Fred Eaglesmith Travelling Show returns to Arden after a two-year absence

Country-roots singer Fred Eaglesmith is an outspoken critic of the music industry, media, government, big business and politics.

He has been critical of music industry decision-makers and railed against government grants to musicians.

“It becomes a degradation of songwriting. I’ve seen too many of my friends get grants and not produce any good music. Government grants allow anyone to become a songwriter,” said Eaglesmith adding he has never applied for a government grant.

“As soon as I take their money, I have to listen to their opinion. So I’ve lost my freedom to speak my mind. And art is about expanding your mind.”

Without a doubt, the Canadian recording artist is controversial. While most artists safely temper their comments for fear of a backlash, either on the bottom line or the image, Eaglesmith stays true to his beliefs despite the cost.

In the past he’s taken a lot of heat but continues to be proud of his authentic self.

And that’s a big reason why so many Fred-Heads (fans), nostalgic for the days when rock’n roll was the conscience of politics, have embraced his irascibility and nonconformist tell-it-like-it-is musical attitude.

“Technology has made people feel disconnected and media treatment is gross. I’m trying to find a place for people to go. I’ve gone back to rock ’n’ roll like it was in 1969. I’ve very much not gotten off that train. Back then we were talking about peace not war,” said the free spirit.

The Ontario-based recording artist’s songs strike a chord with people, especially if they’re in a blue funk. The connection is simple: He’s been there.

Eaglesmith knows what it’s like to lose his shirt. Or what it’s like to leave behind loved ones and flounder without an emotional compass.

The maverick still remembers playing gritty bars for the largest chunk of his career and driving a converted van that ran on vegetable oil.

“I got my fuel in the back of restaurants after they finished making French fries. It ran thousands of miles and my only cost was filters,” Eaglesmith explained.

But it was the hardships the country-roots artist credits with shaping his career and keeping the creative juices flowing.

“I study Buddhism and the more adversity, the more spills of grease there were, the more songs I had coming out.”

No worries there. He already has 1,000 originals in his catalogue.

The prolific writer stops by the Arden Theatre on Oct. 6 and Oct. 7 as part of a cross-continent tour dubbed the Fred Eaglesmith Travelling Show. Providing support is his wife Tif Ginn, a vocalist with impressive pipes and a disquieting clarity.

Eaglesmith will sing soulful songs from past albums, test drive new tunes from Statement, his upcoming album and possibly sing a few covers from artists he admires.