Volume 14 Issue 3 July 2020 PUBLICATION MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 42167060 bluegrasscanada.org The official magazine of the Bluegrass Music Association of Canada Keep in touch with Bluegrass in Canada with our news, lessons, and more! KIDS AND BLUEGRASSVANCOUVER ISLAND • LAKE COWICHAN, BC. COWICHAN BLUE GRASS .COMTable of Contents The Kids Who Will Be Bluegrass 17 33 29 26 On the cover The faces of the Bluegrass of tomorrow Columns 7 President Murray Hale’s Message 9 In the Groove with Tom McCreight 10 Out West with Linda Thorburn 12 East Coast Bluegrass with Nancy Keddy 46 Editor Mike Kirley’s Message Lessons 14 Mandolin with Emory Lester Listings 36 Radio on the Air 41 BMAC Organization Listings Canada V o l u m e 14 I s s u e 3 Volume 14 Issue 3 July 2020 PUBLICATION MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 42167060 bluegrasscanada.org The official magazine of the Bluegrass Music Association of Canada Keep in touch with Bluegrass in Canada with our news, lessons, and more! KIDS AND BLUEGRASS 21 JULY 2020 BLUEGRASS CANADA MAGAZINE 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS The kids are alright. This issue we present not one, but two stories about how the kids are taking over bluegrass. The first is on the “Guitars for Kids” program on page 17, and following that is our cover story, “Kids in Bluegrass”. Bob Forrest’s Banjo Denis LePage steps out from the columns and into the features to invite you to meet banjo legend Bob Forrest. Art and Covid-19 Trying to do everything she can during these times, our Gloria Hansen shares her thoughts, and her art. Interviewing the Best An in-depth interview with songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Bob Webb about his song writing journey.Bluegrass Music Association of Canada BMAC is a non-profit 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. Specifically: 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 conflict 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 3 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 Linda Thorburn Tom Mccreight Gloria Jean Hansen Nancy Keddy 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 4 BLUEGRASS MUSIC ASSOCIATION OF CANADA BLUEGRASSCANADA.ORG MASTHEADSt. Louis Bluegrass & Oldtime Music Festival June 26-28, 2020 *COST FOR WEEKEND * Weekend: $35.00 includes rough camping Day Passes * Friday night: $10.00 * Saturday $18.00 - *Sunday $10.00 (taxes included) $40.00 Electrical Hook up Book your site now.... For more info phone Eileen Brown 902-882-3056 eileenbrown68@outlook.com Wilma Jones 902-882-3518 wilmajones300@hotmail.com Confirmed Island Bands: Sk Bluegrass The Currie Family Jericho Road Heartfelt Bluegrass Blue Zone Stiff Family Band Arsenault Brother …….Stay Tune for more. Eddy Poirier & Grassline New Brunswick Dirt Road Alliance Nova Scotia Oxbow Mountain Boys Nova Scotia President’s Report “Well hello there.” (I believe that’s a quote from the beginning line of a Glen Campbell hit). I hope everyone in the Canadian bluegrass community is feeling re-energized and excited about the upcoming summer of bluegrass. We By Murray HaleKeeping Up With Events 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 have had an eye-opening, sometimes depressing, sometimes uplifting and often emotional last few months. I can imagine that everyone is anxious to reconnect with friends, picking buddies and/or the community. In general, it’s quite safe to say, that not one person has escaped the effects of the pandemic. I sincerely hope that everyone has seen the positive effects as well as the negative. Changes such as cleaner air, less political bickering, less warfare, and more love, compassion and humour are heart warming. Then there is the music….virtual productions from amateurs and professionals alike, all produced with the same common theme of “we are all equal”. I believe this has brought us together like only a few times in history past. So, as we look forward to rejoining each other and the music “live”, let’s keep an open mind for changes that will need to occur. Promotors have already been researching and implementing ways to present this music for our safety and enjoyment. Let’s comply and support everyone involved. Many of our festivals have been cancelled and/or rescheduled. Keep in touch by going to our website bluegrasscanada.org or also the Pineridge Bluegrass Folklore Society for Ontario residents which has a website that is very informative and includes country festivals. I would encourage the east, west, north and central associations to keep lines of communication open to us, for us to help advertise for you. I believe festivals will be resuming at the end of the summer and into the fall if we don’t have a backslide into the pandemic. Please just keep researching online and through our quarterly magazine. One thing is for certain, when festivals and events are able to resume we will need the full support of all enthusiasts to regain what we have lost in terms of time, resources and money. I personally am really looking forward to the Central Canadian Bluegrass Awards at Deerhurst in November. I know Tony Deboer has implemented some nice changes for this year. I’m sure many of you throughout the country have your favorite event picked out as well. It will be great to be back at it. Once again, be safe and keep listening, creating and playing our favourite genre of music. JULY 2020 BLUEGRASS CANADA MAGAZINE 7 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Murry Hale, president of the BMAC.35th Annual PEI Bluegrass & Old Time Music Festival July 3, 4 & 5, 2020 At The Dundas Fair Grounds, Dundas, PEI 260 Little River Road The Little Roy & Lizzy Show The Dave Adkins Band Jeff Brown & Still Lonesome The 35th annual PEI Bluegrass and Old Time Music Festival features: The Little Roy & Lizzy Show, The Dave Adkins Band and Jeff Brown And Still Lonesome as well as perennial favourites, The Bluegrass Diamonds, back for their 29th appearance. Other maritime bands will be added later in the fall. Also all your island favourites. Island bands will be added in due course according to availability. We will also have a full lineup of acoustic instrument workshops, open mic on Wed July 1st & Thur July 2nd, and lots of concessions and fun for the whole family. Check our website at: www.peibluegrass.tripod.com for more information on the festival Gates open Monday June 29th at 1:00PM. For advanced tickets or information call: Glenda Johnston (902)569-4501, or Shirley Jay (902)566-2641 We are in constant contact with many other bands and hope to present the finest lineup in the maritimes this summer. Stay tuned for more information on bookings. We reserve the right to change the program without prior notice. Featuring: The Spinney BrothersThe band had its beginning when Brian Pickell, Don Thurston, and John Jackson started getting together to play their guitars and sing. To add some variety Brian decided to learn banjo, and Don decided he’d like to play fiddle and mandolin. In the summer of 1974 a large section of Yonge Street in downtown Toronto was converted to a huge pedestrian mall, and the guys decided to quit their jobs and busk full time on the mall, with a guitar case open to collect donations. They started to play at folk clubs, open mics, and anywhere else they could. At the end of the mall season they found jobs for the winter, but continued to perform as often as possible. In 1975 Dave Harvey joined the group on bass, and in the spring they again quit their jobs in order to concentrate full time on the band, and the music they loved. They rented a house together in Manila, and lived there for several years while performing at festivals, coffee houses, bars, folk clubs etc. Don Thurston says they were incredibly lucky to begin at this time. The music scene was booming for bands playing bluegrass, old time string band music, and country. The New Lost City Ramblers and The Hot Mud Family were strong influences. The Good Brothers were attracting a lot of attention and popularizing traditional acoustic music. Bluegrass Canada Festival in Carlisle Ontario was drawing huge crowds, and there was an active bar scene where bands could get a full week’s work. John Jackson decided to leave the group (1976?) and was replaced by John Glover. Since he could also play mandolin, they decided to enlarge the band to the traditional five-member/ instrument format and asked Larry Smith to join them on guitar. It was this combination of personnel who recorded Bar Room Daze in 1978. Over the next couple of years more changes occurred: Eric Jackson replaced Dave on bass; and Randy Hill replaced John Glover on mandolin. This was the make up of the band when they recorded They Said It Couldn’t Be Done in 1980 for Boot Records. Denis LePage produced this recording at Evolution 2000 in Bramalea, Ontario. When you look at the songs recorded on their three LPs, you see a definite shift in repertoire. This likely reflects the personnel changes. Bar Room Daze shows more of the old time string band influences, while the 1980 recording leans more toward the contemporary bluegrass sound of the day. It’s all good music, regardless. They Said It Couldn’t Be Done starts off with the Larry Sparks’ composition, These Old Blues – a hard driving number that certainly gets your attention right away. Track two is a Steve Goodman/S. Burgh song Between The Lines that features a spirited mandolin break and a note worthy banjo/fiddle split break. The George Jones/Hal Bynum classic The Old, Old House is performed at a suitably modest pace with a lovely, delicate mandolin kick off. The traditional song Blue Ridge Mountain Home provides all lead instruments an opportunity to shine. Another traditional number, Cora’s Gone, is played very well with the band’s own arrangement. The latest version of this song that comes to my mind is that of The Earls of Leicester. Interesting to play them back to back. The last cut on side one is the Flatt and Scruggs tune Dear Old Dixie, where the instrumental power of the band really stands out. It has a tasty and unique banjo lick at the close. Side two begins with a Phil Rosenthal original, Wild Kentucky Roan. They certainly captured the essence of the song as you can visualize the horses galloping and running free. Next comes a well-played medley of two traditional instrumentals, Temperance Reel and Loch Leven Castle. This is followed by a Bill Monroe classic, My Sweet Blue Eyed Darlin. The strong vocal harmonies make this cut a standout. The banjo and mandolin fit together perfectly on the old song, Tell It To Me. This is a crowd pleaser, guaranteed to get a strong response from a live audience. Just check out the 2006 Old Crow Medicine Show version of this song on Youtube. The longest track is a mournful rendition of the J. Preston song, I’ve Just Seen The Rock of Ages. Finishing our listening pleasure is a sterling cover of Love Come Home, which was written by Leon Jackson and often performed by the Father of Bluegrass, Bill Monroe. The Humber River Valley Boys disbanded within a year or so after releasing this LP. The Humber River Valley Boys, 1980 BOOT Records #6010 Randy Hill, Eric Jackson, Brian Pickell, Larry Smith, Don Thurston In the Groove 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. JULY 2020 BLUEGRASS CANADA MAGAZINE 9 IN THE GROOVENext >