Photo: Marc Lepage/Apt613
Beloved troubadour Craig Cardiff played two sold out shows at the Black Sheep Inn on this snowy Sunday in Wakefield. He opened his set with fan favourite, “To Be Safe, Loved and Home.”
Photo: Marc Lepage/Apt613
Craig paused frequently to talk to the crowd, asking questions and providing witty comments. Questions about life and love led to asking whether HR knew about a couple’s relationship that had started at work, and other well placed one-liners.
Photo: Marc Lepage/Apt613
Fans of all ages took advantage of the Sunday matinée to fill the Black Sheep Inn, one of the finest venues for such an intimate and interactive show.
Photo: Marc Lepage/Apt613
In light of some technical difficulties, Craig took the opportunity to do the first couple of songs without the PA, prompting a chorus of backing vocals from the crowd, and he even convinced everyone to provide some beatbox backing to “Love is Louder (Than All of This).”
Photo: Marc Lepage/Apt613
Craig is a favourite at The Black Sheep, which led him to mention an anecdote about how his daughter thought he worked there. He also said that someone once asked him why he plays there so much, to which he simply replied, “Because people come.”
Photo: Marc Lepage/Apt613
A highly interactive show, Craig did his best to help a long-term couple do a dry run practice of a proposal, as well as having numerous people get on stage to join him. As lead in to his song “Radio #9,” he asked if anyone was in a long distance relationship. After some back and forth banter with a man in the crowd, Craig had the man Facetime his girlfriend so that Craig and the entire crowd could sing the song to her.
Photo: Marc Lepage/Apt613
Craig’s voice is pure and seemingly effortless, and it pairs well with both his acoustic guitar playing, but also his prodigious ability to craft stories into songs.
Photo: Marc Lepage/Apt613
The set was a combination of old and new, including his latest single, “Boots of Spanish Leather,” which is a Bob Dylan cover. Other standouts included “Safe Here,” “Revival Day,” and “Smallest Wingless.”
Photo: Marc Lepage/Apt613
Craig announced that his new album would be released in May, so thankfully, we all have something to look forward to.
Photo: Marc Lepage/Apt613
The snow that fell heavily outside at times during the show, subsided to a few flurries by the end of the set, as Craig received a well-deserved standing ovation.
