A Milestone for a Maritime Legend

Exactly 25 years ago, Jimmy Rankin stepped away from a decade long run with The Rankin Family to release his first solo album, “Song Dog.” Now, he brings the celebration to Saint John. Rankin performs at the Imperial Theatre on October 25 as part of his Maritime anniversary tour.

According to a recent interview with CTV News Atlantic, Rankin felt both terrified and excited when he first went solo. Today, that excitement continues.

“I love entertaining people,” Rankin told CTV. “That is what I grew up doing, I have been doing it all of my life and I really enjoy it.”

Experiencing ‘Song Dog’ Live and on Vinyl

If you attend the Saint John show, you will get a unique concert experience. Rankin brings a full band on the road. He noted this is something he rarely does outside of summer festivals.

“For the show I am doing the whole ‘Song Dog’ record from top to bottom in order,” Rankin said. “Then I play a second set with some Rankin Family songs and songs from my solo catalogue.”

To mark the milestone, Rankin is also releasing “Song Dog” on vinyl. He explained that during his early recording days with The Rankins, the industry was transitioning between cassettes and CDs. Vinyl had largely disappeared.

“I never released a recording on vinyl until my last couple of records I made,” he said. “So to celebrate the anniversary I wanted to see what the album was like on vinyl.”

Watch Rankin perform live here:

Maritime Tour Dates

The Imperial Theatre performance kicks off a series of shows across the region. You can catch the anniversary tour at the following locations:

• October 25 at Imperial Theatre in Saint John, N.B.
• October 30 at Light House Arts Centre in Halifax
• November 5 at Glasgow Square Theatre in New Glasgow, N.S.
• November 6 at Savoy Theatre in Glace Bay, N.S.
• November 7 at Doryman Pub in Cheticamp, N.S.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is Jimmy Rankin playing in Saint John?

Jimmy Rankin performs at the Imperial Theatre on October 25.

What songs will Jimmy Rankin play on this tour?

He plays the entire “Song Dog” album from start to finish during the first set. The second set features hits from his solo career and The Rankin Family catalogue.

Is “Song Dog” available on vinyl?

Yes. Rankin released a special vinyl edition of the album to celebrate its 25 year anniversary.