This film is a cinematic musical journey deep into Algonquin Park as McDuff and McDo (McNairn and McClankenrud) head out on the water once again.
Beginning and ending at Magnetewan Lake, we travel seven days deep into the park on a giant loop.
The spectacular scenes are never ending and the challenges great as we navigate through 20 lakes, 3 rivers and 15 kilometres of portage.
The film is an immersive experience that takes time for the sunrise and the sunset, with all original music written and performed by Steve Welch.
I like to give you a taste, in whatever small way it can be captured, of what it's like to do a long trip - miles from nowhere - and the astounding beauty that surrounds you as you travel the amazing landscape, day after day.
Algonquin Park is a huge wilderness park in Ontario that is over 3000 sq. miles with over 2400 lakes. What a beauty.

This is the second film in the "Algonquin Park Double Header" with the companion movie "One Month In Algonquin Park by Canoe 1933" being recently released. That movie is a historical documentary from my great uncles diary of spending a month in Algonquin Park, July and August, in 1933. Watch free at Steve Welch Ontario on YouTube.

Coming soon : "Killarney Winds" -a new film that is a celebration of the great park Killarney : filmed on an eight day trip that includes a hike up the magnificent Silver Peak.

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Route

Magnetewan Lake
Hambone Lake
Ralph Bice Lake
Little Trout Lake
Queer Lake
Tim River
Shippagew Lake
Longer Lake
Big Trout Lake
Otterslide Creek
Otterslide Lake
Little Otterslide Lake
Burnt Island Lake
Littledoe Lake
Tom Thomson Lake
Ink Lake
McIntosh Lake
Timberwolf Lake
Misty Lake
Little Misty Lake
Petawawa River
Daisy Lake
Acme Lake
Hambone Lake
Magnetewan Lake

stevewelchontario.com

Sarah McLachlan performed masterfully on a beautiful summer evening in Toronto, on the shores of Lake Ontario with the moon breaking through the clouds on one side and heavy lightning rolling across the city in behind the stage.
An incredible Canadian musican and songwriter.
"Ice Cream" from the album Fumbling Towards Ecstasy
June 19th 2024

For the most part :
We are loving people
We are helpful people
We are giving people
We have a lot in common.

Divide and Conquer was filmed in January by the Speed River in Guelph, full of appreciation, under a bright sun on that beautiful crisp day.
stevewelchontario.com
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The Dead and Company Sphere Mega Movie brings the best songs from two Sphere Shows, May 24th and May 25th 2024, to create a dream set list and a "full length show" for your listening and viewing pleasure. Hard to find long format Sphere Audio with Video - but now you can chill out to an amazing Sphere Dead show for a few hours.

Enjoy!

Set One
I Need a Miracle (5-24)
Bertha (5/25)
The Music Never Stopped (5/24)
Dancin' In The Street (5/25)
Althea (5/24)

Set Two
Shakedown Street (5/25)
Playin' In The Band (5/24)
Dark Star (5/24)
Let It Grow (5/24)
Drums / Space
Days Between (5/24)
Brown Eyed Women (5/25)
Enc. Casey Jones (5/25)

There's nothing like planting trees.
It was my 54th birthday and I decided to plant a few trees down by the river near my house. The area in Guelph where I live had once been industrial, at various times a garbage dump, and eventually filled in with invasive species like Buckthorn and Manitoba Maple. Over the years I have been planting trees down there in an effort to naturalize the area with native and healthy tree species. I have planted Spruce, Pine, Larch, Maple, Oak, Black Cherry, Fir, Juniper and Cedar trees down there but there had been some recent blowdowns providing a great opportunity to plant more in areas where there wasn't enough light getting through before.
So I did what farmers have done for years - go on the hunt out on the land and dig up some trees to replant.
The day evolved into a personal challenge - could I find 54 trees to dig up - in areas where they were naturally propagating in abundance - and replant them, before the day was done?
I went out for a great walk with my dog Pepper but only found a few trees. I moved to a different location and then came across the "mother lode" - thousands of tiny cedar saplings all bunched together in a shallow wetland.
I filled my bag and headed home with enough trees to complete my task.
Planting was the fun part on that beautiful sunny Spring day.
I planted my 54 trees, plus another 20 extra that I had pulled - overall a great day, and a wonderful way to spend a birthday.

Subscribe and check out my recent outdoor adventure films :
1) Bruce Trail The Movie - an end to end journey across Ontario
2) One Month in Algonquin Park by Canoe - Summer 1933 : The Diary of Ruthven McNairn
3) Seven Days Deep in Algonquin Park - a Journey by Canoe
4) The Spirit of Temagami
5) French River Jam
6) Five Days in Kawartha Highlands
7) Chasing The Sun - Walking The Avon Trail End to End
8) Vitality the Movie

Working on a film about Killarney - should be out in the fall!
Peace Out

An incredible show as Dead and Company shine - A spectacular Saturday night on the second weekend of Dead Forever at Sphere in Las Vegas. May 25th 2024 began with a lively Bertha and the energy kept going all night long.
All with the amazing Sphere experience and timeless tunes.
This is a selection of songs from the evening for your listening and viewing pleasure.

Bertha
Dancin' In The Street
Shakedown Street
Brown Eyed Women
Casey Jones

Lots more at my channel "Steve Welch Ontario" including 5-24-24 Sphere Show
Natural Film and Music
Promoting Vitality
Inspired By Nature
stevewelchontario.com

Bruce Trail : The Movie : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LOAiSLzSMA

Brown Eyed Women came out late in the second set Saturday May 25th in Las Vegas, and what was a rocking evening continued with a fantastic energetic version. With incredible musicianship and the mind blowing magic of the Sphere.

Lots more videos from the second weekend of Dead Forever on my channel.
Don't miss the band innovating and pioneering the technology of the Sphere along with timeless tunes.

Peace out!

The night was already hopping with Bertha, Good Lovin', Mississippi Half Step and Dancin' in the Street in the first set, and the second set begins with the Grateful Dead classic Shakedown Street and with incredible Sphere graphics and visuals the disco vibe continues.

There's lots more tunes from the second weekend on this channel!
Don't miss this incredible performance from the band innovating and pioneering the technology of the Sphere along with incredible musicianship and timeless tunes.

Peace Out!

Dead and Company kept the party going early in Set One on Sat May 25th at Sphere in Las Vegas. After a beauty "Bertha" and a zippy "Mississippi Half Step Uptown Toodleoo" we get to dancing in the streets with a giant hologram of a disco ball rising above the stage.
This was a great beginning to what was a spectacular night of music and images at Sphere.

There's lots more tunes from the second weekend on this channel!
Don't miss this incredible performance from the band innovating and pioneering the technology of the Sphere along with incredible musicianship and timeless tunes.

Peace Out!

Dead and Company delivered a great show on their second weekend of Dead Forever at Sphere in Las Vegas.
This is a selection of songs from the evening for your listening and viewing pleasure.

I Need A Miracle
The Music Never Stopped
Althea
Playin' In The Band
Dark Star
Let It Grow
Days Between
Sugar Magnolia

Lots more at my channel "Steve Welch Ontario" including 5-25-24 Sphere Show
All Natural Film and Music
stevewelchontario.com

Dead and Company ended a spectacular Saturday evening in the Sphere May 25th 2024 with a nostalgic scene and a beautifully played classic Casey Jones - with outstanding bass from Oteil Burbridge funking it up to end the night in style.

What a weekend and what a setlist for Sat night's show - I think the best Dead and Co. I've seen in 9 shows since 2015. John Mayer was spectacular - they all were and the song selection was exquisite.

Set 1
Bertha
Mississippi Half Step Uptown Toodleoo
Dancin' In The Street
Good Lovin'
Maggie's Farm
Deal

Set 2
Shakedown Street
China Cat Sunflower
I Know You Rider
Eyes Of The World
Drums - Space
Black Peter
Brown Eyed Women
Hell In A Bucket
Throwing Stones
enc : Casey Jones

Sweet!

12 Songs uploaded from May 24th - May 25th shows - check them out on my channel -
Peace Out

Dead and Company led into Drums with "Let It Grow" with incredible Sphere visuals and a masterful performance of a complex Grateful Dead classic song.

Lots more coming from the second weekend, stay tuned.
Don't miss this incredible performance from the band innovating and pioneering the technology of the Sphere along with timeless tunes.

Peace out!

Sugar Magnolia one of the all time favorite Grateful Dead songs goes to another level at Sphere with an incredible display that you have to see to believe.
All the while the band rips through this classic with incredible jams and energy. It's quite a trip.

Lots more from this second weekend uploaded.
Peak performance from the band innovating and pioneering the technology of the Sphere along with timeless tunes.

Peace out!

The second set began with an amazing Sphere scene setting the mood for a sweet Playin' In The Band which eventually merged into Darkstar. Beautiful playing all around on this Grateful Dead classic.

Lots more tunes captured from the second weekend of the Dead Forever Sphere shows.
Don't miss this incredible performance from the band innovating and pioneering the technology of the Sphere along with incredible musicianship and timeless tunes.

Peace out!

Dead and Company exploded out of the gate Saturday night May 25th at Sphere for what was an incredible show from start to finish. Everyone was on top of their game and the Sphere environment was unbelievable. John Mayer was good and warmed up after night one, and lit it up for an masterful performance all night long.

Lots more coming from the second weekend, stay tuned.
The band is innovating and pioneering the technology of the Sphere along with these timeless tunes.

Peace out!

Dead and Company came out of Space on night one of weekend two of Dead Forever at Sphere Las Vegas with a Hunter / Garcia tune played by Grateful Dead in the 90's : Days Between.

Lots more coming from the second weekend, stay tuned.
Don't miss this incredible performance from the band innovating and pioneering the technology of the Sphere along with timeless tunes.
Peace out!

Days Between
There were days And there were days And there were days between
Summer flies and August dies The world grows dark and mean
Comes the shimmer of the moon On black infested trees
The singing man is at his song The holy on their knees
The reckless are out wrecking The timid plead their pleas
No one knows much more of this Than anyone can see anyone can see

There were days And there were days And there were days besides
When phantom ships with phantom sails Set to sea on phantom tides
Comes the lightning of the sun On bright unfocused eyes
The blue of yet another day A springtime wet with sighs
A hopeful candle lingers In the land of lullabies
Where headless horsemen vanish With wild and lonely cries lonely cries

There were days And there were days And there were days I know
When all we ever wanted Was to learn and love and grow
Once we grew into our shoes We told them where to go
Walked halfway around the world On promise of the glow
Stood upon a mountain top Walked barefoot in the snow
Gave the best we had to give How much we'll never know we'll never know

There were days And there were days And there were days between
Polished like a golden bowl The finest ever seen
Hearts of Summer held in trust Still tender, young and green
Left on shelves collecting dust Not knowing what they mean
Valentines of flesh and blood As soft as velveteen
Hoping love would not forsake The days that lie between lie between

"Althea" closed the first set May 24th 2024 part of Dead and Company's "Dead Forever" run at the Sphere in Las Vegas. A Grateful Dead classic from "Go To Heaven" it's one of the first songs performed live by John Mayer and Bob Weir, kicking off Dead and Company's spectacular evolutionary almost decade long run, which has led itself now into the mysterious Sphere.

Lots more tunes coming from the second weekend, stay tuned.
Don't miss this incredible performance from the band innovating and pioneering the technology of the Sphere along with incredible musicianship and timeless tunes.

Peace out!

Filmed on a road trip visiting all five great lakes in seven days. Ontario, Huron, Michigan, Superior, Erie.
From the album UPLAND.
Things are Happening is about the fact that at all times things are happening in the background that are building our future and many good things are building but not yet seen. Use this to push through obstacles.

Take a jaw dropping journey from Haight-Ashbury San Francisco deep into the Milky Way galaxy as Dead and Company play Sphere in Las Vegas Friday May 25th 2024.
Tune in for a rockin' funky version of "The Music Never Stopped" as you lift off in the mother ship with the incredible Sphere visuals taking you up and into space.

Lots more tunes coming from the second weekend of Dead Forever residency at Sphere. It was an amazing weekend. Stay tuned!
Subscribe so you don't miss this incredible footage and performance from the band. John Mayer took things to another level and his solos were just incredible, and I've seen Dead and Co. since their 7th show in Buffalo - an amazing evolution to a packed house in the cutting edge Sphere and playing spectacularly.

Peace out!

"I Need A Miracle" opened the second weekend of Dead and Company's "Dead Forever" run at the Sphere in Las Vegas. The band eased into this Friday evening with this 80's era classic (1978 Shakedown Street). The sphere was so warm and comfortable for this song before taking off into space shortly after.

Lots more tunes coming from the second weekend of Dead Forever residency at Sphere. It was an amazing weekend.
Don't miss this incredible performance from the band innovating and pioneering the technology of the Sphere. John Mayer took things to another level and his solos were incredible, an amazing evolution to a packed house in this cutting edge venue and playing spectacularly.

Peace out!

This unique film captures the history and adventure of Algonquin Park in it's early years, the summer of 1933, July and August, my great uncle Ruthven Colquhoun McNairn was 18 years old and spent a month in the park with his friend Colin Cam. As a budding writer, Ruthven documented his day to day adventures in a diary, leading almost 100 years later to this film, narrated by Steve Welch.

I never met Ruthven, but always saw his picture on the wall at my grandparents house. Whenever I would ask about him, and I was so curious, his older brother, Robert, my grandfather would stare into the distance - and he wouldn't talk much - which of course made me more curious.

Ruthven was a young writer always practicing his craft. He had had a hard time finishing school in his final year, and 1933 was a pivotal year for him. Earlier in the year, during the great depression, he headed to visit relatives in Denver Colorado, and ended up hitchhiking through North America, into the southern States and into Mexico. (This will be the second Ruthven diary film, coming soon). It was an amazing adventure and rekindled his zest for life. That epic year, 1933, continued on his return as he headed north to spend a month in Algonquin Park that summer.

Full of first hand accounts of what is now Algonquin Park history, the film includes descriptions of people and places such as the bustling Highland Inn on Cache Lake (since demolished), the mysterious Camp Minnising, Taylor Statten camps Wapameo and Ahmek, the "American outfit" Camp Pathfinder, Bartlett Lodge (still open), Kish Kaduk Lodge (now in ruins), Camp Tanamakoon, Daventry. Joe Lake Station, the pavilion at Lake Opeongo, and the many portages we are now so familiar with, when some of them were "new".

Ruthven's life was an amazing one - many years later he would enlist in the army and serve as a Captain of the Algonquin regiment in World War 2, marching through Europe and on to eventual victory. He would make it home from the war,..

Guilty is a song about accepting who you are.

Snow falling softly on the landscape sets the stage for a cliff top symphony - singing for the trees with the winding Eramosa River in the distance.
Take a musical journey and experience the magic of an Ontario snowfall.

The ultimate road trip song travelling across the country and the boundless ocean gets closer and closer until it takes you in its arms.
Or something like that

"When you get to the ocean it will say, "I am glad that you have come"

From the album Steve Welch 2019

"Seems So" emerged from the documentary film "French River Jam".
It was inspired by a trip down the French River to Georgian Bay with my brother Dave.

"Pushing off from the shoreline once again
The anchor's up and we're setting sail
Getting myself going once again
Out on that trail"

A preview of my next feature film, release date May 21st 2024.
A narration of my great uncle's diary of his month long adventure in Algonquin Park in the summer of 1933.
Full of Algonquin Park history and music from the 1920's-30's, it's an amazing journey through the past in the early days of Algonquin Park.

Subscribe to Steve Welch Ontario on YouTube
Two more films coming this year :
1) A more modern take on life in Algonquin Park - chronicling a 7 day trip - "Algonquin Park - Seven Days Deep"
2) A journey in Killarney - another 7 day trip ending with a hike up Silver Peak "Killarney Winds".

Check out the other outdoor adventure films on my channel : Temagami, Kawartha Highlands, Western Uplands trail in Algonquin Park, The French River, the Avon Trail and an end to end 910 km journey on the Bruce Trail.'

Steve Welch Ontario