Saterday 4 September 2004 :

( 1 ) :

Hi.
I just wanted to say thank you Gino for coming to Kincardine and putting on such a great show.Although the air wasn't working well, the music more than made up for it. I wasn't disappointed. Gino keeps getting better and better if that's possible. Gino's voice was beautiful as usual. The tunes were a treat. I hope it doesn't take as long for Gino to come back for another show. It's been too many years since the last Gino Vannelli show. I couldn't believe we were on the short list of US shows this year. While standing in line for the show last Saterday, we met people from all over. It was fun. Please come back soon. We need more US shows. I'm jealous of our European and Canadian friends. Again, thanks for a great show and a great night. Hope to see you soon. Thanks Barend and Trees for your web site how can we live without it ??? A life long devoted fan,
Peter from Michigan.

( 2 ) :

Hello,
When Mr. Vannelli puts on a show, he really puts on a show. Although Gino Vannelli may not be heating up the airwaves with hits these days (like there’s anything on radio anyway...), his shows are definitely hot.

The sound was surprisingly good for an outside venue and the Kincardine audience seemed genuinely into Gino Vannelli's set and grooved to Vannelli's music throughout the evening.

He played songs off of all of his albums. Some of the more memorable jams included 'Brother to Brother' and ofcourse 'I Just Wanna Stop' really blew the crowd away... Say what you will of Vannelli. But his live shows are certainly entertaining and fun.
* O. Thomas *

( 3 ) :

My wife Kathy and I arrived in Kincardine, Ontario, in the late afternoon of Saterday the 4th of September. This is our very first visit to Kincardine. We had little idea what we were coming into with this major music event scheduled for this weekend. As Kathy and I tried to navigate through town to our hotel, we are overwhelmed at all the people and the Gino Vannelli concert !!! Kathy still talks about Gino Vannelli's voice and the power of the show....... All made a big impression and we will never ever forget the magic and the amazing GINO VANNELLI !!! He really is an amazing singer and entertainer.
Kathy and Mike.

( 4 ) :

Dear Barend and Trees, I knew that Gino Vannelli shows had ever had a very positive impact on all the audience, including people who are not so close to his music, like some of my friends, but what I saw yesterday is something really magic: from the beginning of the show to the end. Everyone was hypnotized by Gino's voice.
That was something special!!!
Thanks for letting us know about this show !! J.V.M.

( 5 ) :

Dear Barend and Trees,
I absolutely LOVED it! My first Gino concert and I think I'm in love, all over again. He is, quite simply, amazing. The energy, the passion, THAT VOICE! He is unbelievable, incredible!! I will not miss another concert in my area. It was worth every minute of the 4.5 hour drive and I would have driven twice as far. Best Wishes to you and yours,
April W.

( 6) :

Gino Vanelli Concert Kincardine Ont

Just wanted to express my thanks first of all for giving me the heads up about this concert... my husband and I are BIG fans and have all his albums and CD's... it was my first live Gino concert and well worth the 3 hour drive. It was Magnificent... His voice is Incredible His band is Excellent.

I'm really looking forward to being able to go to a concert now in a beautiful concert hall rather than in an open field... So keep up the good work of keeping us informed... also.. does anyone have any info regarding Gino DVD's or Video's of any of Gino's concerts.? We haven't been able to find anything like that.
Shirlee Hope.

( 7) :

Hello Barend and Trees,
Gino and his fellow musicians put on another Superb! Fantastic! Energizing!...............show. Gino sang, in order;
Wild Horses,
Living Inside Myself,
Last Dance,
Black Cars,
Walter Whitman,
Canto,
Persona Non Grata,
Brother to Brother,
I Just Wanna Stop,
and People Gotta Move.

He then came back on stage for an encore, but by that time I was out of my mind with joy and I can’t remember what he sang next. Maybe someone else can offer the info. I couldn’t catch all of the musician’s names; I was trying to write in the dark as Gino introduced them, but here goes. Alain Caron on bass, Mark Kelso on drums, Frank Love on sax, Marco Luciani on keyboards, and Bernard ? on guitar and I believe the other musician was Mike Fischer. I apologize to them for not knowing, because they all did such a superb job.

Gino was very energized as always and left the fans begging for more. He sang, coached, conducted, moved, and smiled as great as or better than ever before.

Frank D’Angelo, President and Owner of Steelback Brewery deserves a special thanks for inviting Gino to perform at the first annual “Steelback/Kincardine Labour Day Weekend Music Fest. He is also a very talented singer/musician whose band opened each evening of the music festival. All proceeds of the festival, and his two cd’s available for sale at the show, is being donated to charity. I can only hope that he’ll request an encore as well and Gino will be a returning artist! Frank told me that he and Gino go way back to when Gino played drums in his brother Joe’s band in Toronto. Frank is a former drummer himself. Mr. D’Angelo definitely “rolled up his sleeves” for this one. He spent the entire day making sure that everything was perfect not only for the main acts but for the audience and fans as well. He turned an existing soccer field into a concert hall. Naturally, there was a stage and tent, as well as an additional attached tent for the other musician’s gear. He had the grounds rolled to level any ruts, provided lighting, trailers, and volunteers from the various agencies that were to receive donations. Let’s wish such a generous man continued success in this endeavor.

Linda Luchart, who works at one of the agencies benefiting from Mr. D’Angelo’s generosity, had the arduous task of being Gino’s personal concierge. What a tough job! Kidding aside, she took great care of Gino, accompanying him in the limo, running for his m&m cookies, and even offering to take Gino for a walk on the beach. All this in 80 degrees heat, with no complaints. She was so friendly and kind and answered endless questions (from me and Gino). Now that’s what I call a dream job!!!!!!! A special thanks to Barb and Bill Parker, BIG!!!!! Gino fans, for sharing their Kincardine hospitality. Not only did they let us park in their driveway, directly across the street from the stage, but offered us food, wine, Steelback beer and their company. Bill’s favorite Gino tune is “Sunset on LA.”

Terry Scelfo
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

( 8) :

Hi Barend and Trees,
Thanks so much for the Gino Vannelli website and all the information you gather and share with us fans.
My husband and I attended the Kincardine concert last Saturday. Below is my write up, which you can share with everyone. I've attached three photos: the main street with Festival banner, a window poster, and my autographed Canto CD insert.
Here is a link to a column about the Steelback Brewery Labour Day Music Festival in Kincardine
(brief mention of Gino but no comments about his show.

And my write up:

Gino Vannelli live in concert at Kincardine was a dream come true! I’ve waited a long time…more than 20 years…to see him sing live once again…

I first saw Gino Vannelli in concert on September 19, 1976 at the Masonic Temple in Detroit. My boyfriend (now husband) Dave introduced me to Gino and his music just after we began dating and I’ve been a fan ever since. When he came back through Detroit on the “Brother to Brother” tour in 1979, I saw him perform at Cobo Arena.

Through the years, I never stopped enjoying his music. I kept up with his new albums for years, yet never had a chance to see Gino perform live. If it weren’t for the fact that in Detroit, we were able to pick up CBC coverage of Olympics, I never would have known that Gino was playing in Kincardine. It was purely by chance that I happened to glance up at the screen as a crawl was running across the screen: Gino Vannelli… Steelback Brewery Labour Day Music Festival. I quickly did an Internet search and found the information about the September 4 concert date at a place in Ontario only a few hours away. I mentioned the event to my husband who quickly threw away his own plans to attend the Detroit International Jazz Festival on that Saturday and said let’s go!

After a 4-hour drive from Detroit, we arrived in Kincardine around 5pm. We checked out the downtown area, had dinner (washed down with Steelback beer!) at Gilley’s, and headed for the concert site.

After the warmup act featuring Frank D’Angelo and his Steelback band, Alannah Myles performed a 45-minute set. Highlights included “Cinnamon Girl” and her Grammy-winning “Black Velvet.” Thanks to her invitation to crash the fences and get up close, Dave and I were close to the front for her performance.

Gino appeared on stage around 9:15. From the beginning, it was magical. He opened with “Wild Horses,” and followed that with one of my favorites “LivingInsideMyself.” Then “Last Dance” from the Canto CD. Throughout Gino’s performance, I crept closer and closer as people departed, moving to the front until I was in the front row, just about 20 feet from him. It was amazing to be that close, watching Gino’s every move and feeling every note!

Gino introduced “Black Cars” with an anecdote about how he came to write this song. “Walter Whitman” followed, and then came “Canto,” which nearly brought me to tears as it is even more moving to hear him sing the song live. “Persona Non Grata” came next, followed by the electrifying “People Gotta Move” and “Brother to Brother.” Gino left the stage to thunderous applause….and came back to sing one encore “I Just Wanna Stop.”

It was truly a fabulous show!! But it didn’t end there….the crowd dispersed relatively quickly, but Dave and I hung around to see if there was a chance that Gino would come out to talk to his fans. About a dozen people waited with us. Drummer Mark Kelso came out to meet some family and took the time to talk with us and sign my program.

And then…Gino appeared and began shaking hands, taking a minute to chat, signing autographs, and posing for photographs. Unfortunately I did not have a camera at the ready, but I got my 60 seconds to chat with Gino, shake his hand, and get an autograph on my Canto CD insert. As I said, a dream come true! Definitely worth the 4-hour trip!!

Kathleen Marcaccio
Michigan,USA.

( 9) :

Dear Barend and Trees,
I have always been a big fan myself. GV's "unofficial" website looks great. You ARE doing a FABULOUS job. When do you find the time and energy? Impressive.

I loved it !!!! The Kincardine concert was powerful and with lots of energy. Like more people wrote it was worth while the long, very long trip!!!

He moves casually with a charming mystique unique to Gino Vannelli. Be well my friends, Tracy who lives in Michigan too.....

( 10) :

Location: Ontario Canada
Comments: Just saw Gino Vannelli on the Labour Day weekend in Kincardine Ontario.
It was fabulous. I was three rows from the stage and he was unbelievable.
Not only that, I met him and shook his hand afterwards, and got his autograph. A life long dream come true.
Toni@Miller

( 11) :

Thougths that might be of interest:

Words Between a Fan called Terry and a Musician called Mark :

Terry :
Hi Mark! Wow, two great shows in one summer, first Lewiston and then Kincardine.

Mark :
Hey Terry glad you dug the shows. Kincardine was good but Lewiston was wild! Still I always enjoy the gig no matter where we play.

Terry :
Mark, You played fabulously at both shows, thanks for the autograph!

Mark :
Thanks! and you're very welcome.

Terry :
Was it just me or does it seem that Gino loosens up a little with each show. I haven't seen him kick his legs like that, since the 70's. I hope that means he's truly enjoying himself as much as it seemed.

Mark :
Yes, I think Gino really is enjoying this new band. He seems to be in a really good head space for performing again. He may have been a little burned out there for a while. Lately he sure feeds off the energy we throw at him so I don't think he as a choice ha ha ha. I'm pretty sure he's enjoying it.

All the best, ~ Mark ~ The Drummer

Terry :
I don't think Gino will ever burnout. I think his enthusiasim is based more on the emotions and feedback he receives from the crowd. About posting our lines : I don't think Mark would mind at all. He is so kind, this was the first time I was on his website and emailed him. He responded the same evening. The names are fine.
Terry S.

( 12) :

Re: Gino Vannelli Concert Kincardine Ont.

You are most welcome and thanks to you I have just ordered 2 Gino Video's from the web site you gave me.....
Can't wait to get them.....
Thanks Again, Shirlee & Dave
Bradford Ontario, Canada.

Go to the 1st offical Gino Vannelli web site and hit the "merchandise" button and see the videotapes, the Gino Vannelli videotapes which you can order very easely !!!

The soundcheck :
Photo 1 - The Man and the mic... - Photo 3

The fans :
Photo 1 : Terry with the beautiful Gino shirt !!! To Terry's right and left is Barb and Bill Parker. Serious Gino fans, who couldn't believe "The Master" was going to be singing in their front yard. Terry emailed them to get their friends names. A confused Gino Vannelli fan ???

The concert :
We received a few pictures but bad pictures and we cannot get them better... Terry did her very best but it was too dark and without a flash !!! And camera's were not allowed !!! Here we go : ..... Picture number : 1 - 2 - 3 - 4- 5 - 6 - 7.

Hello, here is a word from the editor :
This is a great part from an e-mail message from a very reliable source.......:

Dear Barend and Trees,
It went well for Gino - There were 60,000 people at the second event with Bruno.

Location: Ottawa, Canada
Comments: Just wanted to let you know I took my daughter to see Gino at Gatineau Hot Air Balloon Festival Sept 5 and was very disappointed - he only sang 4 songs, two of those with the other headline artist and without his own band. Do not misunderstand me - he was amazing as only Gino can be - but why only 4 songs??

Is it possible for you to find out? Keep up the great work on your wonderful website.
Kelly

On Sunday evening I saw GINO perform for the 17th time at the 17th Festival de Montgolfieres de Gatineau.

What a large crowd there was to see GINO and Bruno Pelletier perform.

GINO sang Canto (French Version) with Bruno.
People Gotta Move, Brother to Brother and I Just Wanna Stop.
During the encore GINO and Bruno sang People Gotta Move.

GINO looked relaxed and happy.
His performance was OUTSTANDING but best described as short and sweet.
It was over MUCH MUCH TOO SOON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We enjoyed seeing Bruno but wished there was more of GINO.
All the best,
Mary Lou dated 7 September 2004.

Hello,
Bruno is a great friend and an extraordinary artist, so it is always a pleasure to get the opportunity to experience him in live performance.
Such a sweet young man. This was, however, my first opportunity to see Mr. Vannelli sing in person. His dynamic is quite different with the audience than Bruno's. He seems to me to be a bit more reserved where Bruno is very energetic and outgoing with the fans. Mr. Vannelli is a very talented singer and songwriter, too, and Bruno admires him greatly. I loved hearing them sing "Canto" together especially ...
Mr. Vannelli in Italian and Bruno doing the French parts he wrote. What a treat!
Denise S.

Hello,
Here is another e-mail from a Gino Vannelli fan called Chris:

Bruno Pelletier/ Gino Vannelli at the "Montgolfiers of Gatineau" (Hot Air Balloon Festival?) September 5, 2004. I'm not sure if this is news to you or not, but I'll give you the results of my research and you can decide. I was wondering exactly who is Bruno Pelletier. I did a Google search and came up with his website, While it is in French, Google will translate it for you if you desire. The left sidebar indicates that 75,000 people were it attendence for his concert with Gino Vannelli.

If you click on his biography, you can see he got his "big break" in show business by landing a role in the French Rock Opera "Starmania". This is exactly were Martine St Clair started out as well. In fact, her song "Monopolis" on the "Un Souffle de Tendress" CD is from the Starmania production. One of the co-writers of Starmania, Luc Plamondon, appears on numerous credits for both of these artists. He must be something big in the entertaiment business up in Canada. Apparently Luc Plamondon saw Martine performing Gino Vannelli songs at age 15 and offered her a part in the production. So, when she sang her duet with Gino, that must have been a great honor for her. It is like getting the stamp of approval from your idol. That would be more thrilling than singing the song itself! The pieces of the puzzle are coming together. I think that I'm beginning to understand. When I first saw the reference to Starmania, I thought it was the Canadian equivalent to Star Search in the U.S. How wrong I was! From what I can gather, it is a musical which has a comical look at the entertainment business, especially rock and roll. At lot of Broadway plays run on "looking at themselves" themes. Some of these include "A Chorus Line" and "42nd Street" (By the way, then entrance to the theater hosting "42nd Street" is on 43rd street!) Apparently, Starmania had a production in Paris in the 1980's. I have to try and get a copy of Starmania and try to follow it.
Interesting. Talk to you later, Chris Buckley

From Bruno Pelletier.com :

Dear friends, for a long time I did not write to you!
Forgive - me, I waited to have some new has to give you. BRUNO

Bruno triumphs in front of more than 75,000 witnesses to the Festival of the Montgolfiers of Gatineau on last 5 September with his special guest, Gino Vannelli. This spectacle was the last of the Round "a world with back".
A large thank you with all our fans.

Back home again...