When last year’s Luminato announced a concert to honour Neil Young, it appeared that more importance was placed on whether Young would show up at the last minute versus the talented lineup presented.

Fortunately, there was no such question Wednesday night at Toronto’s Massey Hall as iconic singer-songwriter Bruce Cockburn participated in the 2010 Luminato concert dubbed The Canadian Songbook: 40 Years of Bruce Cockburn.

And despite the fact that it took some 210 minutes to conclude with introductions, an intermission and stalling adding another hour to the night, the well-rounded parade of Canadian musicians – Sylvia Tyson, Tom Wilson, Stephen Fearing and guitarist Michael Occhipinti among others -- ensured it would be a night Cockburn would not forget.

“Thank you for being here,” he said, thankfully forgetting to name the hundreds of artists who have covered his work, from Jerry Garcia and Jimmy Buffett to Chet Atkins and Elbow.

With accomplished guitarist and Blackie and The Rodeo Kings member Colin Linden as musical director, the first half opened with guitarist Jason Fowler displaying some intricate picking on Sunwheel Dance from Cockburn’s 1971 album of the same name. But the first half didn’t seem to have much oomph, with Buck 65 running through Slow Down Fast before Hawksley Workman helped out on If A Tree Falls.

East Coast singer Amelia Curran fared a bit better with the sultry jazz feel oozing from Mama Just Wants To Barrelhouse All Night Long but it wasn’t until the man himself stepped onstage during the first portion’s homestretch where things kicked into another gear. If I Had A Rocket Launcher showed Cockburn’s pipes and particularly his fingers in fine form, working off of Linden’s playing from time to time.

A barn burning rendition of Tie Me At The Crossroads concluded a good but not great first act, but act two was a much different story. While Cockburn, 65, had more stage time and nailed signatures like Pacing The Cage, Waiting For A Miracle and Night Train (concocted after a night discovering absinthe) the talent honoring him held more than their own.

For example Barenaked Ladies opened with Laughter, managing to include a lyric about Cockburn’s longtime manager Bernie Finkelstein and his weight loss. Yet it was the roots-y Lovers In A Dangerous Time that shone with Cockburn joining them for some magic.

“I mean if he’s not going to f------ practice…I can’t drag him through the whole night,” Barenaked Ladies singer Ed Robertson deadpanned afterward regarding Cockburn’s playing.

The Wailin’ Jennys also stole the spotlight briefly with a haunting combination of Going Down The Road done a capella and Child Of The Wind despite the latter having a brief problem with feedback.

Prior to bringing all the talent back onstage for Wondering Where The Lions Are (which featured a man dancing up and down the centre aisle) and an encore of Mystery featuring special guest Ron Sexsmith, Hawksley Workman put a passionate exclamation point on the night. Performing Tokyo and Loner, Workman was definitely workmanlike but seemed visibly moved to be participating in the show.

Overall it was a fine tribute to an artist with one of the finest bodies of works anywhere.