The longevity of a Canadian icon anchors a decade-long project that two celebrated Greater Victoria performers take to stages across the province this summer.

When Glenna Garramone and Oliver Swain first took Tower of Song: a creative tribute to Leonard Cohen on the road, they used to say they were two of the biggest Cohen fans you含羞草研究社檇 ever meet.

It was part of the banter in the show.

The quip seemed harmless enough until they toured a bit and met superfans with lyrics tattooed on their bodies.

The seed of the show was planted in 2011 while Garramone lived in Vancouver. She fully figured the performance to 含羞草研究社減ay tribute to one of Canada含羞草研究社檚 most amazing poets and singers and songwriters含羞草研究社� was a one-night deal.

Inspired by the the concept of a dialogue between artists, the show is rooted in the Tower of Song verse: 含羞草研究社淚 said to Hank Williams, how lonely does it get? Hank Williams hasn't answered yet; But I hear him coughing all night long; Oh, a hundred floors above me in the Tower of Song.含羞草研究社�

That conversation transcends time and space. Every person has their own tower of inspiration, no matter their art from.

含羞草研究社淵ou含羞草研究社檙e looking to them for this inspiration and you kind of overhear what they含羞草研究社檙e doing through the tower walls,含羞草研究社� Garramone said.

That same inspiration likely led her to invite Swain 含羞草研究社� who she含羞草研究社檇 heard perform an impressive Cohen song before 含羞草研究社� and together, they were reminded of the power of harmony.

The tribute performance became an annual activity the next year, this time in Victoria.

含羞草研究社淚 see it as sacred ground. His poems and songs are loved by so many. There含羞草研究社檚 a bit of a risk,含羞草研究社� Garramone admits. 含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 about bringing our own voices and our own interpretations to his material.含羞草研究社�

Audiences responded and since then, they含羞草研究社檝e performed it at festivals, theatres and folk clubs more than 200 times 含羞草研究社� from Victoria to Cohen含羞草研究社檚 homeland of Montreal.

含羞草研究社淭he project took on a life and a momentum of its own in the last 10 years,含羞草研究社� she said.

Songs are added, removed, reinterpreted and even Cohen's spoken word built around music.

含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 more a conversation between two people. Every song we含羞草研究社檝e chosen to include in the show has its own kind of magic.含羞草研究社�

Aside from the duo含羞草研究社檚 compelling vocal harmonies, Garramone brings piano, guitar and percussion to the show, while Swain adds standup base, banjo and guitar.

Tower of Song: a creative tribute to Leonard Cohen is back on the road with shows in Sidney, Harrison, Keremeos, Kelowna, Duncan and Salt Spring Island this summer.

It all starts Sunday at Sidney含羞草研究社檚 Mary Winspear Centre where fans will enjoy another local talent with the addition of Daniel Lapp. Mixing in other musical flavours creates some of Garramone含羞草研究社檚 favourite shows because they含羞草研究社檙e 含羞草研究社渂ringing out these different sonic textures, different musical palettes.含羞草研究社�

含羞草研究社�(Lapp) can really paint with so many colours sonically and it含羞草研究社檚 really fun to work with someone who has such a diverse range of expression.含羞草研究社�

Garramone remembers fondly being onstage in Kelowna for the project含羞草研究社檚 sold-out CD release 10 years ago and looks forward to the return on July 19 at Rotary Centre for the Arts.

The venues this summer run the gamut from The Grist Mill outdoors in Keremeos on July 18, to likely their largest audience in the Duncan含羞草研究社檚 Cowichan Performing Arts Centre on Sept. 21. They perform the day before at ArtSpring Theatre on Salt Spring Island.

Among the fun is the July 20 Harrison Festival of the Arts.

含羞草研究社淪ummer is festival time, so any time I get to participate in a festival whether it含羞草研究社檚 on stage or as an audience member I feel lucky,含羞草研究社� Garramone said.

The Victoria singer anticipates it could be collaboration that continues as long as they have the energy. Cohen含羞草研究社檚 songs are durable and flexible, they withstand 含羞草研究社� and even hold up 含羞草研究社� as a work of art with their treatments, Garramone said.

含羞草研究社淗e didn含羞草研究社檛 release any duds, there含羞草研究社檚 a lifetime of songs to work with.含羞草研究社�

For more information on show dates and times,