Maria Dunn- Live at Festival Place, Sherwood Park, AB 2023 January 28

My horrible snapshots notwithstanding, it was a beautiful evening of folk music in Sherwood Park last evening as Maria Dunn (finally, after two-years of pandemic delays) celebrated the release of her now Juno Award-winning album, Joyful Banner Blazing (my review of the album is here.) Dunn and her large band complete with horn section and…

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The Gift coming to Leduc

Coming to Leduc October 13 is The Gift. We moved north from Red Deer just over eleven years ago, and the first concert we attended in Leduc was a great performance from one of my favourites, John Wort Hannam. I was so excited to be near the city and able to attend concerts whenever I…

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Blueberry Bluegrass Festival, 2022

Thank you to all the volunteers who made this weekend’s Blueberry Bluegrass a complete success. And even bigger thanks to all the patrons who purchased tickets, camped, bought raffle tickets and merchandise, and supported our vendors, food trucks, musicians, and the businesses of Stony Plain this weekend: the festival cannot exist without your commitment and…

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Blueberry Bluegrass 20 Workshops in 20 Weeks- 20 in 20!

With COVID-19 restrictions limiting gatherings and, for much of the world, preventing in-person festivals, what does an internationally recognized bluegrass festival do while awaiting return to musical normalcy? Invite the world-wide community to come together in a series of free workshops instructed by some of the biggest names in bluegrass and acoustic music! 20 workshops…

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Maple Blues Awards Features Best Blues Artists from Winnipeg, Orillia, Kitchener, Kingston, Montreal and Toronto- Feb. 3 2020, Toronto

I don’t typically cut ‘n’ paste news releases, but Sarah French does me right so only fair I spread the word. Gala Hosted by Toronto’s Persian HeritageMulti-Instrumentalist Raha Javanfar aka Bad Luck Woman! The Maple Blues Awards will be the blues party of the year as the performers for the gala event are some of…

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Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, 2019- San Francisco, CA

Over at Fervor Coulee Bluegrass at Country Standard Time, I reflect on my weekend at Hardly Strictly Bluegrass. I had a great time, but there were too many acts that presented style over substance, in my opinion, and not nearly enough bluegrass. Click for my thoughts.

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Ten Takeaways from Blueberry Bluegrass 2019

The festival has never been so appealingly eclectic. While it was once billed as “& Country Music Festival” and as such included some very questionable lineup choices (look no further than Trick Ryder and Dirt Road Angels), Blueberry is now decidedly and positively heterogeneous in its ‘big tent’ approach to bluegrass and acoustic roots music.…

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Blueberry Bluegrass photos on Bluegrass Today

I was thrilled when Bluegrass Today decided to publish several of my rather poorly constructed snaps, taken at Blueberry Bluegrass 2019. Here is the link: https://bluegrasstoday.com/photos-from-the-2019-blueberry-bluegrass-festival/ Thanks to BT for helping spread the word about this great festival in Alberta.

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More Blueberry Bluegrass Festival, 2019- Stony Plain, Alberta reflections- Day Two

The second day of three-day fests are the most difficult, I find. The novelty of day one is over—the renewing of acquaintances, the excitement of once again celebrating great music in a community—and by the end of the day, no matter the quality of music, I am bagged. Proof in point—in bed by 10:30 last…

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Blueberry Bluegrass Festival, 2019- Stony Plain, Alberta reflections

Blueberry Bluegrass Festival, held annually for now 34 years in the central Alberta community of Stony Plain, is a highlight of my calendar. Where I once attended up to four multi-day music fests annually—and once, in 2003, I believe I hit seven—it is now the only festival I attend. Blueberry Bluegrass just suits me, and…

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