It was in Bobcaygeon
I saw the constellations
reveal themselves one star at a time
lyrics of Bobcaygeon by the Tragically Hip
Just south of where the Canadian Shield turns Ontarios bucolic farmlands into a rugged vastness of rocks and forests, the town of Bobcaygeon is built along the shores of the Trent Severn Waterway. Its one of those quintessential cottage country tourist towns where people eat ice cream cones while watching the boats go through the waterways locks.
Up until a few years ago, the towns second biggest draw was Bigleys Shoes, a local retail empire that has nearly taken over the main street. But that was before the Tragically Hip became mesmerized by the towns name. Bob-cay-jun.
Gord Downey loved the word and the sound of it, says Andy Keen whose film, Bobcaygeon, will make its world premiere at the 麻豆传媒映画International Film Festival.
From that one word a song was born. Listeners can come up with their own interpretations but the bands video is about a police officer returning to the peaceful refuge of the woman he loves after a riot at a band concert. She lives in... Bobcaygeon.
The song became one of the anthems of the Tragically Hips fans who always thought, Wouldnt it be cool if the Tragically Hip actually sang the song Bobcaygeon at a concert in Bobcaygeon?
A couple of years ago, the Hip decided to do just that and contacted Keen to film it. They wanted to come at it differently and do something for their fans about their fans, Keen says, reached at his Horses Mouth Media office in Toronto before he flies to 麻豆传媒映画for the premiere. But its not a Q and A or bio pic. Its essentially a film about an important concert they play.
As soon as the concert which included Sam Roberts and The Trews was announced, the fans and the town went crazy. Bobcaygeon has a permanent population of about 2,500; more than 10 times that number of people bought tickets for the concert in a farmers field overlooking a lake.
The concert was magical, says Keen, who became a hardcore fan during the making of the movie. And what did he discover about the fans themselves? Apart from their devotion, and bewilderment about why the band isnt bigger in the States, Keen says these people really feel theres something about the music that they get and no one else really does.
Bobcaygeon screens on Oct. 8 and 9. For details and tickets go to VIFF.com.
