A unique blend of storytelling and live music will take place at Turns and Tales Bookstore on Sunday, May 31 at 2 p.m., featuring Wallaceburg writer John Gardiner and singer-songwriter Richard Knechtel.
The pair, who both grew up in Hanover, Ont., will present “Stories and Songs,” an event combining short fiction readings with live musical performances.
Gardiner recently released a new collection of short stories titled Life in the Deep End, featuring 19 short stories and “emotional thoughtscapes,” as he describes them. The collection was published by Manor House Publishing and has been nominated for the Trillium Book Award, the Giller Prize and a Governor General’s Award.
“I’ll be reading from the new collection mostly, but also from other older work, just to mix it up a bit,” Gardiner said.
Knechtel’s music career has spanned six decades, with performances ranging from small-town pubs to festivals and concert stages. He has released 21 recordings on his Greentree Music label and written more than 500 original songs. He also performs children’s entertainment under the name Dickie Bird.
Organizers said the longtime friends have performed together many times over the years in a variety of venues, presenting a show intended to be intimate and engaging.
The event at Turns and Tales is being offered as a pay-what-you-can performance beginning at 2 p.m. Books will also be available for purchase.
