Midwest 'train of lights' to feature Minnesota's John Gorka, Wisconsin's Willy Porter

Midwest 'train of lights' to feature Minnesota's John Gorka, Wisconsin's Willy Porter

MINNEAPOLIS, Oct. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- 2005 Minnesota's John "the voice of new folk" Gorka and Wisconsin folk-rocker Willy Porter will be the Midwestern headliners aboard the Holiday Train rolling musical shows for hunger relief Dec. 9-16 from Chicago to Minot, N.D., announced Canadian Pacific Railway.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20051010/NYM089-a ) (Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20051010/NYM089-b ) (Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20051010/NYM089-c )

This unusual musical venue is really a 13-car Canadian Pacific Railway freight train decorated with hundreds of thousands of Christmas lights. A lighted tree atop the cab of the big red locomotive and lighted wreaths on the front and back of the train make it look like a child's Christmas morning wish come to life -- to see a toy train circling a decorated tree.

John and Willy, with Celtic-pop recording artists the Ennis Sisters and Canadian Country Music Association Hall of Famer Tracey Brown, will be rockin' in the subzero performing live holiday music shows outdoors at night from a boxcar that converts into a stage. The shows are free, but crowds are encouraged to bring cash and food donations to be collected by local food shelves and food banks. Canadian Pacific Railway also makes check donations to food banks. All donations remain locally. The train, which pulls empty boxcars and vintage private rail cars holding the musicians and Santa (OK, he's one of our employees enjoying a break from his day job) is a very visual prop for hunger relief.

In what has become a holiday tradition, thousands of people bundle up and eagerly greet the train as it arrives at depots, in rail yards, next to grain elevators, over railroad grade crossings and on a reservation. They ooh and ah as the lighted train arrives in big-city neighborhoods, suburbs and lots of small farming communities along the former Milwaukee Road from Chicago to St. Paul, Minn., and the Soo Line Railroad west of Minneapolis.

The U.S. Holiday Train will begin Nov. 30 in Scranton, Penn., travel northward through New York over CPR's Delaware & Hudson subsidiary and head into southern Ontario before beginning its Midwest journey Dec. 9 in Gurnee, Ill. The train will make 30 Midwestern stops before it terminates Dec. 17 following the last show in Weyburn, Saskatchewan.

Another Holiday Train will be crossing Canada from Montreal to Vancouver at the same time with a different cast of musicians.

The shows are short -- 20 to 30 minutes long. After all, temperatures can dip below zero at night in December in the Upper Midwest! But hearing thousands of people standing in the cold singing "Silent Night" a cappella with the musicians at the end of the shows is always heart-warming.

Canadian Pacific Railway's U.S. headquarters are in Minneapolis and its U.S. locomotive maintenance base is in St. Paul. There are about 3,000 U.S. employees, including nearly 1,200 in Minnesota.

Why do we do this? Grain is one of the single biggest commodities that Canadian Pacific Railway ships. So it's fitting that the shows raise food, money and awareness for hunger relief. Canadian Pacific Railway has helped food shelves and food banks raise nearly $2 million and about 400 tons of food since the program began in 1999.

Chambers of Commerce, convention & visitors bureaus and other civic groups and service clubs help promote and organize the stops in their communities and assist in fund-raising. Last year, Cottage Grove, Minn., took home the bragging rights for the biggest crowd (estimated at 6,000 despite bitterly cold winds) and most money raised ($16,000 for the Friends in Need Food Shelf). Mary Slusser of the Cottage Grove Area Chamber of Commerce, the wife of CPR locomotive engineer George Slusser, spearheaded a committee that organized the stop for Cottage Grove, St. Paul Park and Newport last year and is looking to top that record again. Several other communities hold "train's a-comin' parties," organizing chili feeds (Hankinson, N.D.) and spaghetti suppers (Thief River Falls, Minn.) and serving refreshments and offering local entertainment (Christmas karaoke for kids in Gurnee, Ill.), before the big train arrives.

CPR's "Kiddie Trains" driven by employee Dan Wolf of Milwaukee and retiree Robert Dorcy of Maple Grove, Minn., offer parking lot rides at several stops. Other employees pitch in by distributing toy train whistles and candy.

MUSICIANS' BIOS -- PHOTOS -- TRAIN SCHEDULE

Here are bios of the musicians, followed by the schedule. Publicity stills of all the musicians will soon be available at http://www.cpr.ca/ and there are high-resolution photos of past Holiday Trains already available for downloading. They are under Media, then go to Photo Gallery, then Holiday Train.

Willy Porter of Milwaukee is an acoustic guitarist and singer/songwriter who appears at both blues and folk festivals. He will be on the Midwest Holiday Train for the first three days from Dec. 9 in Gurnee, Ill., through Dec. 11, ending his run in Red Wing, Minn. Described by the Washington Post as possessing a "moody baritone," the Holiday Train newcomer has opened for Tori Amos and Paul Simon and toured Europe with Jethro Tull. His most recent release, on Six Degrees Records, is "High Wire Live." The live album includes "Angry Words," his breakout hit on AAA radio in the 1990s. The Boston Globe compared his playing to speed picker Leo Kottke "bolstered by rootsy vocals and twisting, offbeat lyrics that evoked John Hiatt." Summer appearances included the Minnesota Zoo amphitheater and the Rocky Mountain Folks Festival and Winnipeg Folk Festival. In the Midwest this fall, he is scheduled to play Nov. 26 at the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago. Visit http://www.willyporter.com/ or contact Jesse Cutler at jesse@sixdegreesrecords.com or 415-626-6334, x25.

John Gorka, who lives in the Twin Cities and records for Red House Records, an independent label based in St. Paul, will make his Holiday Train debut Dec. 12 in Hastings, Minn., and tour with the show for the next five days. Rolling Stone called the acoustic guitarist and keyboardist with a commanding baritone the "pre-eminent male singer/songwriter of the New Folk Movement." The Associated Press said his songs "weave wry, slice of life observations reminiscent of Lyle Lovett and John Prine." Just before joining the Holiday Train, John will perform in Minnesota Public Radio's holiday show Dec. 9 at the Fitzgerald Theatre in St. Paul and will play Oct. 30 at the Barns of Wolf Trap in Vienna, Va. He also performed in August at the Rocky Mountain Folks Festival. John is working on his 10th CD. His latest album, "Old Futures Gone," ranges from character studies to commentary on politics and the state of the modern world. For more information, visit http://www.johngorka.com/ or contact David Tamulevich at david@therootsagency.com or 734-622-8337, x8462.

The Ennis Sisters will return for their third Holiday Train run. Maureen, Karen and Teresa, who hail from St. John, Newfoundland, have been writing with Susan Gibson ("Wide Open Spaces" -- Dixie Chicks), multi-Grammy winner Randy Scruggs and many others in preparation for their next major label release, four years after they began recording their first major label, self-titled album. The release of "Ennis Sisters" (titled "It's Not About You" in the United States) garnered the sisters a 2002 Juno Award (Canada's Grammy) for best new country group. Most recently, the Ennis Sisters released "Can't Be The Same," a seamless combination of traditional Newfoundland and contemporary folk music. Maureen writes many of their songs and plays acoustic guitar. The Edmonton Journal wrote, "With one foot in the Celtic tradition and the other in contemporary pop vocals, this act won the hearts of a capacity crowd within half a song." Their Website is http://www.ennissisters.com/ or contact Rip Roar Productions at rprescott@comnet.ca or 613-256-4852.

Tracey Brown has performed on CPR's Holiday Trains every year since 2000 and produced shows for the 2004 and 2005 trains with her husband, music producer Randall Prescott. The youngest member of The Family Brown, who released 17 albums and toured Europe, Tracey released her first solo CD "Woman's Work" on Popular/EMI Records in 1998. The title song became a top 10 hit on Canadian charts. Writing in Country Magazine, Lucinda Chodan called Tracey "the woman who might just be the finest female singer Canada has ever produced." Her upcoming CD, "Alone," includes a duet with Tom Wilson (Blackie and the Rodeo Kings/Junkhouse fame) on the Johnny Cash-June Carter Cash song, "Jackson."

For more information, visit http://www.traceybrown.org/ or contact Rip Roar Productions at rprescott@comnet.ca or 613-256-4852.

MIDWEST HOLIDAY TRAIN SCHEDULE

Friday, December 9

Gurnee, Ill. -- 6:45-7:35 p.m. -- North side of Grand Avenue underpass, east side of Depot Road across from Viking Middle School Park, 4460 Old Grand Ave. With Willy Porter, Ennis Sisters and Tracey Brown. Benefits Northern Illinois Food Bank. Contact: Robin McCormick, 847-336-3663.

Sturtevant, Wis. -- 8:05-8:45 p.m. -- Amtrak depot, 2904 Wisconsin St. (one block north of Highway 11 and Wisconsin Street.) With Willy Porter, Ennis Sisters and Tracey Brown. Benefits Racine County Food Bank. Contact: Adam Smith, 262-884-6406.

Brookfield, Wis. -- 9:45-10:35 p.m. -- Fox Brook Park (between North Avenue and Capitol Drive. Barker Road at River Road.) With Willy Porter, Ennis Sisters and Tracey Brown. Benefits Food Pantry of Waukesha County. Contact: Tina Pritchard, 262-787-3588.

Saturday, December 10

Watertown, Wis. -- 5:30-6:10 p.m. -- Third Street crossing near the Clark gas station at 1000 S. Third St. With Willy Porter, Ennis Sisters and Tracey Brown. Benefits Watertown Food Pantry. Contact: Glenn Rabenhorst, 920-261-9059.

Portage, Wis. -- 7:00-7:50 p.m. -- Amtrak station, 400 West Oneida St. With Willy Porter, Ennis Sisters and Tracey Brown. Benefits Portage Food Pantry. Contact: Marianne Hanson, 608-742-6242.

Mauston, Wis. -- 8:30-9:20 p.m. -- Mauston Industrial Park, West State Street. With Willy Porter, Ennis Sisters and Tracey Brown. Benefits Mauston Community Sharing Pantry. Contact: Kathy Green, 608-847-5454.

Sparta, Wis. -- 10:10-11:00 p.m. -- South Water Street crossing across from chamber of commerce office, 111 Milwaukee St. With Willy Porter, Ennis Sisters and Tracey Brown. Benefits Couleecap Food Pantry. Contact: Sharon Folcey, 608-269-4123.

Sunday, December 11

La Crosse, Wis. -- 5:10-5:50 p.m. -- Amtrak station, 601 Saint Andrew St. With Willy Porter, Ennis Sisters and Tracey Brown. Benefits WAFER. Contact: Kari Hemmersbach, 608-782-2366.

Winona, Minn. -- 6:30-7:20 p.m. -- Amtrak depot, 65 E. Mark St. With Willy Porter, Ennis Sisters and Tracey Brown. Benefits Winona Volunteer Services food shelf. Contact: Sandra Burke, 507-452-5591.

Lake City, Minn. -- 8:50-9:30 p.m. -- Hearth-n-Home Technologies, 800 W. Jefferson St. With Willy Porter, Ennis Sisters and Tracey Brown. Benefits Lake City Food Shelf. Contact: Pam Beford, 651-345-1821.

Red Wing, Minn. -- 9:50-10:40 p.m. -- Amtrak depot, 420 Levee St. With Willy Porter, Ennis Sisters and Tracey Brown. Benefits Red Wing Area Food Shelf. Contact: Andrea Jorgenson, 651-385-7850.

Monday, December 12

Hastings, Minn. -- 4:50-5:40 p.m. -- Canadian Pacific Railway Depot, 500 E. Second St. With John Gorka, the Ennis Sisters and Tracey Brown. Benefits Hastings Family Service food shelf. Contact: Chris Koop, 651- 437-7134.

Cottage Grove, Minn. -- 6:00-6:50 p.m. -- The Belden Street railroad crossing behind the Marathon gas station on Hadley Avenue South (under the Sieben bridge on Highway 61), With John Gorka, the Ennis Sisters and Tracey Brown. Benefits Friends in Need Food Shelf. Contact: Mary Slusser, 651-769-1313.

St. Paul, Minn. -- 7:10-8:00 p.m. -- Upper level of Central Parking System ramp at Broadway & Kellogg under the Lafayette freeway bridge and east of old post office, lowertown St. Paul. With John Gorka, the Ennis Sisters and Tracey Brown. Benefits Second Harvest Heartland. Contact: Dawn Marie Nelmark, 651-209-7940.

Minneapolis -- 9:10-9:50 p.m. -- Canadian Pacific Railway yard, 2800 Central Ave. NE. With John Gorka, the Ennis Sisters and Tracey Brown. Benefits Salvation Army. Contact: Maude Lovelle, 612-378-0050.

Tuesday, December 13

Loretto, Minn. -- 5:25-6:15 p.m. -- Hennepin County Road 19 crossing/Chippewa Trail across from the Choo-Choo Bar & Grill. With John Gorka, the Ennis Sisters and Tracey Brown. Benefits Hanover Area Food Shelf. Contact: Kent Torve, 763-479-4209.

Buffalo, Minn. -- 6:40-7:20 p.m. -- 612 NE Third Ave., behind McDonald's on Highway 55. With John Gorka, the Ennis Sisters and Tracey Brown. Benefits Buffalo Food Shelf. Contact: Sally Custer, 763-682-4902.

Annandale, Minn. -- 8:05-8:45 p.m. -- West side of downtown park over Oak Avenue crossing. With John Gorka, the Ennis Sisters and Tracey Brown. Benefits Annandale Community Food Shelf. Contact: Marlene Young, 320-274- 3052.

Brooten, Minn. -- 10:00-10:50 p.m. -- Main Street crossing (County Road 18). With John Gorka, the Ennis Sisters and Tracey Brown. Benefits BBE Area Food Shelf. Contact: Glenn Miller, 320-979-3102.

Wednesday, December 14

Mahnomen, Minn. -- 5:45-6:35 p.m. -- 300 East Jefferson Avenue by Shooting Star Casino. With John Gorka, the Ennis Sisters and Tracey Brown. Benefits Helping Hands Food Shelf. Contact: Dean Johnson, 218-935- 2573.

Thief River Falls, Minn. -- 8:05-9:00 p.m. -- Depot/City Hall, 2017 Highway 59 SE. With John Gorka, the Ennis Sisters and Tracey Brown. Benefits Thief River Falls Area Food Shelf. Contact: Julie Olson, 218- 681-3720.

Thursday, December 15

Elbow Lake, Minn. -- 4:50-5:40 p.m. -- Main Street crossing. With John Gorka, the Ennis Sisters and Tracey Brown. Benefits Grant County Emergency Food Shelf. Contact: Sharon Ehlers, 218-685-4409.

Hankinson, N.D. -- 6:45-7:35 p.m. -- Former depot site, 410 First St. SE. With John Gorka, the Ennis Sisters and Tracey Brown. Benefits Richland- Wilkin Emergency Food Pantry. Contact: DiAnn Milbrandt, 701-242-7976.

Enderlin, N.D. -- 9:25-10:15 p.m. -- CPR depot, 101 Harvest Lane. With John Gorka, the Ennis Sisters and Tracey Brown. Benefits Ransom County Food Pantry. Contact: Tamra Kriedeman, 701-437-2000.

Friday, December 16

Carrington, N.D. -- 4:35-5:15 p.m. -- Former depot at Sixth Avenue North. With John Gorka, the Ennis Sisters and Tracey Brown. Benefits Foster County Food Pantry. Contact: Laurie Dietz, 701-652-2524.

Harvey, N.D. -- 6:30-7:20 p.m. -- CPR Depot, 600 Lincoln Ave. With John Gorka, the Ennis Sisters and Tracey Brown. Benefits Central Dakota Ministerial Alliance. Contact: Joleen Swang, 701-324-4678.

Minot, N.D. -- 9:20-10:00 p.m. -- Main Street crossing. With John Gorka, the Ennis Sisters and Tracey Brown. Benefits Minot Area Homeless Coalition. Contact: Joanne Sauer, 701-852-2110.

Saturday, December 17

North Portal, Sask. -- Noon-12:30 p.m. -- International border crossing. With Ennis Sisters and Tracey Brown.

Estevan, Sask. -- 5:00-6:00 p.m. -- East of CPR station at vacant lot off Seventh Street. With Ennis Sisters and Tracey Brown.

Weyburn, Sask. -- 7:30-8:30 p.m. -- 512 Railway St. With Ennis Sisters and Tracey Brown.

U.S./Canada Public Contact: Canadian Pacific Railway Community Connect Line community_connect@cpr.ca 1-800-766-7912

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20051010/NYM089-a http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20051010/NYM089-b http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20051010/NYM089-c AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/ PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com Source: Canadian Pacific Railway

CONTACT: Midwest Media Contact: Laura Baenen, Communications Manager, Midwest, +1-612-851-5659 office, or +1-612-799-0831 cell, laura_baenen@cpr.ca, of Canadian Pacific Railway; Canadian Pacific Railway, Community Connect Line, 1-800-766-7912, community_connect@cpr.ca

Web site: http://www.cpr.ca/ http://cpr.ca/go/holidaytrain http://www.willyporter.com/ http://www.ennissisters.com/ http://www.johngorka.com/ http://www.traceybrown.org/

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