ESCANABA – In honor of the 50th anniversary of the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald, Bay College will host The Gordon Lightfoot Tribute at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Besse Theater on the Escanaba campus.

This concert experience, part of the group’s 2025 tour, “Lightfoot – The Stories, The Songs,” celebrates the enduring music of Canadian icon Gordon Lightfoot.

Audiences will enjoy Lightfoot’s classic radio hits along with beloved album cuts, brought to life by performer Mike Fornes. More than just a concert, the show blends timeless music with a stunning multimedia presentation featuring Lightfoot himself, offering first-hand accounts of how his songs were inspired and written.

Through storytelling, Fornes shares fascinating insights behind some of Lightfoot’s greatest works:

— “Sundown,” written about a girlfriend who later served prison time in a notorious case.

— “If You Could Read My Mind,” penned not as a breakup song but as an explanation of divorce to Lightfoot’s young daughter.

— “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald,” with lyrics that Lightfoot twice revised at the request of those close to the tragedy.

“These songs are heart-wrenching at times, romantic beyond measure, and sorrowful at the loss of a love,” Fornes said. “Other songs tell tales of the sea, a walk in the woods, or they celebrate Canada. It’s an honor to perform these songs on stage.”

On stage, Fornes recreates Lightfoot’s sounds using guitars identical to those played by the legend himself. Combined with authentic stage sets, lighting and mannerisms, the tribute offers audiences the closest experience to seeing Lightfoot live in concert.

Tickets are $20, or $10 for any student from kindergarten through Bay, and are available online at baycollege.tix.com, in person at the Besse Center Box Office or over the phone at 906-217-4062.