
The Band
CLASSIC LIGHTFOOT LIVE
Featuring the incredible John Stinson and the talented team at Summertime Dream Productions, Classic Lightfoot Live has been bringing Gordon Lightfoot’s timeless hits to life since 2014 in the most authentic way. The show, highlighting songs from Lightfoot’s 20 studio albums, has fans tapping their toes to both well-known hits like "Rainy Day People," "If You Could Read My Mind," and "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald," as well as hidden gems. All Classic Lightfoot Live band members share a close relationship with Gordon Lightfoot. Learn more about each band member below.

John Stinson
Lead Vocalist
Originally from Toronto, Stinson has been performing for over 30 years. While raising his family in Aurora, he became neighbours with Lightfoot’s original lead guitarists, Red Shea and Terry Clements. Since 2011, Stinson has been recreating Lightfoot’s music in a full theatre show, reaching thousands of fans.

Eric Kidd
Lead Guitarist
Eric Kidd, a long-time Barrie resident and accomplished musician and music teacher, is Classic Lightfoot Live's lead guitarist. Having known and studied with Red Shea from Gordon Lightfoot’s original band, Eric is renowned for channeling Red and Terry’s guitar style perfectly, capturing the essence of their early work that helped define Gordon’s music.

Steve Eyers
Bass Guitarist
It doesn’t get much more authentic than having Gordon Lightfoot’s nephew, Steve Eyers, as Classic Lightfoot Live's bassist. Steve is the son of Beverly Lightfoot (Eyers) of Orillia Ontario, Gordon Lightfoot’s sister, who managed Gordon for a period in the 1970s.

Bob Doidge
Musical Director, Multi-instrumentalist
Bob’s story starts early. As a kid, he dove headfirst into formal training on piano, trumpet, and bass—and that foundation became the launchpad for mastering a whole world of instruments. If you want a glimpse into that musical universe, his solo album “Orion’s Ghost” is a great place to start.
From there, things moved fast. Bob began playing with an incredible range of artists—Ian Thomas (Tranquility Bass), Ray Materick, Shirley Eikhard, Sylvia Tyson, and more. What followed was a series of chapters that would leave a lasting mark on Canadian music:
-
In the 1970s, Bob and bandmate Daniel Lanois began recording in the Lanois basement (with Daniel’s older brother), and soon they were working with artists like Raffi and Bruce Cockburn—momentum that helped spark Grant Avenue Studio.
-
Bob has been part of Grant Avenue from the beginning, and in 1985—when Daniel went abroad to work with U2—Bob took ownership, choosing to stay in Hamilton and build a creative home for artists.
-
His producer/engineer credits include Gordon Lightfoot, Caroline Wiles, U2, Johnny Cash, Chantal Chamberland, Ani DiFranco, Bob Dylan, Bruce Cockburn, and many more—plus gold albums (Cowboy Junkies, Prairie Oyster), a double-platinum record (Crash Test Dummies), a Grammy nomination (1995) for work with The Torchmen, multiple Hamilton Music Awards, and a Lifetime Achievement Award (2015 Hamilton Music Awards).
He’s still creating—recent highlights include producing Lightfoot’s “A Painter Passing Through,” “Harmony,” “All Live,” and “Plans of My Own,” plus recording/mixing the 5.1 “Live from Reno” concert series.
And when he’s not creating or playing bass/trumpet around the city? Bob’s other passions include flying and archaeology—which feels perfectly on-brand for someone always exploring sound, history, and the space between.
And while Grant Avenue Studio will always be a huge part of Bob’s story, he sold the studio in February 2023—turning the page on an iconic chapter while continuing to make music and collaborate in new ways.
So next time you see him on stage with us, know this: you’re watching a lifetime of stories, sessions, and songs—all flowing through one musician.

Liz Anderson
Pianist, Keyboards
Liz has been singing professionally since 1978, performing across Canada (and overseas) as a solo artist and with a wide range of bands. From intimate rooms to big stages, she’s built a career on heart, range, and that unmistakable ability to make a song feel personal.
One of the most fascinating chapters of Liz’s story took her to Sweden (1990–1998), where she regularly appeared on TV—including the popular show “Sikta Mot Stjärnorna,” where contestants imitated their favourite stars. Liz’s pick? Celine Dion (of course!).
While living there, Liz didn’t just perform—she made waves on the radio too, with songs featured on Radio Norrbotten, including “It’s Time to Make a Change” and “Väntan” (“The Waiting”), an original composition.
Today, Liz is back in Canada, continuing to sing her heart out while sharing life with her husband on their farm in Oro-Medonte—with family visits (and grandkids!) bringing her plenty of joy.
Her repertoire is as rich as it is crowd-pleasing, spanning artists like Bonnie Raitt, Amanda Marshall, Adele, Elton John, Sheryl Crow, Jann Arden, Fleetwood Mac, Alicia Keys, Eric Clapton, Van Morrison, Billy Joel, and Aretha Franklin, to name a few.
You can see Liz perform as a solo artist, accompanying herself on piano/keyboard, or appearing on stage with the bands “CLASSIC LIGHTFOOT LIVE”, "Acoustic Fleetwood Mac" and "Acoustic Floyd".
Next time you catch Liz live, take it in—there’s heart, history, and pure talent in every song.

Ron Jones
Master of Ceremonies
Ron Jones is a Canadian folksinger and entertainer with over 30 years in the folk music scene. Born and raised in St. John’s, Newfoundland, he grew up in a music-loving family where Irish folk music was a constant presence. Early influences included Buddy Holly, Elvis Presley, and Johnny Cash, and he began his career in a rock and roll band before finding his true direction in folk music.
After moving to Toronto in the mid-sixties, Ron arrived just as the city’s folk scene was thriving. In his mid-twenties, he quickly became captivated by the songwriting of Gordon Lightfoot, whose music was gaining widespread airplay. Performing in several Irish folk bands, Ron often introduced Lightfoot songs into his sets—much to the delight of audiences. His ability to bridge Irish and Canadian folk styles earned him a reputation as a “Canadian representative” within the Irish folk band community.
Inspired by Lightfoot’s trio format with Red Shea and John Stockfish, Ron later formed a Gordon Lightfoot Tribute Band in the 70s. The group developed a full show and attracted interest from Toronto promoter Shelly Abrams of The Purple Onion. However, the project was halted after objections from Lightfoot’s management, bringing the tribute effort to an early end.
Undeterred, Ron continued performing in Irish bands, busking, playing markets, and private engagements. He remains closely connected to the Lightfoot music community and currently serves as host of Classic Lightfoot Live, while continuing to perform at venues around Toronto and beyond.
Still living in Toronto, Ron continues to celebrate and promote Canadiana through his music, believing, as he says, “Each song is a picture. To sing its praises is a joy.”

Alex Andrews
Violinist
.png)
Malcolm Gould
Percussion

Bruce Campbell
Percussion
Mark Oakley
Sound Engineer
D.M
Digital Marketing Manager
Gordon Lightfoot In The Audience!
In 2016 we were honoured to have the legend himself in the audience.
READ A GREAT REVIEW FROM THIS SHOW BELOW!




"
John Swartz Review - The Orillia Packet and Times Newspaper
There was a surreal moment at Lake Country Grill Sunday afternoon.
John Stinson is singing a tune. Of course, it’s Lightfoot Days, so it’s something from the Lightfoot compendium of music. Eric Kidd is playing lead guitar. His affinity for Gord’s music is natural; his guitar teacher was Red Shea. Steve Eyers is playing bass. His ability to get inside a tune Gord wrote comes from growing up with it; he’s Gord’s nephew. Stinson played previous Lightfoot Days. His voice is too much like Gord’s in tone. Add an ability to phrase like Gord and other vocal idiosyncrasies and he sounds just like the voice on all of the records. He doesn’t appear to be trying too hard to be a Memorex machine; it’s more natural. With your eyes closed, you’d think you were in the room with Gord.
Then you open your eyes and sitting right across from you is Gord.
He’d come to hear his nephew’s band at what amounts to a bit of a family reunion with more than a dozen other relatives on hand. Between conversation with a niece or other family member, he pays attention to Stinson. How does an observer process that? Seeing the icon watching a darned good band performing the icon’s tunes so well? Heck, how does the singer process that? Stinson said before he stepped up to the mic, he was a bit nervous, on top of not feeling 100% chipper. He’d sung every day of the festival. But he pulled it off. When the set was done, Gord shook his hand and congratulated him.
(from Orillia Packet and Times, Nov 16, 2016)
(Nov 3rd, 2023 SOLD OUT St Paul's Centre)
John replicates Gord in a natural way. ...
One can learn the words and the melodies and have a voice in the range and timbre like Gord, but if you overlook how Gord wrote any line the way he did and the delivery you’ll be just another singer in a rock and roll band.
John isn’t that. He gets how to sing the tunes and does it effortlessly (though I’m sure with a lot of practice) and doesn’t forget the job at hand by inserting himself into the reproduction. Let me qualify that last bit, He’s done it enough times I’m sure it feels he owns the performance and isn’t consciously playing a part.
Others can tell, even if they don’t know how or why John’s renditions come off as being so faithful. I’ve been told before, and many did that night, they can’t believe how well John sings Gord’s tunes.
(from Sunonlinemedia.ca, John Swatrz, Nov, 2023)