Girl Strong,” Pour Some Alcohol On It,” and Is It Friday Yet?” just to name a few. Then the performance took a serious turn when Gord talked about his 2013 Single of the Year” Leaning On A Lonesome Song. “Which he wrote about his best friend who suffered from addiction and mental illness and who unfortunately passed away 7 years ago.  And Gord is proud to say has taken in his friends son and has been raising him ever since.

Gord sang his fan favourite “Little Guy” which he wrote only four hours after his son was born,  Of course his daughter Paisley then wanted her dad to record a song for her, he said to his daughter lets go down stairs and I can sing it to you. Gord was very proud of this song and said after he finished singing, she said “I don’t like it” he then recorded but didn’t write “My Father’s Daughter and she loved it! Until this day her song still has never been recorded and remains nameless.     

His encore consisted of rockin’ songs that he grew up listening to:” Small Town” Mellencamp,” Hey Soul Sister” by Train and left the audience singing the legendary Alabama’s “If You’re Gonna Play In Texas You Gotta Have A Fiddle In The Band.