LEWISTON — Juno Award-winning songwriter Lennie Gallant, recognized by his peers as one of Canada’s best performing songwriters, will take the stage at the Franco-American Heritage Center on Tuesday, June 21.

He will also perform at Skye Theatre Performing Arts Center in Carthage on Wednesday, June 22; and Unity College Center for the Performing Arts in Unity on Thursday, June 23.

The prolific songwriter has recorded nine albums (seven in English, two in French), which have won him a host of awards and nominations from both the JUNOs and East Coast Music Awards.

His album “When We Get There” was nominated for a JUNO Award and went into space aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour in July 2009. Canadian astronaut Julie Payette chose the album for the astronaut crew to enjoy.

Gallant was inducted into the Order of Canada where, it was said, he “has garnered much respect for his hard-hitting songs chronicling the lives of people dealing with tremendous adversity and serious issues. Songs like ‘Peter’s Dream,’ ‘Island Clay,’ ‘Man of Steel’ and ‘The Hope for Next Year’ articulate the feelings of many caught up in desperate situations beyond their control, and at the same time celebrate the beauty of lifestyle and landscape with their strong poetry and stirring narratives.”

He greatly appreciates recognition for his work, but the best part of being a songwriter is the moment of creation, Gallant said, “when you really feel locked in with the ability to tell a story or convey an emotion in a unique yet, hopefully, a universal way.”

The native of Prince Edward Island, now living in Nova Scotia, performed six shows at the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games, including a performance at BC Place during the medal ceremonies.

This will be his first appearance in Maine.

More than 30 artists, including Jimmy Buffett, have recorded Gallant’s songs internationally. His songs have also appeared in feature films, some of which include “Canvas,” starring Academy Award-winner Marcia Gay Harden and Joe Pantoliano, “Mademoiselle Voulez Vous Danser,” recorded by Jimmy Buffet; “Conquest,” starring Lothaire Bluteau, theme song; “Sigh and a Wish: Helen Creighton’s Maritimes,” feature; and “The Bellinger,” wrote soundtrack. His songs have been used in the television series “Dawson’s Creek” (“Northern Lights”) and “Joan of Arcadia” (“Something Unspoken”) as well as in numerous theatrical productions.

Besides writing all the songs on his nine albums, Gallant co-wrote the theme song for the first World Conference/Congres Mondial Acadien (“Acadie de nos couer”) and for Pier 21, Canada’s immigration gateway. He was also asked to write a song for Halifax’s 250th anniversary (“History is Happening Now”), which was then performed with a choir of 2000 voices on one of two bridges spanning the harbor.

Gallant’s 2009 release, “If We Had A Fire,” won the 2010 “Roots Recording of the Year” at the East Coast Music Awards. Recorded in St. Cecilia Studios on the outskirts of Halifax, the album contains 14 new Gallant songs, performed by the artist and acclaimed East Coast musicians.

Curtain is at 7 p.m. at the Franco center and Skye Theatre, 7:30 p.m. at Unity. There will be preshow jam sessions at Skye and Unity one hour prior to curtain. Tickets are $20 at the door.

The Franco center is at 46 Cedar St.; Skye is at 2 Highland Drive in Carthage. UCCPA is at 42 Depot St. in Unity. For reservations, call the Franco center at 783-1585 (www.francoamericanheritage.org), or Skye at 562-4445 or UCCPA at 948-7469.

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