Here's an artical by Peterborough musician/journalist Dennis O'Toole about the Willie P. Benifit in Willie's hometown of Peterborough this Friday:

I met with Willie P. Bennett Sunday past to discuss music and life in general, and his music and life in particular, in relation to the upcoming 'Heartstrings' benefit to be held in his honour and on his behalf this friday night (July 27th) at the Market Hall. The event, hosted by Willie's long-time musical partner Fred Eaglesmith, will feature Blackie and the Rodeo Kings (BARK) as well as Eaglesmith's current touring outfit and lots of Willie's songs sung by friends and fans, the two terms being interchangeable for all intents and purposes. A self professed 'grouchy old man'; Bennett seemed hale and hearty and in characteristic good humour as he settled into an ancient rocking chair for our interview.Bennett seems an intensely private man for such a legendary passionate performer, and though obviously honoured by the efforts of his cohorts one senses he is humbled as well; and his forced sabbatical is likely to garner him ample time for introspection. The tape machine seemed intrusive, and our conversation flowed from a few notes, prepared and taken.   Asked about early musical influences WPB cited Hank Williams and Al Jolson as remembered coming from the family console, and it was the lyrical pull of Paul Simon's 'The Boxer' and his first record bought (Bob Dylan's Blonde on Blonde) that drove Willie to ask for and receive his first guitar (a Sears item, purchased through Eaton's), and this box accompanied him west and back, thumbing his way, writing the classic 'White Lines' stranded outside of Thunder Bay ('cold and hungry; on the road....Lord I wish I had me a hole to hide in.....') one of his first songs, covered by David Wiffen on his timeless lp 'Coast to Coast Fever'. Willie's muse led him to London, Ontario, where he 'sat in' with the Dixie Flyers, learning to play harmonica onstage at their weekly jams though he maintains 'it was a year before they gave me a microphone'. A stint with the Bone China Band brought Willie through Peterborough to the Tudor room of the old Trent Inn, where his reputation as a fiery performer and writer of mighty tunes preceeded him. Three impressive albums on David Essig's Woodshed label(Tryin' to Start Out Clean, Hobo's Taunt, Blackie and The Rodeo King) and countless festival and concert appearances cemented Willie P. Bennett's place in Canadian folk music, and it became as common for any young guitar picker to have a couple of Willie's tunes up his sleeve as it was mandatory to have Lightfoot, Cohen, Dylan, Prine. Willie maintains he is comfortable with the 'folksinger' label, all these years into it: " people say 'folksinger' and they think of a guy with a guitar and a harmonica...well, that's who I am...." That, and a whole lot more. Willie's desire to be able to transcend the 'man in the middle' approach ('to the star making machinery behind the popular song...')has led him to pursue and master harmony vocals, harmonica and the mandolin, which he has piloted to the outer edge of any traditional concept of the instrument and beyond. Willie's exceptional ensemble efforts have been the driving wheel behind Fred J. Eaglesmith's locomotive success over these past 25 years, and Bennett is quick to give credit to Fred's relentless work ethic and respect for his audience: "you'll see Fred there by the merchandise table after every show; and he's not just signing autographs and selling records...he's shaking hands and gathering faces and stories....'more grist for the mill that keeps churning out little vignettes of real people leading real lives.    It's hard to put into perspective, as a friend and fan, that we should have a songwriter of such international stature laying low here in the 'Patch; but friday night will be an opportunity to give a little credit where it's due, and to help Willie take the time off he needs to regroup and recoup; to take a little road trip out to Picture Butte, Alberta, where his sister and mom live side by side. Willie says he wants to be able to give them the 'living proof' that he is well and truly recovered, and is looking forward to being away from the centre of attention that the whole 'Heartstrings' Benefit has generated.He is, after all; an intensely private man. For those that might not be able to attend, and particularly those that have not yet become acquainted with the gems and jewels that are Willie P. Bennett's songs; may I reccomend any and all of his recordings and any of the fine 'covers' that have been generated by a roster of predominately Canadian artists (Colleen Peterson's rendition of 'Music in your Eyes' and the Blackie and the Rodeo Kings first effort in it's entirety are Willie's favourites). 'Collectibles' is a great 'best of' attempt and of course 'Heartstrings' pretty much says it all. You won't hear them on the mainstream radio (much) but Willie's music turns up on CBC pretty regularly, and from coast to coast to coast at song 'pulls', on concert stages and festival parking lot pickin' parties and campfire singalongs, the songs of Willie P. Bennett ring loud and true, delivered with the same proud and passionate power with which they were first given breath, whoever takes the melody line. It's enough to tug your heartstrings.