Neil Young: From Somewhere in Canada

When Neil Young sings “I think I’d like to go back home and take it easy” tonight to 200 invited guests at a live acoustic concert in his hometown, no one will think Omemee, Ont., is nowhere anymore. But has anyone other than ardent Young fans ever been to this village of 1,200-plus (and one traffic light) located 25 kilometres west of Peterborough?

For instance, did you know:

  1. Young, 72, moved to the village with his family when he was almost four years old. He lived in Omemee for four years
  2. Omemee means “pigeon” in the Mississauga language of the Omemee tribe.
  3. The ghost town of Omemee, North Dakota, was named after the Omemee.
  4. Omemee appeared on the Canadian comedy show Still Standing, with Young and a childhood friend being taught how to shoot a rifle by the local doctor.
  5. The only school in town, Scott Young Public School, is named after Scott Young, the journalist, author and musician’s father who lived near town until his death in 2005.
  6. Avid fan Trevor Hosier created the volunteer-run Youngtown Rock ‘n’ Roll Museum in Omemee, honouring all thing Neil as well as The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Roy Orbison and many more. Neil and his brother visited the museum before it finally closed its doors.
  7. Coronation Hall, where the concert will probably be held, was donated by the Eaton family. Sir John Craig Eaton’s wife, Flora McRae Eaton, came from Omemee.
  8. Young’s girlfriend, Daryl Hannah, is a producer of the concert promoting his new album The Visitor.

 

The 90-minute show livestreams on CTV and Facebook tonight at 8 p.m. ET.