Storyteller and songwriter David Newland will perform at Bruce County Museum & Cultural Centre (BCM&CC) on Thursday, August 18.

When David Newland was earning his chops as a folk singer, he memorized Stan Rogers’ classic Northwest Passage but he never thought he’d visit the real passage through the Canadian Arctic, let alone return with songs of his own. But that’s just what he’s done, and then some, with The Northwest Passage in Story and Song.

Newland combines photos, video, spoken word and his own original songs in a performance that explores the many meanings of “north” for Canadians.

The Northwest Passage in Story and Song was born after the third of Newland’s adventures in the Arctic with Adventure Canada. He has driven Zodiacs, hosted and performed on expedition cruises to the Canadian Arctic, among other remote destinations. His visit to Bruce County with his band, Uncharted Waters, falls between two of his three trips north this summer, on his way to an appearance at Summerfolk, where Newland is a frequent host as well as performer.

Newland’s musical exploration of the Northwest Passage has sold out theatres across Ontario, earning interviews and articles from CBC radio and numerous print outlets. The show’s success reflects what Newland calls “a yearning for the North.” “We are so thirsty for stories from Canada, inspired by our own history and the cultures of the Northern peoples.”

Newland says he approached Bruce County Museum & Cultural Centre based on the response to a speaking appearance he did there in the winter of 2015. “Even with roads closed by winter conditions all around, people packed the theatre to hear more about the Arctic. How much more passionate can you get?” he said.

In November 2015, Newland was named a Fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, whose mandate is “to make Canada better known to Canadians and the world.” He said the appointment helped inspire the show. “I can’t think of anything I’d rather do than to tell Canadian stories and to try to come to a greater appreciation of this land.”

The performance begins at 7:30 p.m. with doors and cash bar opening at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are $20 or $15 for members and may be purchased at the Museum or by calling 519-797-2080 or 1-866-318-8889.