If Dan Fewings doesn’t already know how much he has meant and still means to so many in Peterborough and beyond, he’s in for quite a shock come Saturday, June 15th.
The Simcoe native and retired Peterborough high school music teacher who, for years, has made us laugh, tap our feet, and simply have a whole lot of fun, is in a battle with cancer.
According to his son Josh Buster Fewings, a CAT scan done a few months ago “showed a little bit of cancer” under his father’s tongue.
“It kind of developed from there,” Buster says. “He got more testing, a biopsy, and found it had spread to his vocal chords and maybe a little bit to his thyroid. It looks like they caught it fairly early but it’s still developing.”
Now, with Dan scheduled to begin radiation treatment June 10th at a Hamilton hospital, a benefit on his behalf at the Pig’s Ear Tavern in downtown Peterborough has come together quickly.
Billed as a musical fundraiser, ‘Yes Dan Can!’ is set for 2 to 6 p.m. at the Brock Street pub, with a suggested admission donation of $20 at the door. Those who are unable to attend but still want to support Dan in his fight against cancer can send an etransfer to yesdanfewingscan@gmail.com.
Performances by Greg Keelor (of Blue Rodeo fame), Brooks and Bowskill (Brittany Brooks and Jimmy Bowskill), James McKenty, Nicholas Campbell, The Bonus Numbers (Trevor ‘Tiny’ Davis and Wyatt Burton), Sleevehaus, Ian McKeown, Boogie Time Ramblers, and Buster are scheduled.
“I had been kind of thinking about it (a benefit) but Jimmy (Bowskill), who’s a good family friend, messaged me ‘We should really put something together for your dad,'” says Buster.
“Dad’s a retired teacher, so he’s not destitute, but there’s a lot of costs associated with it (cancer treatment) that are coming his way, so we figured if we can soften the blow a little bit, he doesn’t have to use all of his savings to take care of this thing.”
“But more than trying to raise money, it’s to lift his spirits a bit and let him know people are thinking of him. People can play tunes in honour of him while he’s still kicking. Yes Dan Can is the message we want to send to him. He’s going into some crappy treatment time, so this will raise his spirits a bit.”
Anyone who has spent any amount of time with Dan, whether informally or as an audience member, will no doubt have a difficult time imagining him to be anything other than upbeat and positive.
Blessed with a larger-than-life persona and full willingness to poke fun at himself in a bid to make others laugh, the professional clown, guitarist, and popular emcee has been the life of the party for years — earning him an induction into Peterborough’s Pathway of Fame for dramatic arts in 2016.
In 2009, while in the midst of overseeing his Green Roof Children’s Theatre Camp, Dan was invited by Peterborough jazz pianist Rob Phillips to drop by Cassis where he was playing. Dan did so and was invited onstage to sing.
That impromptu performance gave birth to The Three Martinis, a musical improv comedy act that entertained here, there and everywhere over the next several years, with Dan and Rob frequently joined by Bowskill on stand-up bass. Their act was centred around the audience calling out suggested song titles, from which they would select one, and create and perform a song on the spot.
“The Three Martinis was magic — there were some really special moments,” reflects Bowskill, who also toured the East Coast with Dan as the bluegrass duo Fewings and Bowskill.
“He (Dan) had my back right from the get-go. I wanted to go to PCVS (the former Peterborough Collegiate and Vocational School), which had a creative arts program. They didn’t want to let me in because I couldn’t read music. Dan went to bat for me for big time. He said ‘If you don’t let him in, I’m going to retire.’ So I got in.”
“I learned from Dan that stage presence is key. He really is a bigger-than-life character. And he helped me do a lot of music that really changed my life. He introduced me to Willie P. Bennett, Bruce Cockburn, and those kinds of Canadian folk music legends.”
All this said, it was a no-brainer for Bowskill that something be done for Dan during what is a difficult time, destined to become all the more tougher.
“He’s going to get through it but it’s going to be a rocky road for awhile,” says Bowskill who, besides performing with his wife Brittany Brooks as part of Brooks and Bowskill, plays pedal steel guitar, mandolin, and dobro with Blue Rodeo.
“It’s always magical to see a community come together and help someone,” he adds. “This is something we can do to help Dan stay positive — let him know that we’re thinking of him and we’re in his corner.”
Meanwhile, Buster says it’s still unclear if his dad will be able attend the benefit.
“He starts treatment the week before but he’s really hopeful that he can make it and thank everybody for coming out,” he says, adding that his gratitude for those who have agreed to perform is over the top.
“They (musicians) get asked to do a lot. Greg (Keelor) is a busy guy. When he’s not playing, he’s taking it easy between gigs. Nick Campbell is on fire. He’s playing all the time. To have these folks come out for Dad is really something special. Peterborough is a great city for that. We really lift each other up when called upon.”
Buster notes that, in addition to the scheduled musical guests, there may be some surprise performances.
“You open the door and who knows who’s going come through it?”
Of note, says Buster, the Peterborough Musicians’ Benevolent Association (PMBA) is hosting its monthly event the same afternoon, from 1 to 4 p.m. at Dr. J’s BBQ and Brew. That group has committed the proceeds from that day to help Dan. Buster suggests people attend both.
In the meantime, Buster says he and his brother Coby have been checking in with their dad daily.
“Dad is such a thinker that it’s easy for him to overthink but he’s still cracking jokes, as you’d expect,” he says.
“It’s all been sort of sudden, so he’s coming to grips with it. His spirits are good, but he’s not looking forward to the treatment. It’s the unknown of all that, right? On one hand, he’s a little bit down and kind of existential, but on the other hand, he’s taking it day by day.”
