Bay College is proud to welcome The Gordon Lightfoot Tribute to the Besse Theater on Thursday, October 9, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. ET. This moving concert experience, part of the group’s 2025 Tour Lightfoot – The Stories, The Songs, celebrates the enduring music of Canadian icon Gordon Lightfoot and commemorates the 50th anniversary of the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald.
Audiences will enjoy Lightfoot’s classic radio hits along with beloved album cuts, brought to life by acclaimed performer Mike Fornes. More than just a concert, the show blends timeless music with a stunning multimedia presentation featuring Lightfoot himself, offering first-hand accounts of how his songs were inspired and written.
Through heartfelt storytelling, Fornes shares fascinating insights behind some of Lightfoot’s greatest works:
- Sundown, written about a girlfriend who later served prison time in a notorious case.
- If You Could Read My Mind, penned not as a breakup song, but as an explanation of divorce to Lightfoot’s young daughter.
- The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald, with lyrics that Lightfoot twice revised at the request of those close to the tragedy.
“These songs are heart-wrenching at times, romantic beyond measure, and sorrowful at the loss of a love,” says Fornes. “Other songs tell tales of the sea, a walk in the woods, or they celebrate Canada. It’s an honor to perform these songs on stage.”
On stage, Fornes recreates Lightfoot’s unforgettable sounds using guitars identical to those played by the legend himself. Combined with authentic stage sets, lighting, and mannerisms, the tribute offers audiences the closest experience to seeing Lightfoot live in concert.
Tickets are available online at baycollege.tix.com, in person at the Besse Center Box Office, or over the phone at (906) 217-4062. Admission is $20, or $10 for any student Kindergarten through Bay.
Join us for an unforgettable evening of storytelling and song as we honor Gordon Lightfoot’s musical legacy and the 50th anniversary of the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald.
About Bay College
Bay College is the community’s college with a mission of: Student Success, Community Success, and Culture of Success. Bay is devoted to each individual’s achievement in the classroom, on-campus, online, in the community and into the workforce by providing career certificates, associate degrees, transferable university credits, industry certifications, trainings, and professional development programs which develop skillsets, enrich individuals, and advance careers. #BayIsTheWay