Grant Lawrence's show combines music with his humorous stories, such as the time he unwittingly showed up at a "nudist potluck" in Desolation Sound.
He and musical guests Joel Plaskett, Ashleigh Ball and Lindi Ortega will present the 'Songs and Stories' show at a sold-out show at the Errington Hall on June 6.
Lawrence and and his friends have toured the show since 2018, alternating between songs and Lawrence's stories, which are drawn from his books and podcasts, plus some that are brand new.
"There’s an amazing kind of alchemy that happens when you transition from story to song that we’ve seen over and over with the audience,” he said.
The award-winning radio host and author will read from several of his bestselling books, all of which partially take place along the coast of B.C.
“I’ve always wanted to take the show kind of off the beaten track a bit, going to smaller communities," he said, and added that his goal since the start has been to only do the show in places he would want to visit for a weekend anyway.
Lawrence is also the host of the CBC Music Top 20, the lead singer of the garage band The Smugglers and the author of four best-selling books.
Although this will be his first time in Errington, Lawrence has good memories of the PQB area.
His first ever book event was at the Mulberry Bush Bookstore in Qualicum Beach 15 years ago, when he released Adventures in Solitude.
“I was super nervous. I had never done anything like it before,” said Lawrence, who added his publisher recommended the book store and said it would be a good experience. “It was such an incredible entrance into the world of book events and readings.”
Adventures in Solitude introduced one of his best-loved stories — the time he and his family were invited to a nude potluck.
In the early 1980s, when Lawrence was growing up, his family built a cabin at Desolation Sound, an area that at the time was known for being a haven for "outlaws, hippies and draft dodgers."
One day, his conservative family was invited to a neighbourhood afternoon public.
“We were all fully clothed and we were all uptight folks from the city," Lawrence said. "I’ve got to tell you that there’s very few things more awkward than being the only clothed people at nude potluck in the middle of the wilderness.”
The show starts at 8 p.m. Doors open at 7:30 p.m.
