$7.00 The offi cial magazine of the Bluegrass Music Association of Canada Keep in touch with Bluegrass in Canada with our news, lessons, and more! Volume 14 Issue 1 January 2020 PUBLICATION MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 42167060 bluegrasscanada.org Canada The Awards IssueThe Awards IssueThe Awards IssueThe Awards IssueThe Awards IssueThe Awards IssueThe Awards IssueThe Awards IssueThe Awards IssueThe Awards IssueThe Awards IssueThe Awards Issue BluegrassBluegrassBluegrassBluegrassBluegrass RecognizingTable of Contents New Torontonian: Claire Lynch 15 21 26 32 On the cover Claire Lynch and the members of her Canadian touring band are: Joe Phillips (upright bass, backing vocals), Shane Cook (fi ddle), and, Darrin Schott (mandolin, acoustic guitars, backing vocals). Columns 5 President Murray Hale’s Message 7 In the Groove with Tom McCreight 8 Out West with Linda Thorburn 42 Editor Mike Kirley’s Message Lessons 11 Banjo with Dennis LePage 12 Mandolin with Emory Lester Listings 34 Radio on the Air 37 BMAC Organization Listings Canada V o l u m e 14 I s s u e 1 $7.00 The official magazine of the Bluegrass Music Association of Canada Keep in touch with Bluegrass in Canada with our news, lessons, and more! Volume 14 Issue 1 January 2020 PUBLICATION MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 42167060 bluegrasscanada.org The Awards IssueThe Awards IssueThe Awards IssueThe Awards IssueThe Awards IssueThe Awards IssueThe Awards Issue BluegrassBluegrassBluegrassBluegrass Recognizing Canada JANUARY 2020 BLUEGRASS CANADA MAGAZINE 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS Beloved bluegrasser makes the move to Toronto, and we’re celebrating her transition with an in-depth interview East Coast Music Awards Recognising some of bluegrass’ fi nest at the East Coast Music Awards with our coverage and photos. Special East Coast Report Nancy Keddy has something to say about bluegrass on the East Coast. CCB Awards See who won their way through the The Northern Bluegrass Committee’s Central Canadian Bluegrass AwardsBluegrass Music Association of Canada BMAC is a non-profi t organization devoted to the preservation and promotion of bluegrass and old-time music in Canada, and supported by the volunteer 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. Specifi cally: 1) The establishment of bluegrass categories in the Juno Awards; 2) Lobbying with other musical genres for changes in US laws to allow easier access to the US by Canadian musicians; 3) Establishing a national bluegrass awards program not in confl ict with the two existing regional awards events; 4) Sponsoring Canadian Bands to Showcase at IBMA; 5) Supporting Canadian bands efforts to play in other parts of the country; 6) Seeking grant funding to achieve these goals. V o l u m e 14 I s s u e 1 Email: membership@ bluegrasscanada.org Website: bluegrasscanada.org Publisher Gord DeVries Editor Mike Kirley SUBSCRIPTION One Year $25 / Free with Membership The Bluegrass Canada magazine is digitally published quarterly in January, April, July and October, online in the ‘Members Only’ section of the Bluegrass Canada website. For more information email membership@bluegrasscanada.org. • Individual BMAC memberships: $25/y (Includes printed / mailed copy of each issue in grayscale.) • Individual Online membership: $18/y with access to digital online colour version. • Organizational memberships: $50/y All rights reserved. Contents may not be reproduced without the written permission from the Publisher. PRINTED IN CANADA. CANADA POST CANADIAN PUBLICATIONS MAIL SALES PRODUCT AGREEMENT No. 42167060. Send change of addresses and undeliverable notices of Canadian addresses to BMAC, c/o Roland Aucoin, Unit 84, 205 Plains Road West, Burlington ON L7T 4H3 Please send articles, calendar information, 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 60 days preceding the month of publication. BMAC BOARD OF DIRECTORS President Murray Hale mhale@green-vision.ca 705-845-8112 Vice-President Mike Kirley mikekirley@gmail.com 519-653-4975 Secretary-Treasurer Roland Aucoin raucoin72@gmail.com Membership Roland Aucoin raucoin72@gmail.com 905-572-0116 Social Media Carol Boyer carol.boyer@sympatico.ca General Wilson Moore wmoore@ns.sympatico.ca General Dave Featherstone davefeatherstone58@gmail.com General Lisa Pigeau blue-grass_jam@hotmail.com Website Gord DeVries gord.devries@rogers.com Contributors Denis LePage Emory Lester Nancy Keddy Linda Thorburn Tom Mccreight Gloria Jean Hansen Joe Rohrer Advertising Rates & Specs Gord DeVries 519-719-2501 Layout Mother Invention motherinvention.ca James Kerr 705-927-0994 Printing A & B Print Inc., 519-685-0321 45 Meg Drive London ON N6E 2V2 Distribution Strictly Addressing, 519-433-4242 4-1025 Hargrieve Rd. London ON N6E 1P7 Canada BMAC is a non-profi t organization devoted to the preservation and promotion of bluegrass and old-time music in Canada, and supported by the volunteer efforts of its members. BMAC MISSION STATEMENT The BMAC mission statement as enacted in the by-laws: 4 BLUEGRASS MUSIC ASSOCIATION OF CANADA BLUEGRASSCANADA.ORG MASTHEADPresident’s Report Another Central Canadian Bluegrass Awards Show has come and gone. The 41st Annual was no less impressive than its predecessors. BMAC is very happy with this year’s accomplishments. With the production of our quarterly magazine we feel we are successfully representing festivals, bands and radio programs. Members feedback indicates that we are beginning to satisfy the appetite of our readers for stories, history, music tab and general bluegrass information. We were quite happy to see so many promoters at our AGM And listen to comments and suggestions from each of them. Thank you to Sheldon Speedie for providing info on the value and process of obtaining a Green Card if you are playing in the USA. We have more input and connection with the east and west of Canada all the time and look forward to supporting them in any way we can. It is difficult being in such a large nation with such a small executive. We need help and support in this area. Suggestions are welcomed. We have had a plea from the radio community to bands producing new and also existing recorded music to please forward these to radio stations for airplay. They actually want and appreciate these efforts. Also BMAC has an existing archive and library in want of all recordings. Please forward them to Gord Devries. Let’s get out and support ventures like the awards, winter concert series as well as the approaching festivals in the new year. Promoters work hard and have put years of their lives into this musical form of art. Thank you and “keep pickin”. By Murray HaleBluegrass through the new year Mother Invention is passionate about art; that’s why we provide our clients with designs as unique as they are. We offer various solutions for musicians, including: logo and brand development album covers posters packaging and apparel design social media marketing BMAC members get 10% off Email us to learn more: info@motherinvention.ca www.motherinvention.ca JANUARY 2020 BLUEGRASS CANADA MAGAZINE 5 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Murry Hale, president of the BMAC.Released in 1977, it is one of the earliest bluegrass releases by BOOT Records and perhaps the first one. It was also the first studio experience for most, if not all, of the musicians on the recording. At this time The Dixie Flyers consisted of Bert Baumbach – guitar and lead vocals, Denis LePage – banjo and vocals, Ken Palmer – mandolin and vocals, and David Zedriluk – bass and vocals. Also playing on this recording are Willie P. Bennet – harmonica and vocals, and Gordon Stobbe – fiddle and vocals. Willie and Gordon guested with the band as often as they were available, and made a significant contribution to this recording. Listening to Bert’s lead vocals, it is clear that he was a big fan of Jimmy Martin and his style of delivery. Eight of the eleven songs are covers that reflect the band’s fondness for traditional bluegrass: Brandy Wine (Kenny Baker); Hello City Limits (Johnny Elgin); Grandfather’s Clock (Trad); You Don’t Know My Mind (Jimmie Skinner); Hit Parade of Love (Jimmy Martin-Wade Birchfield); Gold Rush (Bill Monroe); Roust-A-Bout (J. Lambert- B. Graves); All I Ever Loved Was You (D. Skaggs – who happens to be Ricky Skaggs mother, Dorothy). The three originals: Don Valley Back Step by Denis and Bert A lively instrumental tune that moves out faster than the Don Valley Parkway often does. All the instruments get their share of the spotlight, and Bennet’s harmonica break is especially outstanding. U.S. 15 by Bert and Paul Hurdle This is a very engaging instrumental. Denis’ kick-off sets the tone and towards the end of it, a brilliant cascade of notes shines through. Again all of the instruments get their turn and the subtle bass slapping behind the harmonica break reminds you that David Z. is right there boosting and supporting everyone’s contribution. He gets to shine on his own on his arrangement of Grandfather’s Clock. Sneakin’ Chickens by Denis LePage This a funky tune entirely played on one chord – E minor. Denis does the lead vocal and tells me that a US rock band has recorded it, although I haven’t been able to track that down yet. As I recall this was always a crowd favourite at Bluegrass Canada, and many other festivals. The light and breezy feel of Brandy Wine highlights the talents of Denis LePage on banjo and Gordon Stobbe on fiddle as they swap the melody back and forth. I particularly appreciated the pace and lilt of All I Ever Loved Was You. The banjo does very tasty backup behind the vocals. Playing behind the vocals is an entirely separate and challenging skill set that too many players ignore. Light-Medium-Heavy was recorded at The Grant Avenue Studios in Hamilton, Ontario Bob Lanois did the engineering and David Essig was the producer. His experience, patience, and expertise were vital to the success of this recording, as he worked to help everyone achieve their best performance. In addition to this LP/cassette, The Dixie Flyers released four others on BOOT: Cheaper To Lease (#6001) – 1978; Just Pickin’ (#6002) – 1978; For Our Friends (#6007) – 1980; Five by Five (#6017) -1981. Where are they now? Bert Baumbach has some significant health issues and is living in a seniors’ facility. Denis LePage plays banjo in Switchback Road and writes a column for this publication. David Zdriluk is living in Cambodia. Ken Palmer and Willie P. Bennet both passed much too young. Gordon Stobbe, who moved to the East Coast in the late 70’s, has been a performer, composer, teacher, publisher, and host of a variety show. He was made a member of the Order of Canada in 2018, in recognition of his passion for fiddle music and the impact that he has had on Canada’s cultural heritage. By Tom McCreight The Dixie Flyers: Light – Medium – Heavy (BOOT Records - BBG6000) The Dixie Flyers Tom “the Old Coot” McCreight, , a renound Toronto bassplayer of “Bluegrass Revival”, festival volunteer, merchant, newsletter publisher, promoter, emcee, author, active member of the Toronto Area Bluegrass Committee (TABC), winner of the Central Canadian Bluegrass Awards for Bass Player and also Entertainer of the Year, and a song writer. JANUARY 2020 BLUEGRASS CANADA MAGAZINE 7 IN THE GROOVEFirst Cowichan Valley Bluegrass & Old Time Fest I was lucky enough to attend the first annual Cowichan Valley Bluegrass and Old Time Festival, held at Lakeland Ranch in the beautiful Cowichan Valley, here in B. C. June 14-16th 2019, on Fathers’ Day Weekend. Previous to this summer, the event had been held at Sooke River Campgrounds for sixteen years. Here bitter winds prevailed blowing up the Sooke River, which runs alongside the campground. Very scenic but usually quite cold. The musical facility at Lakeland Ranch breathed new life into the Sooke River Bluegrass Festival, renamed the Cowichan Valley Bluegrass and Old Time Festival. A brand new festival, with some old experiences was born. The bluegrass site is absolutely huge and affords many different places to camp. It is near the bands, in the hot pickin’ area; or if you like, the quiet sleeping spot, or glamping. This is another option, where a luxurious tent is provided with all the gear you need. My husband Bob and I have a 28 foot 5th wheel, old, but it does the job. We arrived early, as Thursday I was scheduled to volunteer at the gate. This was particularly fun as I knew everyone who came through looking to camp. That’s the way it works here on the west coast, everyone knows everyone. It’s really fun when we all show up and many did, curious to see how it would all turn out! In the entertainment department, there was something for everyone. There were open mics for first class acts on the stage, and many workshops. This year I attended a Women in Bluegrass Workshop with Claire Lynch, Jenny Lester and Miriam Sonstenes. I met Claire Lynch for the first time and can say she is as amazing in real life as she is on the stage. Other acts like Jenny Lester and Friends, Nomad Jones, Clover Point Drifters, Slocan Ramblers and many more embraced the huge stage. Saturday night they hosted an old time dance, music provided by a genuine Old Time String Band. Accompanying the String Band was square dancing and everyone seemed to enjoy that. Cowichan Valley Bluegrass and Old Time Festival is a lot of fun. My musical friends were camped twenty to thirty feet away in either direction and beyond, but all were close enough to lug a banjo around comfortably, truly a bonus when walking miles and looking for friends to jam with. There was no problem with that either as there was plenty of jamming long into the wee hours. The performance area had a huge covered area, so no need to ever get wet while watching the show. Linda describes a new festival in B.C., which combines the old and the new, By Linda Thorburn A luxurious tent is provided with all the gear you need. 8 BLUEGRASS MUSIC ASSOCIATION OF CANADA BLUEGRASSCANADA.ORG OUT WEST Linda Thorburn is a banjo player and bluegrass community leader. I met Claire Lynch for the first time and can say she is as amazing in real life as she is on the stage. You could set your chairs in place and listen and watch in comfort. Behind that was a large eating area with lots of tables, food court, and washrooms behind. Everything was extremely well laid out. Festival organizer Phil Shaver was hard at work throughout the whole event, organizing his team. He has sixteen years of festival experience and enjoys what he is doing. The team is experienced too and the entire festival runs like clockwork, without a hitch to the quiet observer. The weatherman cooperated as we had sunny days and we were able to stay dry for the entire duration. The temperatures dropped a little at night but not enough to deter picking. Cowichan Valley Bluegrass festivalis on Vancouver Island, located in the Cowichan Valley and you have to catch a B. C. Ferry to reach us, by car. More info and directions can be found on the website at cowichanbluegrass. com or contact Phil Shaver, Festival Organizer directly at studiobones@gmail.com Hope to see you out west next year, on June 19-21, 2020, Fathers Day Weekend! JANUARY 2020 BLUEGRASS CANADA MAGAZINE 9 OUT WESTNext >