Jon Bryant began his cross-Canada tour on Via Rail June 2. (Healey photo)

FALL RIVER: Jon Bryant isn’t normally a risk-taker, but, when it comes to gaining exposure for his music, anything’s possible.
The Fall River artist is one of two who boarded a Via Rail train June 2 in Halifax to begin an almost two-month tour across Canada. The other artist joining the affable Bryant is Gabrielle Papillion, a native of Montreal, Que.
Bryant said the opportunity to do the tour came as a result of the success of his single “Deaf” on iTunes. The single gained cross-country exposure after it was selected as the Canadiana free single of the week earlier this year. That helped to create a fan base across Canada for the singer-songwriter.
“I just decided that I have this opportunity now,” Bryant said. “I might as well take advantage of it as soon as possible. I figured with Via Rail being so good and giving me the chance to travel for free and play on the train, I may as well go all the way.”
Via Rail’s On Board Program is aimed at helping artists gain exposure in parts of the country that may otherwise be closed to them. Performances can be viewed by those in both economy and touring classes and are scheduled to take place in the train’s activity and park cars. The featured artists will be thrumming guitars and bowing violins and cellos.
Bryant found out about the program in January through a friend, Chris Pope of Acres and Acres.
“Tours take awhile to plan and flesh out,” the singer said. “I’m learning a lot as I go. I’m booking everything myself. It’s a lot of responsibility. It will be a fun tour with Gabrielle I think.”
The first leg of the tour will see the two perform in Montreal, Que. June 3-4, before heading to Ontario for shows June 6-14, including Toronto.
Bryant and Papillion hit the tracks again on June 15 for Winnipeg, Man. In Alberta, they will perform shows June 19-24. The two are then scheduled to perform June 26-June 30 in British Columbia, including a stop in Vancouver.
On the return trip, they will perform in Saskatchewan July 8-10 and tentatively wrap up the tour in Hamilton, Ont. July 16.
Some may think he might be a bit nutty to do a tour via train. He doesn’t see it that way.
“I don’t think I’m crazy,” he added. “I think there are risks involved, but I think I’ve planned it well enough that we will be able to make every train and get from the train stations to the locations that we need to without any stress.”
Bryant is hopeful the tour will give him an increased exposure to those who may not have heard his soothing music.
“I hope it gives me the opportunity to continue to tour, to continue to play and do what I love to do,” he said. “It’s something that I’ve always wanted to do. It’s a dream of mine to go on tour. It’s really just me living out my dream.”
phealey@enfieldweeklypress.com