Vinyl Café visits— and delights audience at ACA

During his appearance at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts, Stuart McLean of CBC Radio’s Vinyl Café called a couple of young helpers to the stage to assist with a prize drawing. Afterwards, he greeted them in his dressing room to autograph a Vinyl Café CD collection for them. (L-R) Sylvia Berka, Stuart McLean, Sam Sietsema.

Most of the audience at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts on Friday, March 2, knew of Stuart McLean of the CBC radio program Vinyl Café. They were the ones who snatched up the tickets as soon as WTIP Radio announced that the popular storyteller was coming to Grand Marais.

Others were dragged to the evening event by a friend or a spouse. But whatever the reason they came, the audience left a confirmed fan of McLean and his gentle humor—as well as the talented musicians who also appeared with him on stage.

The show included special musical guest Mysticssippi blues man Harry Manx, who entertained with traditional blues and enthralled the audience with an intriguing instrument, a cross between a guitar and a sitar.

Also on stage was bass player Dennis Pendrith and Vinyl Café music director and piano player John Sheard who are not only extremely talented musicians, but comedians as well. Their delightful—and sometimes annoying­— accompaniment to Stuart McLean is an important part of the show.

As McLean told a few old stories and two new ones, he captivated the audience with tales of record store owner Dave, his wife Morley, their children Sam and Annie, and the quirky friends and neighbors who inhabit their community. He told stories about fixing a toaster and destroying a kitchen, of ducks and wedding rings, and of a superduper homemade waterslide. He finished with a new story—one that the audience was frightened would end badly for Sam or Annie or a wayward dog—but instead…

Well, this reporter won’t ruin that story. Vinyl Café fans will have to tune in to WTIP Sundays at 11 a.m. or Tuesdays at 4 p.m. to find out how it ends.

Listeners at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts got to hear his sweetest words, however. As he exited to a rousing standing ovation, McLean said, “Thank you Grand Marais—I’ll be back.”