Alt-country icon Fred Eaglesmith falls in that universal sweet spot where, as he likes to state “Johnny Carson meets the Rolling Stones.” Since One of nine children born into a farming family in rural southern Ontario, Eaglesmith often employs his difficult upbringing as raw material for his heartland narratives. Some of the greatest country songwriters have found life on the road (Willie Nelson anyone?), that endless toil and movement, to be an essential life ingredient, and Fred is no different. A near never-ending tour of over 270 days a year on the road, that has been going on since 1980, has taken him there and back many, many times, solidifying a loyal fan base along the way. Eaglesmith dubbed his current band The Traveling Steam and they have added a bit of showmanship to their concerts. “It harkens back to the ’60s and ’70s variety shows that were on TV,” Eaglesmith told the Albuquerque Journal. “It’s a show. It’s a lot more than a concert. “ While Fred has been all over North America, this will be his first show at Creative Alliance.