"Lidster Launches Legends:
Historical CD First for Conception Bay North Area"
By LILLIAN SIMMONS, The Compass

When singer/songwriter Shawn Lidster realized he already had several historical songs written, it was only natural he follow on with the project. "In all it took a couple of years. I already had three songs about the history of the area and I thought: I've got a project started here. I'm gonna dig in some more," he says from his home at Brigus Gullies. The album, Legends on the Baccalieu Trail, launched Sept. 23 at St. George's Heritage Church in Brigus, is likely the first CD of its type for the Trinity Conception area.

He describes track five of his historical musical tribute, The Kyle, as emphasizing how important the old cargo supply ship was to the people of this province. "She will always hold a special place in the hearts of those who worked and sailed her and is a reminder for all those who see her, as she still lies in Harbour Grace." Lidster wrote the song while working with Rebel Island theatre group. "They did a history of Harbour Grace and The Kyle. They were picking Irish traditional songs for me to do and I said, wait now - and I did some research and wrote the song."

The song Carbonear Island came about much the same way and tells the story of how the people of Carbonear and surrounding communities defended themselves from the French invasion in 1696.

Lidster, who has been writing and performing a wide range of original material for more than 20 years, is a regular at the annual soiree in Cupids."Instead of doing the Sealer Song and Newfoundland Summer's Day (both original tunes) all the time - and with the 400 anniversary of Cupids coming up in 2010 - I thought I'd put together a song." The result was track one on the album, Cupers Cove, an account of how John Guy and his colonists set up their plantation at Cupids in 1610.

Then there's the comical tale about a couple who meet and fall in love on a tour of the Baccalieu Trail, simply called On the Baccalieu Trail. That song was written when Lidster was asked to perform at a Baccalieu Trail Tourism Association event. "I looked at the map and it pretty much wrote itself," he says. "There was actually a tour bus from St. John's at the event and it went over really good."

Far away in Australia

Several local radio stations have been playing the new songs and Lidster was interviewed on CBC radio several Saturdays ago.
Meanwhile, back in Australia Lidster's mother-in-law was tuning in to the show. "Rebecca's mother had all the crowd in from the neighbourhood and a couple of people heard the song Cupers Cove and said they're very interested in coming over for a visit."

Photo: Lilian Simmons
HAGAR'S GUITAR - While in Australia in 1998
Shawn Lidster entered a song competition
winning $15,000 worth of Sammy Hagar's (Van Halen) gear
when his song the Ratso Man was chosen winner.

The musician spent four years in the land down under, where he performed and toured with the Pale Riders when they opened for Midnight Oil's 1998 Redneck Wonderland Tour. He also got the chance to play with Randall Waller, now Shania Twain's guitar player.

The day after he moved into his apartment in Terrigal on Australia's Central Coast, Rebecca moved in next door. The two became walking companions, spending hours strolling the beach. "She didn't know I played guitar. So one day I went out on the middle of the balcony (between the apartments) and serenaded her.

"I didn't believe him at first," said Rebecca. "I thought it was someone playing a CD."

Photo: Lilian Simmons
FAMILY FUN - Shawn Lidster's little family enjoys his music,
but none more than one-year-old Alexander,
who gets a front-row seat on mom's (Rebecca)
knee while Dylan, 7 and Jake, 5 pile up on the couch behind.

In 2000 the couple married on the beach where they had spent so much time walking together. Their sons Dylan 7, and Jake 5 were both born in Australia, while Alexander, who turned one Friday, Sept. 8 is a full-fledged Newfoundlander.

Lidster has just started a new business called Off the Rock Entertainment, offering help as a consultant to other singer/songwriters. His new CD, he said, will be his business card. He's also launched a new webiste: www.shawnlidster.com.

The album, which covers a number of Conception Bay North legends, might well be a first for the area, but Lidster hopes to remedy that shortly and include more of the region. "Maybe next year we can work on Volume II," he says.