Volume 10 Issue 1 January 2016 www.bluegrasscanada.org ANNUAL AWARDS ISSUE V o l u m e 10 I s s u e 1 Publisher - The Bluegrass Music Association of Canada Editor - Mike Kirley Design/Production - Gord DeVries The Bluegrass Canada magazine is published quarterly in January, April, July and October. Copies are distribut- ed to members of the organization. Individual membership fees are $25 for one year, $48 for two years or $71 for three years. Organizational memberships are $50 for one year, $98 for two years or $146 for three years. All rights reserved. Contents may not be reproduced without the written per- mission from the Publisher. PUBLICATION MAIL AGREEMENT NO.42167060.RETURN UNDELIV- ERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO BMAC, c/o Gord DeVries, 22790 Amiens Road, KOMOKA ON N0L 1R0, 519-719-2501, membership@bluegrasscanada.org. Please send articles, calendar infor- mation, photos and letters to : Bluegrass Canada Mike Kirley 831 Rose Street, Cambridge ON N3H-2G2 Email: mikekirley@gmail.com Telephone: 519-653-4975 Deadline for submissions is the 1st of the month pereceding the month of publication. Advertising- Contact Barb Duncan at 705-499-7656 Email barbieduncan@gmail.com for rates and information. CD Reviews: Pat Moore 612 Cortenay Ave Ottawa ON K2A 3B5 patmoore@patmoore.net Bluegrass Music Association of Canada BMAC is a non-profit organization devoted to the preservation and promo- tion of bluegrass and old-time music in Canada, and supported by the volun- teer efforts of its members. BMAC Mission Statement The BMAC mission statement as enacted in the by-laws: a) Dedicated to the preservation and promotion of Bluegrass and Old-time music throughout Canada. Goals: b) To support individuals, groups and organizations involved in bluegrass and old-time music. c) To provide leadership and promote education among fans, clubs, bands and artists. BMAC Board of Directors President - Position currently unoccupied Vice-President - David Porter porterd@blackburnlodge.com Secretary /Treasurer - Roland Aucoin raucoin@cogeco.ca - 905-635-1818 Membership/Website - Gord DeVries gord.devries@rogers.com - 519-719-2501 Magazine Editor - Mike Kirley mikekirley@gmail.com - 519-653-4975 Advertising - Barb Duncan barbieduncan@gmail.com - 705-499-7656 General - Murray Hale murrayhale@hotmail.com - 705-474-2217 General - Wilson Moore jwmoore@ns.sympatico.ca - Regular column contributer General - Denis Chadbourn lea@thot.net - 705-776-7754 Ongoing Volunteers Elaine Bouchard (MB - Event Calendar) - boucharde@live.ca Gary Hubbard - (ON - Regular Column contributer) Sue Malcolm (BC - Event Calendar) - sue@suemalcolm.com Pat Moore (ON - CD Reviews) - patmoore@patmoore.net Jerry Murphy - jerry@jerrysnews.com (NS - Event calendar + regular column contributer) Joe Rohrer - (ON - Regular column contributer) Nancy Tellier - (ON - Event Calendar Admin) Bryon Thompson - (BC - Regular column contributer) Ralph Gray (ON - Regular column contributer) Printing- A N B Print Inc. - 519-621-0321 4026 Meadowbrook Dr. #135 London ON N6L 1C8 Distribution- Strictly Addressing - 519-433-424 4-1025 Hargrieve Rd. London ON N6E 1P7 4 WHAT’S INSIDE Table of Contents4 Membership Co-ordinator’s Message5 Editor’s Message6 Joe Rohrer’s Words of Wisdom7 In The News8 Open Mike - “Sitting Ducks” 15 East Hants Bluegrass and Oldtime Music Association 26 Music Biz - Gary Hubbard28 A Valentine Story: How I Met Frank Wakefield 29 The Main Gate by Ralph Gray31 BMAC Organizations Listing32 luegrass Recipes34 Radio on the Air Listing34 • Annual Festival Issue • More Interviews - news items - regular columns Festival producers - the DEADLINE is the 1st of MARCH 2015 to have your information to Mike Kirley if you wish to have your festival listed. NEXT ISSUE (APRIL): Feature Article Eastern Canadian Bluegrass Music Awards 10 20 Feature Article Central Canadian Bluegrass Music Awards Feature Interview 5 On A String 165 Where to start? I usually have a lot to say, (too much, according to my detractors!) but in my own defence, it’s usually about things I know something about and in the case of BMAC, things I’m passion- ate about. It’s difficult to motivate people to join an organization which has been attempted be- fore and always met with failure. I assure you that this time, we will succeed. The feedback I get from organizations such as bands, festi- vals, associations and businesses involved with bluegrass is nothing short of amazing. One of the oft mentioned responses is “Why hasn’t this been done before?” It’s taken us almost eight years to realize that we have approached the issue of fulfilling our mandate in a wrong direction. In the past we’ve looked at this magazine as being our most important product and have used it as a primary sell- ing tool for increasing membership. The www.bluegrasscanada.org website is a more important tool for meeting our goals “to support individuals, groups and organi- zations involved in bluegrass and old-time music and to provide leadership and promote educa- tion among fans, clubs, bands and artists.” How can we achieve those goals? We’ve taken the first steps – the website includes a separate profile page for every band, festival, asso- ciation and others, listing contact information, links to websites, and other important information. All in one place! No longer do you need to spend hours searching google, social media sites, you-tube, etc. It’s all here! The next steps are trickier. We need every Canadian with an interest in seeing Canadian talent being recognized and flourishing to be- come a member. $25.00 per year (Individual membership) makes you an owner of this organization. The directors will use your funding to a) pay for this magazine b) pay for website hosting fees c) pay such office expenses, govern- ment fees and the like required to operate a non-profit organization d) nothing else! Directors are not paid. The creation of this magazine and the website are achieved with volunteers. So what happens to surpluses? So far, our membership isn’t robust enough to have generated extra funds. However, when we reach that tipping point we will be in a position to directly assist Canadian performers wishing to play gigs across the country. We will be in a position to help festivals hire bands from other Canadian regions, instead of looking to the USA. We may be in a better position to guide the Juno organization towards creating a “Bluegrass” category. The possibilities are limitless and we invite you to write to us with your ideas/suggestions. So several changes we need to see: a) Stop thinking of BMAC as “those guys in Ontario”.. We aren’t. Our MEMBERSHIP CO-ORDINATOR’S MESSAGE members from across Canada own this organization, so make it be what you want it to be. b) Stop thinking of your member- ship as a ‘subscription’ to a maga- zine. it isn’t.– the magazine is a free perk we offer to the membership – and you can opt out of receiving the grayscale copy in the mail. It’s available on the website as a pdf download in full colour. That’s a great option, because we get to use more of your funding to support our wider goals. So, now that I’ve put this magazine firmly in its place, let me say that our outstanding editor, Mike Kirley and myself share a common goal of creating a vibrant, interesting, relevant and enduring magazine which will delight you, inform you and entertain you in each issue. Last issue, we put out an invitation to organizations and individuals to become involved with articles and submissions. We’re pleased to see the East Hants Bluegrass and Oldtime Music Association from NS rose to the challenge to give us an in-depth look at their club. Newby writer Ralph Gray, joins us in this issue with his first install- ment of “The Main Gate”, a series I look forward to, from this always interesting Ontario bluegrass fan. West Coaster, Bryon Thompson came through for us with a 12 page interview of Vancouver based band “5 On A String”. We had him cut it to four pages, but the entire inter- view is available on the Member’s area of the website. Thank you all! --Gord by Gord DeVriesand I never had to edit them. Their standard of writing was impec- cable. They both had informative and personal styles all their own, and kept us all in the loop with our Bluegrass cousins down east. We hope you both stay involved in the lively scene on the East Coast. Many thanks from us here at BMAC magazine. Good luck on your future endeavours. Just a note to all writers of club newsletters. Please send me a copy. I have been reading some of them and they are very good. I would like to share them on a national level. Just a reminder…the next issue is the Festival issue, so make sure and get any details of nearby festivals to us here at BMAC. --Mike 6 EDITOR’S MESSAGE Welcome to the Awards Issue! Congratulations to all the partici- pants; there were some really close vote totals, and anyone who was nominated deserved appreciation for their efforts. Bluegrass is hard work. Bill Monroe designed it that way, and it is not always easy to get it right. Sometimes those of us in Bluegrass bands feel like we are searching for the Holy Grail. Winning an award is an affirmation from the whole community that you are doing it right. Some may think that the awards are subjec- tive; but I would remind those people that you have to be real involved in Bluegrass to vote. The majority are DJ’s, Festival Promot- ers, Club executives, members, and band members. You could be an amazing band, but if you are not playing at Festivals, winter con- certs, and on radio shows, then the community hasn’t heard you and can’t make an informed decision on how to vote. Note to bands: get out there and play in public. On a sad note, we were shocked to learn that Bob Arbuckle passed away on his way home from the CCB Awards. Bob was a gentle, kind teacher of fiddle music; and he was known all over the Ontario music scene. He was often a judge at the Shelbourne Fiddle Festival, and was active in the Orangeville Fiddle Camp over the years. He was always learning, and in the past few years showed a love of Bluegrass with friend and banjo player, Doug Cornish. Doug invited him to join the group Beeton Creek Rising, and it was with this band at Deerhurst that he had his last performance. I took a few lessons from Bob back in the nineties, and he was instrumen- tal in my discovering Andy de Jarlis, the Manitoba fiddler who com- posed over 200 fiddle tunes. Rest in peace, Bob. We will miss you. I would also like to thank our outgoing President, Dennis Chad- bourn for his guidance during his term. Dennis and his wife Leann have contributed greatly to our Bluegrass community and to BMAC. Many thanks from the executive for all your hard work. It was certainly appreciated. Dennis is staying on as a board member, and we are glad for that. We are also sad to say that Wilson Moore and Jerry Murphy have retired as regular column contributors. Both have been loyal top notch writers for BMAC for several years. I always looked for- ward to reading their submissions, by Mike Kirley7 ya wanna know what ya should don’t never do ?!~~~don’t never put a lightening rod on top of the outhouse !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!! ol’ wusername just happened to be out there yesterday when the thunder storm rolled through. I heard a horrendous BANG, looked out the back door just in time to see a cloud of shredded wooden shingles and splintered cedar ship lap siding come a’ flitterin back to earth . through the smoke, shrap- nel and corruption came the form of ol’ wusername a’wobblin up the path from the outhouse ! her apron kinda blackened in spots , and little whisps of smoke dancing up from her tousled hair. crisp little crackles and tiny sparks was a’dancin from her bare feet with every step she took in the rain soaked grass . when she got to the cabin door , she had a dazed , lost kinda look on her face , and the remains of a last year’s edition of BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS ( kinda darkened by the blast ) hangin loosely from her left hand . she stood in the doorway , her lips movin , but no words comin out , and then I said~ boy , it’s a good thing we ain’t got an indoor bathroom ,huh ! can ya ‘magine what the cabin would look like after a blast like that !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! oh o h ~~~~~RUN FORREST ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~RUN ~~!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! JOIN NOW! Becoming a member of BMAC couldn’t be easier (or less expen- sive.) If you are able to access the internet on your desktop, laptop or iPad device, you have all you need! Simply navigate to www.bluegrasscanada.org and click on the “Register” button at the top right of the website. You’ll be taken to a simple regis- tration form which will first ask you to select the Membership Type. Let’s assume for the sake of this discussion, you wish to be an “Individual Member”. Click in that box. The next choice is whether you wish to pay by Credit Card, or ‘Offline’, which means you’ll send in a cheque. Next, you’ll need to fill in a ‘security code’ simply by copying a few distorted looking charac- ters into an input box. (That’s for BMAC’s security, to verify that we’re dealing with a person, not a machine.) We need your Name and Address info and also ask you to select your own username and password. Note that the info fields that are identified with a red aster- isk are mandatory. The next sections of the form are optional and the purpose is fully explained on the form. Once you’re done this, just Click on “Submit” at the bottom. Be assured that BMAC does not share your information with third parties. Once you’re a member, you will have access on the website (using your username/password) for private member’s information such as magazine back issues and minutes of Director’s meetings. That’s it. Call Gord DeVries if you need help. 519-719-2501 JOE ROHER’S WORDS OF WISDOM Joe Rohrer (Rhyme ‘n Reason)8 IN THE NEWS CR5 Bluegrass Dan Potter- mandolin, vocals Barry Garvin- guitar Christine Smith- banjo, vocals Dan Buch-fiddle, vocals Jim Bossert-bass Barn Katz Susie Sweetman - vocals Tim McDonald - banjo, vocals Glenn George - bass Geoff Somers - guitar, vocals Wayne Ferguson - mandolin/fiddle Keeping Up With the Bands Name & Personnel Changes: New Festival! Keeping the Bluegrass growing... Announcing a new annual Festi- val starting on the May 2016 long weekend! “ Eastern Ontario Bluegrass Festival” located at the Lombardy Fairgrounds! This location is central to Kingston, Smiths Falls, Brockville, Perth, Rideau Ferry, Portland & Ottawa. We are really looking forward to this huge undertaking and appreci- ate all the bands, friends and help coming our way. More details to follow. We can be reached at 613-928-2762 or see our website at: http://www.eobluegrass.com/ R.I.P. BOB ARBUCKLE It’s with great sadness that I pass along the news that our dear friend Bob passed away on Sun- day, November 22,2015. We were returning from the Bluegrass awards show in Huntsville and he suffered a Heart attack between Huntsville and Bracebridge. He was pronounced deceased shortly after arrival at the Bracebridge hospital. He had a great summer doing what he loved - Fiddling!!! - won all 5 Old Time Fiddle contests for the 50’s+ category he entered this summer - attended house jams in Scarbor- ough and Oshawa - played Square Dances with Mor- ley & Dottie - played with Beeton Creek Rising at various events including the Tot- tenham Bluegrass festival - played local shows in our “Bob & Doug - Fiddle & Banjo” duet and picked with me weekly - played a great show at Deerhurst on Sat. afternoon I met Bob 17 years ago when he taught my daughter Alanna to play the Fiddle from 8 yrs old until her early teens. I sat in on her lessons, and he was a great teacher. We formed a special bond and great friendship (also discovered we shared the same birthday) over the last 3 years with our Fiddle & Banjo duet, and together in Beeton Creek Rising. He was a Great Friend and a real Gentleman!!! I’ll miss him greatly as will his daughters Roberta and Adrienne, and his brother Russell. I know he’ll be missed by all of you - friendships I know he cherished. I’m sure he’s up in heaven having a great reunion with his wife Ginny and twin sister Betty. Ed. Note: Bob’s funeral service was held on Friday, November 27 in Richmond Hill. Yours Truly, Doug Brief Bio Bob Arbuckle is a veteran of Old Time Canadian Fiddle. At age 14, Bob was playing square dances and since then has played with the likes of Art Celsie, George Keroff, and countless TV and radio shows. In recent years he got hooked on Bluegrass and performed as fiddle player with the Higher Ground and now with Beeton Creek Rising, in addition to Bob & Doug – Fiddle & Banjo Duets. Bob Arbuckle on stage at the Deerhurst Award Show by Doug Cornish9 NEW MEMBERS THIS QUARTER TO SERVE YOU BETTER As a BMAC member, you can expect prompt, courteous and comprehensive service. And that’s exactly what you’ll get each and every time you need help with your membership. That’s our promise to you. 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Visit our online membership services at www.bluegrasscanada.ca /oss7_pro/register.php to fill out a membership registration form, renew your membership, or make changes to your current membership profile. Changes in address, email, phone number, etc. are important for us to be able to continue delivering services to you. MEMBERSHIP EXPIRY You will find the membership expiration date included on your Bluegrass Canada magazine mail- ing label. Please use the enclosed expiry notice letter to mail in your renewal cheque, or simply log in to your account online and pay by credit card or Paypal. You can mail a renewal cheque at any time to: Membership Co-ordinator Gord DeVries 22790 Amiens Road Komoka ON N0L 1R0 HELP US GROW OUR MEMBERSHIP Each magazine includes a mem- bership application form. If you like the magazine, pass the form on to a friend. Our only revenue source is through the annual membership fees and advertising. More members = more services. Bluegrass Canada is produced and managed 100% with unpaid volunteer labour, so your money will directly affect our ability to improve. Individuals Annette Caron Joan Chappos Wendy Ellis Carolin McBrien Tom McCreight Sherry Philp Wayne & Debbie Powell Amy Robichaud Bev & Ann Simpson Eileen St. Pierre Ken Wilson Bill & Muriel Wye Organizations Bands New Cumberland Emory Lester & Jill Jones Band The Pie Plates Rescue Junction The Schotts Shine Bluegrass Band SweetGrass Band Festivals Eastern Ontario Bluegrass Festival BANJO THOUGHT “The piano may do for love-sick girls who lace themsleves to skel- etons, and lunch on chalk, pickles and slate pencils. But give me the banjo... When you want genuine music -- music that will come right home to you like a bad quarter, suffuse your system like strychnine whisky, go right through you like Brandreth’s pills, ramify your whole constitu- tion like the measles,and break out on your hide like the pin-feather pimples on a picked goose, -- when you want all this, just smash your piano, and invoke the glory-beaming banjo!” --Samuel ClemensNext >