PHOTOS: Shuswap friend given the spotlight at Grant Lawrence and Friends show

Grant Lawrence listens as Audrey Stremick of Malakwa shares her side of Lawrence’s story about how Russell Letawsky, aka Russell the Hermit, came to arrive in Desolation Sound, during the Grant Lawrence and Friends show at Song Sparrow Hall on Saturday, June 17, 2023. In 1977, Letawsky and Stremick hiked from Pemberton Meadows over the Coast Mountains from an area near Pemberton Meadows to the Malaspina Inlet where Stremick’s sister Linda lived. (Lachlan Labere-Salmon Arm Observer)Grant Lawrence listens as Audrey Stremick of Malakwa shares her side of Lawrence’s story about how Russell Letawsky, aka Russell the Hermit, came to arrive in Desolation Sound, during the Grant Lawrence and Friends show at Song Sparrow Hall on Saturday, June 17, 2023. In 1977, Letawsky and Stremick hiked from Pemberton Meadows over the Coast Mountains from an area near Pemberton Meadows to the Malaspina Inlet where Stremick’s sister Linda lived. (Lachlan Labere-Salmon Arm Observer)
Audrey Stremick plays the ukulele while singing a version of Amazing Grace, to the tune of House of the Rising Sun, during the Grant Lawrence and Friends show at Song Sparrow Hall on Saturday, June 17, 2023.Audrey Stremick plays the ukulele while singing a version of Amazing Grace, to the tune of House of the Rising Sun, during the Grant Lawrence and Friends show at Song Sparrow Hall on Saturday, June 17, 2023.
Ashley Ball shares a song during the Grant Lawrence and Friends show at Song Sparrow Hall on Saturday, June 17, 2023. (Lachlan Labere-Salmon Arm Observer)Ashley Ball shares a song during the Grant Lawrence and Friends show at Song Sparrow Hall on Saturday, June 17, 2023. (Lachlan Labere-Salmon Arm Observer)
Grant Lawrence tells a story about the late Russell Letawsky, aka Russell the Hermit, during his Grant Lawrence and Friends show at Song Sparrow Hall on Saturday, June 17, 2023.Grant Lawrence tells a story about the late Russell Letawsky, aka Russell the Hermit, during his Grant Lawrence and Friends show at Song Sparrow Hall on Saturday, June 17, 2023.
Danny Michel entertains with a song during the Grant Lawrence and Friends show at Song Sparrow Hall on Saturday, June 17, 2023. (Lachlan Labere-Salmon Arm Observer)Danny Michel entertains with a song during the Grant Lawrence and Friends show at Song Sparrow Hall on Saturday, June 17, 2023. (Lachlan Labere-Salmon Arm Observer)

A friend from the Shuswap was given the stage during the Grant Lawrence and Friends show at Song Sparrow Hall.

Lawrence, the award-winning author, musician, past Word on the Lake Festival guest speaker and CBC Radio personality, and musical guests Danny Michel, Ashleigh Ball and Dustin Bentall, provided an evening of entertaining storytelling and song on Saturday, June 17.

Throughout the show, Lawrence shared stories from his books including his latest, Return to Solitude: More Desolation Sound Adventures with the Cougar Lady, Russell the Hermit, the Spaghetti Bandit and Others.

One of the stories involved the late Russell Letawsky, aka Russell the Hermit, and the harrowing journey he and then partner Audrey Stremick shared in 1977 when they hiked over the Coast Mountains from an area near Pemberton Meadows to the Malaspina Inlet where Stremick’s sister Linda had a homestead. At one point in the story, Lawrence welcomed Stremick, who resides in Malakwa, up to the stage. Stremick first shared “my side of the story,” elaborating some on the journey she shared with Letawsky, before taking out her ukulele and entertaining the packed house with a solo performance of Amazing Grace, sung to the tune of House of the Rising Sun.

Lawrence said he’d interviewed Stremick dozens of times but this was the first they’d met in person.

Lawrence shared other Shuswap shout outs, including one to Salmon Arm teacher Brook Roberts and Hillcrest Elementary for their successful video entries in the CBC Music Class Challenge, which Lawrence hosts. He also expressed gratitude to the Salmon Arm Folk Music Society, the Shuswap Association of Writers and Song Sparrow Hall for their support in making the Salmon Arm stop happen.

Read more: Shuswap connections in store for upcoming Grant Lawrence and Friends show

Read more: PODCAST: Authors Grant Lawrence and Bob Williams discuss their new books

lachlan@saobserver.net
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter

Sign up for our newsletter to get Salmon Arm stories in your inbox every morning.

ConcertshistoryLive musicSalmon ArmSicamous

Previous story
Bill Cosby sued by 9 more women in Nevada for alleged decades-old sexual assaults
Next story
Final year for Vernon’s classical music festival

Just Posted

(Zachary Delaney/Revelstoke Review)
PHOTOS: Revelstoke Visual Arts Centre opens new exhibition

Molsons Bank at the corner of Mackenzie Avenue and First Street, circa 1910. Revelstoke Museum & Archives photo 4235. (Submitted)
Glimpses of Revelstoke’s past for Sept. 21

Debris, which once sat under water, has been unveiled by low water levels. (Photo by Jim Robertson)
High and Dry: Changing water levels on Arrow Lakes

(Arts Revelstoke)
Looking ahead to Revelstoke’s LUNA Fest