Songwriting legend Ron Sexsmith comes to town

Now Ron Sexsmith is bringing his show to Leamington, and will take to the stage at the Assembly on June 17.

Born in 1964, Ron grew up in Ontario, Canada, 20 minutes away from Niagara Falls.

He was brought up by his mother in low-income family government housing, his largely absent father leaving behind a box of Johnny Cash and Little Anthony And The Imperials singles, which were Ron’s songbook primers.

He soon learned to play the guitar, with Ray Davies of The Kinks as his songwriting inspiration, followed by Lennon and McCartney, Paul Simon and “at about 19, I started discovering people like Leonard Cohen and Gordon Lightfoot”.

His first release in 1991 was Grand Opera Lane, and, since then, he has gone on to garner critical acclaim and a big following.

Daniel Lanois, the producer for his new album, Long Player Late Bloomer, said: “Not a lot of people have Ron’s gift – the ability to see a tiny snapshot of a feeling, then expand upon it and deliver a beautiful song.

“The songs are like Polaroids.”

Tickets to see Ron Sexsmith live cost £17.50 and can be bought online.