Artist spotlight: Al Simmons

Al Simmons has had a long, successful career making audiences laugh with his kooky brand of musical comedy! The Harvest Sun returning performer spoke with us about his inspirations, motivations, highlights and favourite outrageous gadgets!

What sparked the idea to do musical comedy?
50 years ago… Audiences quickly let me know that they preferred me doing comedy.  They ignored me when I made attempts at being cool and hip and suave. I love combining comedy with music.

What are your favourite parts about what you do?
They say laughter is the best medicine.  When I hear people laughing I feel good. Laughter is my life force.

You’ve had a very long and exciting career, can you take me through some of your favourite highlights?
Winning a Juno Award and being appointed a Member of the Order of Manitoba are obvious choices but some of the greatest little spontaneous events happen in every show.  The audience seems to love it when something goes wrong and they get to see how I react. I stay positive and turn it into a magical moment most times.

• 45 years ago my exploding toilet seat blew up in my face.  
• I ran to the back end of a massive bar in Calgary and stood on the pool table and was chased all the way back by angry oil riggers wielding pool cues.  When I jumped on the stage and the audience started laughing they turned and went back to their game.

Oh, there were good times too.  

• I sang with Mavis Staples and her band on the main stage at the Regina Folk Festival a couple of years ago.  In the middle of her show she shouted… “Bring out the funny guy.”
• I climbed to the top of the clock tower at the Morden Corn and Apple Festival in the mid 1970s.  
• I dressed as a in a grass skirt and a coconut brassiere in almost every bar in Manitoba and NW Ontario in the early 1970s.  
• I flipped up and spread my 6 foot tall peacock tail behind me when I met Prince Charles and Lady Di at Expo 86.

Tell me about your favourite gadget/musical device you’ve made?
How do I choose?  There were/are so many.  For years I never did a show without my wearable bathtub and big bass drum one-man-band.  I think my current favourite is my newest one, “Flame Head.” You have to see it to believe it.

For those who have yet to see you perform, what can people expect to see (and with your style: hear, feel, and interact with!) at your Harvest Sun set?
Don’t expect to sit passively and listen. You will be totally involved in the show.  I expect everyone to be interacting and shouting stuff at me. No throwing tomatoes please.  I’ll have my mechanical hats, silly school of fish, eccentric songs and poems and of course my Horse-Cycle Ol’ Spoke.

You’ve played the festival many times, what is it about Harvest Sun that keeps you coming back?
It is the audience that keeps me coming back.  All performers agree the the Harvest Sun crowds are fantastic.

As a viewer and as a performer, what would you say is the best thing about the Harvest Sun Music Fest?
The intimate Harvest Sun Festival has always been a favourite of mine.  I love the organizers and crew. If always feels like I’m coming home to a big happy family.  See you soon cousins!


Catch Al Simmons at The Harvest Sun Music Festival in Kelwood, MB - August 17 -19th. 

Follow Al on Facebook, on his website, Instagram, and Twitter. 

Be sure to check out @harvestsunmusicfest on Instagram on June 8th, as Al Simmons takes over our account for the day!