The longevity of a Canadian icon anchors a decade-long project that two celebrated Greater Victoria performers take to stages across the province this summer.

When Glenna Garramone and Oliver Swain first took Tower of Song: a creative tribute to Leonard Cohen on the road, they used to say they were two of the biggest Cohen fans you91裸聊视频檇 ever meet.

It was part of the banter in the show.

The quip seemed harmless enough until they toured a bit and met superfans with lyrics tattooed on their bodies.

The seed of the show was planted in 2011 while Garramone lived in Vancouver. She fully figured the performance to 91裸聊视频減ay tribute to one of Canada91裸聊视频檚 most amazing poets and singers and songwriters91裸聊视频� was a one-night deal.

Inspired by the the concept of a dialogue between artists, the show is rooted in the Tower of Song verse: 91裸聊视频淚 said to Hank Williams, how lonely does it get? Hank Williams hasn't answered yet; But I hear him coughing all night long; Oh, a hundred floors above me in the Tower of Song.91裸聊视频�

That conversation transcends time and space. Every person has their own tower of inspiration, no matter their art from.

91裸聊视频淵ou91裸聊视频檙e looking to them for this inspiration and you kind of overhear what they91裸聊视频檙e doing through the tower walls,91裸聊视频� Garramone said.

That same inspiration likely led her to invite Swain 91裸聊视频� who she91裸聊视频檇 heard perform an impressive Cohen song before 91裸聊视频� and together, they were reminded of the power of harmony.

The tribute performance became an annual activity the next year, this time in Victoria.

91裸聊视频淚 see it as sacred ground. His poems and songs are loved by so many. There91裸聊视频檚 a bit of a risk,91裸聊视频� Garramone admits. 91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 about bringing our own voices and our own interpretations to his material.91裸聊视频�

Audiences responded and since then, they91裸聊视频檝e performed it at festivals, theatres and folk clubs more than 200 times 91裸聊视频� from Victoria to Cohen91裸聊视频檚 homeland of Montreal.

91裸聊视频淭he project took on a life and a momentum of its own in the last 10 years,91裸聊视频� she said.

Songs are added, removed, reinterpreted and even Cohen's spoken word built around music.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 more a conversation between two people. Every song we91裸聊视频檝e chosen to include in the show has its own kind of magic.91裸聊视频�

Aside from the duo91裸聊视频檚 compelling vocal harmonies, Garramone brings piano, guitar and percussion to the show, while Swain adds standup base, banjo and guitar.

Tower of Song: a creative tribute to Leonard Cohen is back on the road with shows in Sidney, Harrison, Keremeos, Kelowna, Duncan and Salt Spring Island this summer.

It all starts Sunday at Sidney91裸聊视频檚 Mary Winspear Centre where fans will enjoy another local talent with the addition of Daniel Lapp. Mixing in other musical flavours creates some of Garramone91裸聊视频檚 favourite shows because they91裸聊视频檙e 91裸聊视频渂ringing out these different sonic textures, different musical palettes.91裸聊视频�

91裸聊视频�(Lapp) can really paint with so many colours sonically and it91裸聊视频檚 really fun to work with someone who has such a diverse range of expression.91裸聊视频�

Garramone remembers fondly being onstage in Kelowna for the project91裸聊视频檚 sold-out CD release 10 years ago and looks forward to the return on July 19 at Rotary Centre for the Arts.

The venues this summer run the gamut from The Grist Mill outdoors in Keremeos on July 18, to likely their largest audience in the Duncan91裸聊视频檚 Cowichan Performing Arts Centre on Sept. 21. They perform the day before at ArtSpring Theatre on Salt Spring Island.

Among the fun is the July 20 Harrison Festival of the Arts.

91裸聊视频淪ummer is festival time, so any time I get to participate in a festival whether it91裸聊视频檚 on stage or as an audience member I feel lucky,91裸聊视频� Garramone said.

The Victoria singer anticipates it could be collaboration that continues as long as they have the energy. Cohen91裸聊视频檚 songs are durable and flexible, they withstand 91裸聊视频� and even hold up 91裸聊视频� as a work of art with their treatments, Garramone said.

91裸聊视频淗e didn91裸聊视频檛 release any duds, there91裸聊视频檚 a lifetime of songs to work with.91裸聊视频�

For more information on show dates and times,