STEPHEN MAGUIRE

Parkland Review - April 15, 2010

Maguire puts his soul into music
By Denise Bokinac

For those who missed the Stephen Maguire concert, held at the CJVR Performing Arts Theatre in the Kerry Vickar Centre on April 10, it was your loss. Showcased as a fundraiser for the Canadian Cancer Society, not only was the music fantastic but it was to benefit a cause that touches almost all of us. Unfortunately, many of the theatre seats remained empty, but for next time take heed. If you ever have the opportunity to see Maguire in concert, go. From the first song to the last, his music will wind its way into your heart and hold you spellbound. You will not regret the experience.

“If somebody is taking the time to leave their home to come and see me, I don’t want to be good, I want to be great and I’ve always said that. I just want to give it my all and hopefully people love it,” he said during an interview after the show.

Stephen Maguire showed his ‘Irish Soul’ at the Canadian Cancer Society fundraiser held at the CJVR Performing Arts Theatre in the Kerry Vickar Centre on April 1. His new album ‘Irish Soul’, released April 9, could not have been more appropriately titled. Maguire was a treasure, drawing the audience in with his Irish lilt and keeping them captivated with his expressive songs. Fortunately, he threw in the occasional upbeat jazzy tune and paused between each song to banter and joke with the crowd – otherwise he may have had to deal with a few tears from the emotion his music released in the listeners.

And just who is Stephen Maguire? Originally from Belfast, Northern Ireland, music has always been a part of his life. His father, Patrick Maguire, who played with Van Morrison and in various show and rock bands in the 60’s, was a strong musical influence in his life.

“The music to me means everything because it’s kind of who I am, you know,” explained Maguire. “And it’s my way of getting across how I feel in everyday life and what it is like to leave your family on the other side of the world and that sort of thing.”

He made the decision to leave his family and his beloved Ireland after he fell in love with the woman who would become his wife. Six years ago Tera, who is originally from Yorkton, was interning as a sports marketer with the professional hockey team, the Belfast Giants and the two met when Maguire played at a game. After her internship was over, she moved back to Saskatoon to work with the U of S Huskies while Maguire continued to tour with his music. The two were married in Yorkton and have now set up their home base in Saskatoon where Tera manages her husband’s career and is able to travel with him.

“It’s kind of strange when you are in an airport and you turn around and look at your mom and you wave and you don’t know if or when you are going to see her again,” said Maguire, referring to the tearjerker, ‘Leaving’. “For better or for worse, that is most of the inspiration for my writing and I think everybody has said goodbye to somebody at some point in their life and I just think people can associate with that so I wanted to make an album that was true and honest to who I am and I think I achieved that, which I am really proud of.”

Many of the songs he performed were a testament to the love he feels for Tera and the song ‘I’m Yours Tonight’ was dedicated to her. Sporting the yellow daffodil pins that volunteers were handing out at the door, Maguire and his band of six gave an eclectic mix of 15 songs with each member having the opportunity to showcase their specialty, including a few with just Maguire and his guitar on the stage.

“I’ve never done the same show twice, I’m constantly changing the sound list and the band hates me for it, but whatever,” he confessed with a laugh.

Specifically requesting that the show be held as a fundraiser, Maguire was pleased to see that the charity chosen was the Cancer Society. “It’s a very close charity to my heart,” he said in a quiet voice. “I lost three or four relatives to cancer and I don’t know anybody that hasn’t been touched by cancer. It just affects people in so many ways but everybody pulls together and you get through it. It’s a time for family and closeness and not pulling any punches, you kind of find yourself telling them things you always wanted to say because you don’t know if you’re going to get another chance.”

“We get five dollars from every ticket sold tonight for the Canadian Cancer Society so we are very excited about that fundraiser,” said Sandra Feigel, Manager of the North East Unit of the Cancer Society of Saskatchewan. “The money raised goes to prevention of cancer. It also goes to research and advocacy so for people who are struggling with cancer, we also help them out as well,” she explained. “It also goes to the support groups we offer so for someone who has cancer, we have support groups for them and it covers all of the information we have in the office to reach out to those people.”

Coordinator for the Kerry Vicar Centre, Leah Terry said that they are trying to bring in a wide variety of entertainment as a way of getting people out to see the newly-completed centre. “We are trying to get different acts in here, different entertainment, different groups that appeal to different types of people. Because it is the first year the theatre is open we are hoping to get as many types of different people from the community in here as possible.”

The CJVR Performing Arts Theatre, along with the people who came out to see him perform and waited in line afterwards for an autograph, made a definite impression on Maguire.

“What a stunning building. When we walked around backstage it was a treat for the band because they had so much room back there, lots of dressing rooms and a phenomenal, beautiful stage.”

“It was a great audience, a great auditorium. Yeah, we had a great time.”