Join songwriters nonpareil Tom Russell and Joe Ely, Butch Hancock and Jimmie Dale Gilmore - the Flatlanders: for the trip of a lifetime across Canada on the rails that built a nation. Seventy avid music fans and amazing musicians make a non-stop rolling festival from Toronto to Vancouver. Three days and nights of music on board the last great long-distance streamline train still operating in North America - Via Rail's CANADIAN! Open mics and workshops every afternoon and on-board concerts every evening in our intimate Performance Car, where the scenery and music never stop.

Our own private section of this great 1950's vintage stainless steel train... Our own Skyline dome lounge car, performance car, dining car and sleepers. Rolling ever Westward, into the setting sun - across the rugged landscape of the Shield, over the vast expanse of the Prairies, through the magnificent Canadian Rockies, down the roaring Fraser River Canyon - over 4,400 kilometers of some of the most spectacular scenery on earth!

Sleeper accommodations and delicious, freshly-prepared meals are provided on board, as well as a pre-trip show in Toronto and night at the Fairmont Royal York - one of the grandest of the great railway hotels. On board, there's plenty of room for socializing and song-swapping; plenty of glass-topped dome seating for taking in the scenery... and, most importantly, plenty of great music, friendship and a community you will never forget. It doesn't matter if you're traveling with friends or going solo, if you play music, write songs or just love listening: join Tom, Jimmie Dale, Butch and Joe and the whole Roots on the Rails crew and an amazing cast of characters for an unforgettable trip on one of the great railway journeys in the world.

All Aboard!
"The music was incredible, the scenery magnificent, the service on the train was excellent, the hotels wonderful, and the social mixing with other travelers were great. And the Roots on the Rails crew were so professional and organized! It made it easy for us to relax, sit back, and enjoy every glorious moment."
- Russ and Tracy Bodnar, previous trip participants

Sign up today, by e-mailing Roots on the Rails at trains@sover.net, by calling 866-484-3669 (toll free in the US & Canada) or 802-258-1397.

Learn all about the route we'll travel! Download this route guide (.pdf) courtesy of Via Rail: (2 full color pgs; 3.79 MB).

THE SCHEDULE

Monday, November 10
Evening kick-off show, plus accommodations at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel in Toronto.

Tuesday, November 11
Depart Toronto at 9:00 am - spend the day on board as we travel through the Canadian Shield, with leg-stretches in Capreol and Hornepayne. Afternoon workshop and open mic; evening concert.

Wednesday, November 12
The Shield country turns to Prairies. Leg-stretch in Winnipeg. Across the prairies, with stop in Saskatoon during night. Afternoon workshop and open mic; evening concert.

Thursday, November 13
On board, morning finds us in Edmonton, then we climb through the foothills of the Rockies, reaching Jasper in afternoon. Group photo and time for substantial leg-stretching in Jasper. We cross the Continental Divide at Tete Jaune (Yellowhead) Pass, Mt. Robson, the highest peak in Canadian Rockies, towering above. During the night, we follow the Fraser River Canyon to the sea. Afternoon workshop and open mic; evening concert.

Friday, November 14
We arrive Vancouver at 8:00 am. Some depart; those wishing to stay additional days can arrange for our group rate ($110 CAD + taxes) at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver. There will likely be an optional concert that night in Vancouver.

THE PERFORMERS

TOM RUSSELL

www.tomrussell.com

"Russell's work is among the most moving and literary of the past thirty years, an antidote to the recent trajectory of self-absorption in American singer-songwriting . . . his story-songs are unlike any others." - Andrew Marcus, East Bay Express. Tom Russell was born in Los Angeles and now makes his home on the border in El Paso, Texas. He has recorded eighteen albums of original material and has written such classics as "Navajo Rug," "Gallo del Cielo," "Blue Wing," "Walking on the Moon," "St. Olav's Gate," and "Outbound Plane." Russell's songs have been recorded by Johnny Cash, Nanci Griffith, Guy Clark, Doug Sahm, Dave Alvin, Ian Tyson, Suzy Bogguss, Iris DeMent, Peter Case, k.d. lang, Bob Neuwirth, Sylvia Tyson, Katy Moffatt and many others. Russell's acclaimed tribute to Merle Haggard, "Tulare Dust," co-produced with Dave Alvin, was responsible for creating what came to be known as the "Americana" radio format. Rolling Stone stated: "Russell is one of America's greatest songwriters...as close to a Homeric treatment of American history as we're ever likely to see."

THE FLATLANDERS

www.myspace.com/butchhancock
www.ely.com
www.jimmiegilmore.com
"This is country at its elemental best, equal parts whimsy, passion, and revelation." - Entertainment Weekly

The fact that Texas music titans Joe Ely, Jimmie Dale Gilmore and Butch Hancock - on their first go-round as The Flatlanders in 1972 - were completely rejected by the country music establishment is surprising in retrospect but, ultimately, poetic. That each went on to have formidable solo careers is a testament to their talent and determination. Add to this their diverse yet complimentary styles - Joe the street-wise rocker, Jimmie Dale the mystic with the classic country voice and Butch the cerebral folk singer - and you've got a story of one of the most extraordinary kinships in American musical history.
Hancock reflects, "We came together as a bunch of friends who happened to be musicians, too. There's just that crazy Lubbock mystery to it. We've all had our focus on the quality of the songs and the music, instead of any kind of 'me first' thing, or any kind of ego trips. It's almost like the old Marx Brothers thing: Three guys get to the door at the same time, and they all say, 'Oh, no, you go first.' 'No, you go first.' 'No, please, please, you go first.'"__Ely adds, "We've always been close, but now I think that we all realize that this is something that is really special. There are very few people who have remained as close as we have, especially in the music world. There are cases out there where brothers won't even talk to each other because they've been in the music business together. We consider this a real precious thing."
"For it to still be as much fun as it was in the beginning, I feel blessed," says Gilmore. "A lot of musicians don't get that luxury."

PRICE

$2929.00 CN per person. Includes all Song Train activities, all meals on board, sleeper accommodations (upper or lower semi-private berth accommodations: bench seat by day, roomy single bed by night), shower in each car, private dome car/lounge, concerts and workshops in Performance Car, kickoff concert in Toronto, hotel room at the Fairmont Royal York in Toronto. Gratuities, alcoholic beverages and transfers are not included. Private (enclosed room) sleeping car space provides additional storage space, enhanced privacy and one's own sink and toilet facilities. $489 per person CN additional.

$300 CN per person non-refundable deposit by credit card required to hold space. 2% discount on total price if you provide us with monthly postdated checks, sent at time of sign-up. Payments outside of deposit are refundable until 60 days prior to departure. Reservations are transferable. Trip is limited to 70 patrons. Liability release signature required.

The Fine Print:

The payment of a deposit or any part or full payment for a reservation shall constitute consent to all the provisions contained herein. Flying Under Radar, LLC, Via Rail Canada Inc., and Tom Russell shall not be held responsible for property loss or damage and/or any damages resulting from illness, personal injuries or death which may be sustained by reason of, or while engaged on, any trip or tour whether due to the ownership, maintenance, use, operation or control of any vehicle, hotel, common carrier or any other conveyance used in carrying out these tours. We can assume no liability due to any cause whatsoever whether caused by failure or delay or other irregularity, acts or omissions occurring during a tour under which the means of transportation or other service thereby is offered or supplied by owners, operators or public carriers for whom Flying Under Radar, LLC acts only as agent. Flying Under Radar, LLC reserves the right (at its discretion) to alter or omit any part of the itinerary, or change any reservation, feature and/or means of conveyance without notice or for any reason whatsoever and without allowance or refund and with extra costs, if any, resulting therefrom paid by the passengers. Lineup subject to change. We reserve the right to cancel any tour prior to departure, in which case payment will be refunded without further obligation on our part. Flying Under Radar, LLC shall not be responsible for any injury to person (whether or not resulting in death) or damage to property. Flying Under Radar, LLC strongly urges individual passengers to obtain appropriate insurance coverage. Baggage is at the owner's risk entirely. The transportation companies concerned are not to be held responsible for any act, omission or event during the time passengers are not aboard their carriers or conveyances. The passenger contract in use by the carriers concerned (when issued) shall constitute the sole contract between the transportation companies and the purchaser of these tours and/or passage. By accepting the ticket the passenger also agrees to its terms and conditions. By forwarding of deposit, the passenger certifies that he/she does not have any mental, physical or other condition or disability that would create a hazard for him/herself or other passengers. Flying Under Radar, LLC reserves the right to cancel or withdraw any person as a member of the tour at any time.