Catching up with Dan Frechette

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 15/10/2021 (598 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Conducting Sou’Wester research was never easier than stepping out my front door thanks to my neighbours, the Reid family, who hosted an outdoor concert on their yard and boulevard. 

Masked and socially distanced fans of Dan Frechette, from Santa Cruz, Calif., were enthralled with the former Winnipeg balladeer who made time for an outside-the-house concert between gigs at Blue Note Park and and the brand new West End Cultural Centre patio. 

Dan revelled in having a live audience again and called the atmosphere “an urban folk festival.”  

Frechette describes himself as, “an insanely prolific songwriter.” He is an independent thinker and an independent musician, choosing to share his thousands of songs on BandCamp with a link to his lyrics. For him, it’s about the music and “not about the business.”  Readers may remember him from the Winnipeg Folk Festival where his roots folk was often. 

Born in Flin Flon, he grew up in Pinawa, and signed a major music-publishing deal at just 17 years old and his passion for music has never abated.  His 80 albums and ability to play 15 instruments is a testament to his talent. He says he “must be fully present to receive the song coming through me.”     

Social justice issues are important to Frechette. Thinking about the 2,000 homeless people living in Santa Cruz he says, “if you want to figure out this world just put a dollar sign on it.” 

Living near the Santa Cruz forest fires in Bonny Doon, Calif., further enhanced his appreciation for nature. While multi-million dollar homes burned he and his concert violinist wife, Laurel Thomsen, were fortunate their music “sheds” as he calls them were spared.  He loves performing outside and feels a connection with the wind and trees.

Frechette says he “finally caught up with myself “after penning thousands of songs. It was a pandemic balm to catch up with Dan Frechette while he was in Crescentwood.

Heather Emberley is a community correspondent for Crescentwood. Email her at heather.emberley@gmail.com if you have a story suggestion.

Heather Emberley
Crescentwood community correspondent

Heather Emberley is a community correspondent for Crescentwood. Email her at heather.emberley@gmail.com if you have a story suggestion.

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