The longevity of a Canadian icon anchors a decade-long project that two celebrated Greater Victoria performers take to stages across the province this summer.

When Glenna Garramone and Oliver Swain first took Tower of Song: a creative tribute to Leonard Cohen on the road, they used to say they were two of the biggest Cohen fans you香蕉视频直播檇 ever meet.

It was part of the banter in the show.

The quip seemed harmless enough until they toured a bit and met superfans with lyrics tattooed on their bodies.

The seed of the show was planted in 2011 while Garramone lived in Vancouver. She fully figured the performance to 香蕉视频直播減ay tribute to one of Canada香蕉视频直播檚 most amazing poets and singers and songwriters香蕉视频直播� was a one-night deal.

Inspired by the the concept of a dialogue between artists, the show is rooted in the Tower of Song verse: 香蕉视频直播淚 said to Hank Williams, how lonely does it get? Hank Williams hasn't answered yet; But I hear him coughing all night long; Oh, a hundred floors above me in the Tower of Song.香蕉视频直播�

That conversation transcends time and space. Every person has their own tower of inspiration, no matter their art from.

香蕉视频直播淵ou香蕉视频直播檙e looking to them for this inspiration and you kind of overhear what they香蕉视频直播檙e doing through the tower walls,香蕉视频直播� Garramone said.

That same inspiration likely led her to invite Swain 香蕉视频直播� who she香蕉视频直播檇 heard perform an impressive Cohen song before 香蕉视频直播� and together, they were reminded of the power of harmony.

The tribute performance became an annual activity the next year, this time in Victoria.

香蕉视频直播淚 see it as sacred ground. His poems and songs are loved by so many. There香蕉视频直播檚 a bit of a risk,香蕉视频直播� Garramone admits. 香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 about bringing our own voices and our own interpretations to his material.香蕉视频直播�

Audiences responded and since then, they香蕉视频直播檝e performed it at festivals, theatres and folk clubs more than 200 times 香蕉视频直播� from Victoria to Cohen香蕉视频直播檚 homeland of Montreal.

香蕉视频直播淭he project took on a life and a momentum of its own in the last 10 years,香蕉视频直播� she said.

Songs are added, removed, reinterpreted and even Cohen's spoken word built around music.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 more a conversation between two people. Every song we香蕉视频直播檝e chosen to include in the show has its own kind of magic.香蕉视频直播�

Aside from the duo香蕉视频直播檚 compelling vocal harmonies, Garramone brings piano, guitar and percussion to the show, while Swain adds standup base, banjo and guitar.

Tower of Song: a creative tribute to Leonard Cohen is back on the road with shows in Sidney, Harrison, Keremeos, Kelowna, Duncan and Salt Spring Island this summer.

It all starts Sunday at Sidney香蕉视频直播檚 Mary Winspear Centre where fans will enjoy another local talent with the addition of Daniel Lapp. Mixing in other musical flavours creates some of Garramone香蕉视频直播檚 favourite shows because they香蕉视频直播檙e 香蕉视频直播渂ringing out these different sonic textures, different musical palettes.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播�(Lapp) can really paint with so many colours sonically and it香蕉视频直播檚 really fun to work with someone who has such a diverse range of expression.香蕉视频直播�

Garramone remembers fondly being onstage in Kelowna for the project香蕉视频直播檚 sold-out CD release 10 years ago and looks forward to the return on July 19 at Rotary Centre for the Arts.

The venues this summer run the gamut from The Grist Mill outdoors in Keremeos on July 18, to likely their largest audience in the Duncan香蕉视频直播檚 Cowichan Performing Arts Centre on Sept. 21. They perform the day before at ArtSpring Theatre on Salt Spring Island.

Among the fun is the July 20 Harrison Festival of the Arts.

香蕉视频直播淪ummer is festival time, so any time I get to participate in a festival whether it香蕉视频直播檚 on stage or as an audience member I feel lucky,香蕉视频直播� Garramone said.

The Victoria singer anticipates it could be collaboration that continues as long as they have the energy. Cohen香蕉视频直播檚 songs are durable and flexible, they withstand 香蕉视频直播� and even hold up 香蕉视频直播� as a work of art with their treatments, Garramone said.

香蕉视频直播淗e didn香蕉视频直播檛 release any duds, there香蕉视频直播檚 a lifetime of songs to work with.香蕉视频直播�

For more information on show dates and times,