Our tour in Canada
On Tuesday we got on the coach at about 10.30 am in order to get to Heathrow. Some two hours later we arrived, deposited our luggage, waited round for a bit and then boarded our flight to Toronto, Ontario. It was a seven-hour flight, and it was easier to stay up for the whole thing because by the time we arrived at our destination it was quite late at night. We then had dinner at a sort of Swiss-themed buffet place. A lot of food was eaten that night. So we had quite a long Tuesday, but our hotel had lovely squishy beds that we just flopped onto and fell asleep within seconds.
The next day we got up and had a gigantic breakfast; most of us had things like omelettes, pancakes, waffles, eggs benedicts, and the like. Quite filling. We then went to an ice hockey museum, which was pretty interesting. Ice hockey isn’t as big in England as it is here in Canada, so it was interesting to see what the sport was like. There was even a sort of simulated game you could play, which was really cool.A few of us bought souvenir hockey sticks and pucks. We then had lunch at Tim Horton’s – fine Canadian cuisine indeed. Really nice doughnuts and sandwiches. As you can see, Libera is very food-oriented. Several of use had to go off to TV and radio stations to do interviews which we hoped would let people know about our concerts. On one morning live TV show, the host asked us to set a question for the viewers to answer and win tickets. There was a little hesitation when no-one could think of anything sensible – but then Kavana piped up with, ‘ what is the name of the place we all come from’ ! (Answer – London, England, UK, Earth, Near Moon, Universe etc etc)
Anyway, in the afternoon we went to see ‘Hop’, the film about the Easter bunny – it was pretty funny, actually. We then went back to that Swiss buffet place for dinner, and a lot more food was eaten that night. We then went to bed at quite a reasonable time, as the next day was concert day.
Thursday morning started quite late, and with another huge breakfast. So far we seem to have eaten a lot! We then had a relaxing period in the rooms, so we were well rested for the concert. We arrived at St. Michael’s Cathedral in the afternoon to have our sound check. As we came across from the rehearsal, we walked though the enormous queue of people waiting to get in. There were hundreds and hundreds – and the queue snaked its way round the block. St Michael’s is a really nice big building, and it had a good acoustic. That helped add to the atmosphere of our songs in the concert – which went very well, by the way. The next concert had a lot to live up to.
The next morning was pretty much the same as the one before. Except we had to drive from Toronto to London. Not London, England, that would have been the shortest tour, and also the longest (and wettest) coach journey. That being said, the drive to the Canadian London was still quite long, about 3 hours.
On the way we stopped in a car park and looked out at the sunny weather and several of use decided we didn’t need our coats. And then we went outside …..and came running back. It was bitterly cold with a strong icy wind. We went to eat at a restaurant, which had a moose theme.That is particularly relevant to us, as we are in the homeland of the moose, and also, Moose is the name of our mascot – who, coincidentally, is a moose. So we posed with an enormous wooden moose which was standing outside the restaurant. But we did not have any chocolate mousse (pun intended) for dessert. That would mess around with our vocal cords. No, we had ice cream for our sweet, and then we were on our way. The concert in the evening at St. Andrew’s Church yielded good musical fruit.Unfortunately though, after the concert finished, we had to get back to the hotel, which was three hours away. We got back at around half past midnight, which was pretty late. But thankfully we did not have a concert the next day, so we had a nice lie-in.
To be conitinued…..
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Anne Elliott
19th April 2011 at 2:44 amMy son and I am looking forward to seeing you all in Hamilton on Friday. I have been listening to your CD’s in my car on my way to work every day.
Anne
Gabriella
19th April 2011 at 2:29 pmJust heard you last night at the Centre in the Square in Kitchener. It was magical. Thank you all so much. And welcome to Canada!
John
19th April 2011 at 10:13 pm“But we did not have any chocolate mousse (pun intended) for dessert. That would mess around with our vocal cords.”
I’m no singer, but the adage that chocolate has an adverse effect on the singing voice is probably a myth. In fact, the theobromine content of chocolate should theoretically relax the bronchial muscles actually improving airflow.
Dark chocolate has also been shown to be a more effective cough suppressant than either codeine or dextromethorphan.
Great shows so far – but what a schedule! Hope you have time to have some fun.
Thomas Bannerman
20th April 2011 at 1:13 am“looking forward to Libera in concert on Easter Sunday, the 24th of April in the Church of Our Lady Immaculate in Guelph, Ontario!!”
“thank you, Libera for the great concert last week at St. Michael’s Cathedral in downtown Toronto!!”
Michael
20th April 2011 at 4:29 amThanks for posting the blog. It is fun to chart your progress through the tour. I’ll be driving up on Friday to see you in Hamilton (about 6.5 hours from my home south of Pittsburgh, PA, USA). I’m staying on over the weekend to see you again in Guelph. Honestly, I’ve never been so moved by music as I am by Libera. You guys are amazing!
Runfola
20th April 2011 at 3:43 pmHave a good Tour in Canada !
Enyu
20th April 2011 at 4:38 pmThank you for posting this. Love to see you guys having a great time in Canada. See how Canada loves you! 🙂
Bruce H.
21st April 2011 at 12:26 amMy wife and I enjoyed your concert in Chatham last night very much. I really admire the amount of effort you are putting into this concert tour. Five concerts in six days are a real accomplishment and a lot of work. This is the first concert I have been to since Buffalo, New York three years ago. Since I knew that one concert this time would not satisfy me, I already have tickets for Sunday in Guelph. I’m already anxious for that concert.
I wish I could have said, “Hello” to you in person, but I realize that is not always practical. Thank you for making the comment section available on your blog to let your fans communicate with you.
By the way, if you remember someone near the front of the church to the right of the aisle to your right wearing a maroon shirt and tie – that was me. Please convey my thanks to your musicians, technical people, and of course Mr. Prizeman for their wonderful efforts.
Joel
21st April 2011 at 2:51 amThanks for posting your thoughts on the blog. Looking forward to hearing you in Guelph with my wife and inlaws! Welcome to Canada by the way – it is not always this cold! Keep up the great singing!!
Russ Schwartz
21st April 2011 at 4:45 amWow! Mega-Moose! I guess you’ll have to get a cart or something if you start carrying that one around. Perhaps the stuffed one was more convenient… 🙂 Best wishes for the balance of your Canadian tour!
Ian Wotherspoon
21st April 2011 at 9:30 pmI would just like to thank you, the boys of Libera for coming to Canada and doing a superb job with each of your concerts. I was at your very first concert on April 14th and enjoyed myself to the max, it was great and your singing was wonderful. This was my second “live” concert and I can’t wait unti my next one. I trust that you are having a little time to yourselves and I hope that you are able to visit some of really cool places that there are in Toronto. I read that you have already visited the NHL Hall of Fame. That is a great place to visit, and I’m sure you had a wonderful time there just like I did when I was there with my son a few years ago. I pray that the rest of your tour goes well and that you all have a Happy Easter (rememeber, don’t eat too much chocolate). I pray that you will have a safe flight back to England and bus ride to your homes as I’m sure you miss everyone there as they do you. Thanks for coming and hurry back soon, I know we will miss you. God Bless.
James
22nd April 2011 at 4:16 amI took my family to the concert in Kitchener at Centre in the Square on Monday night. It was amazing! That performance was certainly one that I will never forget. I really hope you’ll be back in this area again before too long. We’ll be sure to see you again next time. (I was hoping to get to the Guelph performance too but, alas, it is not possible.)
Mila Suazo
22nd April 2011 at 2:41 pmThank you for coming to Canada! I was at your concert in Islington United and though the wind was biting as we waited outside in line to get in, I didn’t mind the cold and the wait. I was too excited to see you and hear your lovely voices in person! Thanks too for blogging as I wanted to read about your activities while here. I’m just so sorry that the weather is not cooperating at all and I kept thinking of you and how cold and uncomfortable the week might have been for the boys! All rain and biting winds! Have a good trip back! Thanks for coming! 🙂
Bella
22nd April 2011 at 3:47 pmLibera guys, best wish for your canadian tour. I am a chinese fan of libera. I hope in the near future you will have a plan for a tour in China!
Taylor
23rd April 2011 at 4:14 am(Literally) just got back from seeing you in concert in Hamilton! It was phenomenal. I couldn’t help but wonder if Libera was sent from a world and time far removed from our own.
Thanks so much for the great music and lovely concert. I hope you guys enjoy the rest of your stay in Canada.
Gordon Glenn
23rd April 2011 at 4:30 amThank you for an absolutely amazing concert. I often look at your website, and almost fell out of my chair when I saw that there was a Canadian tour with a venue nearby. And a brief comment from my 9 yr old, who said he didn’t want to go as it would be boring. He was enthraled and said afterwards that it was amazing, and insisted on listening to the cd we had purchased on the drive home.
Bret Sheppard
23rd April 2011 at 4:52 amCanada welcomes you.
I attended your first concert at St. Michael’s and I enjoyed it so much (even briefly chatting with the group welcoming you to Canada, as you were walking across the street), that I went to tonights show in Hamilton and Sunday I will be in Guelph.
Words are not enough to describe the enormous joy it is to hear and now see you perform. The music, the harmonies, and the pleasant presence you show on stage. You are truly inspiring
The result is from your inspiring voices I decided too sponsor a child through WorldVision.
Libera – I truly enjoy the music, but I totally buy into your concept of how Libera works, how the older boys help.
Sorry for being long winded, but, I just wanted to let you know how much I appreciate your music and thrilled beyond belief that you guys took your Easter to be with us.
Great show tonight.
HAPPY EASTER and see you on Easter Sunday in Guelph.
Anne
23rd April 2011 at 3:42 pmHello everyone, I was at the concert last night in Hamilton, it was everything i hoped it would be, and more. Your voices are truly amazing, when I closed my eyes the sound or your singing just took me to a very peaceful place. Your diction was wonderful, I could hear every word and the sound you all create, along with your musicians is way better in reality. I am sure touring like this is very tiring, especially for the younger boys but you still sounded wonderful, even towards the end of your tour.
Thank you for coming to Canada,.
Charles Emery
23rd April 2011 at 7:58 pmMy wife and I attended your concerts in Islington, Kitchener and Chatham. She was impressed as I was when I first saw you perform last year in Brentwood, TN. All I can say lads is, Thank You, thank you for the musical joy you perform. Have a Happy Easter and a safe trip home.
Kim
24th April 2011 at 8:10 amI was at the Hamilton concert on the 22nd. The show was beautiful and AMAZING! I have been a fan since 2008 and was excited to know last month that Libera is coming to Canada (Even better, to Hamilton where I am from). I wish there was a meet and greet after the show, although hearing all of your beautiful harmonies live were good enough for me. THANK YOU for all of your hard work and for coming to Canada. Have a safe flight back to England and PLEASE do come back in the near future. God Bless <3
Natsumi
4th July 2011 at 2:05 amI can’t wait for the USA 2011 tour!!!