Just Us Folk

These are turbulent times for Canadians. We are faced with economic threats from our neighbours to the south in the form of tariffs on our products. There are threats to our sovereignty with talk of turning us into a “51st state.” Then there are almost daily insults to our elected officials.

But if there’s one good thing that’s come out of all this turmoil caused by the current occupant of the White House, it’s the growing pride and resolve in being Canadian. Let’s hear it for “elbows up” and calls to stand on guard and keep us free from “Yankee domination.”

If there’s one group we need right now to lift us up in song about Canada and its people, it’s Tanglefoot. Since the early 1980s they’ve sung about the people and places that have made Canada what it is, a nation of heroes, forward thinkers and risk takers. Tanglefoot toured across Canada, the United States and the UK with well-crafted songs, engaging stories and tight vocal harmonies. A highlight of their career was winning a 2007 Canadian Folk Music Award for Best Vocal Group. In 2012 the founding members of the group (Joe Grant, Tim Rowat and Bob Wagar) were inducted into the Pathway of Fame in Peterborough.

In 2009 it all ended when the group decided to pursue other vocations.

Luckily for us, Tanglefoot is returning this year for selected dates. Starting on May 29th at Hugh’s Room in Toronto, the 2009 line-up of Steve Ritchie, Rob Ritchie, Al Parrish, Sandra Swannell Young and Rob’s son Josh (in the place of the late Terry Young) will be performing once or twice a month. They are already booked into January of 2027.

The reason for the return of one of folk music’s most unique bands goes back to last year’s Summerfolk Festival in Owen Sound. The year 2025 marked the 50th anniversary of the festival. As a thank you to the community and the countless volunteers who’ve supported the festival, Summerfolk held a free night of music featuring many local musicians. Amongst them were Rob and Al who planned to sing “Secord’s Warning,” which is always a fan favourite with Tanglefoot audiences. Steve and Josh were soon included in the plans because more voices on the song made for a better performance. Then on the night of the concert, Sandra showed up to take in the show. It didn’t take much persuasion to get her on stage with the guys.

Not surprisingly, the impromptu Tanglefoot reunion was a big hit. Summerfolk Artistic Director James Keelaghan asked them to reprise the performance as a “tweener” for Saturday night’s Amphitheatre presentation. They agreed and the reception that night was another resounding success.

“There we were, four out of five from the 2009 version of Tanglefoot, and a fifth member who was genetically part of the band,” said Al Parrish recently over Zoom. “The crowd really loved it. The timing was just right, the politics were just right and the audience was just right.”

The euphoric feeling of that weekend at Summerfolk had a lasting effect on Al. He thought there should be a way to resurrect Tanglefoot without having to spend 150 days a year touring. So he contacted everyone else to get their input. It didn’t take long for all sides to agree, so Rob began enquiring at some of Tanglefoot’s favourite venues.

Somewhat appropriately, the group will begin the touring where they left off. The last two gigs of 2009 were sold-out shows at Hugh’s Room. Although it’s at a new location now, Tanglefoot will kick things off with another sell-out on May 29th.

As someone who grew up with Tanglefoot music all around him, Josh Ritchie had a sense of how important the band was. He even coerced his cousins to be in his first band, “Tanglefoot In Training.” But now as an adult he’s more aware of Tanglefoot’s success.

“Oh my God, you guys can sell out a venue? What is that like?” said Josh who is establishing his own music career.

One of the ways the band is promoting the reunion is through social media. Both Al and Sandra have posted videos highlighting Tanglefoot stories, whether it’s how they used to prank American fans or how Al became a stand-up bass player. A recent post featured a clip of the late Terry Young singing ‘Fire And Guns’ at a 2004 Tanglefoot concert.

“I’ve been having so much fun doing my parts, and the reaction has been great,” said Al.

Josh, being in his early 20s, has an insight into what’s possible these days for bands trying to promote their music.

“This new age means you can find fans without leaving the house, without even putting pants on if you don’t want to!” he said.

For those who have the chance to Tanglefoot in the coming months, they can look forward to hearing many of their favourite songs. Many of them came from the pen of Tanglefoot co-founder Joe Grant, who inspired the others to start writing.

“We’re calling the tour One More Night, which is a song Joe wrote. There would be no Tanglefoot as we know it, if it hadn’t been for Joe’s writing,” said Al.

While there will be five members of Tanglefoot embarking on this tour, they’ll be representing all of the people in the band’s history through the songs they perform. Audiences will be able to enjoy earlier and later songs in the Tanglefoot repertoire.

If there’s one thing Tanglefoot has accomplished in its time together, it’s the gift of reflecting Canadians back to themselves. Along with the Guelph-based band Tamarack, Tanglefoot brought forth everyday heroes and achievements that have made this country unique.

“I was a History major at university,"said Al. “People always wondered what I’d do with a History degree. I didn’t realize at the time that this (Tanglefoot) is what I was going to do.”

While American culture has been able to mythologize questionable characters and outlaws, making them into heroes, Canadian have been less inclined to do so. The members of Tanglefoot felt there were enough strong-willed, kind-hearted and innovative Canadians that deserved having a spotlight focused on them. So they sang songs about Laura Secord, Abigail Becker (The Angel of Long Point), Douglas McCurdy (pilot of the Silver Dart, Canada’s first powered aircraft) and more.

The five songwriters in the group were able to bring these Canadians and events to life and make their achievements relevant to today’s world. It’s something we all need reminding of, now more than ever.

For more on Tanglefoot, go to https://tanglefootmusic.ca/