By Martin Martinson

Taw Connors set to perform in the Battlefords

Aug 31, 2018 | 12:00 PM

Taw Connors is coming to the Battlefords’ Dekker Centre Sept. 15.

The son of Canadian legend Stompin’ Tom Connors, Taw’s foray into performing first began at a young age.

As just a boy growing up in Northern Ontario, Taw’s mother, Florence Lachapelle, enrolled him in guitar lessons. Connors said the formal lessons did not last long.            

“I’m self-taught,” he said. “My mother put me in a few lessons when I was younger, but it just never worked for me. I learned a lot better just figuring it out for myself.”

When asked about his relationship with his father, Taw said while he was not around when he was younger, he always looked up to him as a man, and followed his career.

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“I never grew up with my father.” Connors said. “My father and mother kind of agreed to part ways early on, but I always listened to my father’s music, always knew who he was throughout my life, and I was a big fan of his from day one.”

Connors said one of his favorite parts of performing is hanging around after the show to talk with the people there to see him.

“After every show I do, I’ll sit and talk to every person who comes to the show until there are no people left. I think that’s very important to show my appreciation to them for coming out and at the same time, they share their favorite Stompin’ Tom story with me,” he said.

Connors has never been to the Battlefords before, but said coming here to perform is part of a goal he has developed over the last couple of years.

A mix of country and folk, Connors said for as long as he can remember he has had a passion for performing, and a desire to follow in his father’s footsteps and become a musician. But Connors also adds he wanted to focus on raising his family before heading out on the road.

“I have always had a passion to [perform] ever since I was a young fella,” he said. “I idolized my father, and I’ll be a fan of my father for my whole life. It’s always been a passion of mine, but I decided to raise my children first, before going on the road.”

Connors said ultimately what got the ball rolling was a combination of support from his family and an encounter he shared with an elderly man while performing a show at a long-term care facility.

Connors recalls after the concert, a man with Alzheimer’s came up to him and acted as though he seemed to know him.

“The gentleman shook my hand and with a grin ear-to-ear and thanked me. It was almost like he had recognized me,” Connors said.

As it turned out, the man had been a fan of Stompin’ Tom’s.

“This experience really touched me, and that’s how it started me off,” Connors said.

Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca 

On Twitter: MartyMartyPxP1