Joel Plaskett makes Donna Hilsinger dance (photos)

"I couldn't come to Sault Ste. Marie and not play this song," said Canadian indie rocker Joel Plaskett as he kicked into Light of the Moon early into his second set at the Great Northern Hotel and Conference Centre Saturday night.

From his 2001 release Down at the Khyber, the tune references Sault Ste. Marie and an encounter with a waitress here during a cross-country trek.

Part of the 2008 Algoma Fall Festival, the Joel Plaskett Emergency's appearance was a significant departure from the festival's usual arts and entertainment roster.

The event drew an impressively diverse audience, a large chunk of which spent the majority of the performance dancing front and centre.

SooToday.com even caught Algoma Fall Festival Association past-president Donna Hilsinger break out a dance move or two.

And faithful fans were right on cue when Plaskett stepped back from the mic to let the crowd take over vocal duties.

Drawing from his five-record repertoire, the two-set concert included Absentminded Melody, Penny For Your Thoughts, Happen Now, Work Out Fine, Drunk Teenagers, Fashionable People, Nowhere With You, Snowed In/Cruisin', True Patriot Love, Ashtray Rock, Extraordinary, Come On Teacher, Love This Town, Face of the Earth and the haunting Sailor's Eyes which he's currently tracking for a forthcoming solo record.

Plaskett effortlessly won over a host of new fans as he engaged the audience with his infamous and witty banter, swaying to his own compelling grooves on and off stage.

And the diehards in attendance left the event more than happy with heaps of autographed merch in tow.

He promised a hasty return to the Sault.

We plan to hold you to that, Mr. Plaskett.

Still to come during this year's Fall Festival are Bowfire on Friday, October 24 and Spirit of the West on Saturday, October 25.

Both take place at the Kiwanis Community Theatre Centre.

For full festival details, click here.