Monday, May 11, 2026

Dave Gunning returns to North Bay for encore performance

Award-winning Canadian folk singer-songwriter Dave Gunning is returning to North Bay later this month, for a second fundraising concert in support of Chippewa Secondary School (CSS). Once again, students are involved in many aspects of the concert, including promotion and ushers. A student choir is also preparing to join Gunning on stage for a song.

Gunning, a Nova Scotian, has released a new album, and the North Bay stop is but one on his tour. Chippewa teacher Jamie Carruthers, via East Coaster Studios, brought his friend Gunning to North Bay last year. At that concert, Gunning debuted his song World of Make Believe, which is the first song on the new album.

“I had such a great time playing there last year, and I’m feeling excited to be coming back with a new batch of songs and some familiar ones,” says Gunning. “I’ve spent a bit of time playing in Ontario over the years, and in particular North Bay and Sudbury. I feel at home up in that part of the province. North Bay has a similar feel to Atlantic Canada, and I find that people connect well with the stories and get all the jokes.”

Last year’s concert included performances by CSS students, and proceeds improved the sound system, paid for microphones, monitor speakers and other equipment to build the school’s inventory of equipment. This allows the school to independently put on shows. While priorities for this year’s proceeds are being discussed, Carruthers says, “We hope to use the money to purchase proper lights that we can use for concert and theatrical productions. We have been renting and borrowing for productions.”

Carruthers says the CSS theatre is “gaining a reputation as being one of the best sounding theatres in Northern Ontario. We have received rave reviews from performers this past season who have performed here, including Joel Plaskett and Adam Baldwin. Both of these performers came from performing at Massey Hall to performing at Chippewa!”

This year’s concert takes place Saturday, May 30. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. for the silent auction before the show. Doors to the theatre to take seats open at 6:30 p.m., with a show start of 7 p.m.

Tickets cost $25 for students, and $35 for adults. Tickets can be purchased by clicking the show’s link on www.eastcoasterstudios.com or by going directly to Ticket Scene (https://ticketscene.ca/o/eastcoasterstudios).

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