BUEGRASS CANADA I The official magazine of the Bluegrass Music Association of Canada www.bluegrasscanada.ca SELDOM SCENE 2012 1976 VOLUME 6 ISSUE 3 AUGUST 2012 WHAT"S INSIDE President Secretary Denis Chadbourn Leann Chadbourn Editor's Message-Pg 2 705-776-7754 705-776-7754 President's Message-Pg 3 Vice-president Treasurer Tips for Bands-Pg 4 Dave Porter Roland Aucoin The Western Perspective-Pg 6 905-635-1818 Feature Article-SELDOM SCENE-Pgs. 7-9 Q & A's With Steep Canyon Rangers-Pgs. 10-13 Maritime Notes Pg. 16 Providence Bay 2012 Pg-18 Directors at Large Advertising Rates Pg 19 Gord deVries Murray Hale 705-4 7 4-2217 Organizational Memberships -Pgs. 20 & 21 519-668-0418 Donald Tarte Tasha Heart-Social Media Just A Bluegrass Wife-Pgs. 23-26 877 -876-3369 Wilson Moore Congratulations to Spinney Brothers-Pg 26 Bill Blance Jerry Murphy, Region 1 SPECIAL NOTICE-Pg. 27 Representative 905-451-9077 Tim's CD Reviews-(Unavailable for this publication) Rick Ford- Region 4 Music Biz Article (Unavailable for this publication) Representative Advertising Pages-various pages Editor's Message - Any bands wishing to have this information included must provide itto me before September 15th, 2012. The Leann Chadbourn email address to send it to is at the bottom of this page We have some great articles in this issue with our trusty and on the Notice. writers, Gord DeVries, Denis Chadbourn, Diana van Holten, Wilson Moore & Darcy Whiteside. Since it's vacation time I Again, BMAC welcomes any interesting articles or infor­ took it seriously, and didn't get out reminders to everyone for mation relevant to Bluegrass and are hopeful to start receiv­ our deadline dates so we will be missing our Music Biz Arti­ ing articles from Coast to Coast. With so many Bluegrass cle and our CD Reviews. Don't worry, I told them they Associations and Clubs across Canada there truly is no would have to work harder for the next Publication. We also shortage of news. Anyone willing to submit an article, please have a great review of Bluegrass In the Country by Brother contact me at [email protected]. John. Please note, I have included a sample for what is If you have a special cause that is near and dear to your required from all Bands wishing to include their Band Profile heart, send us in a photo; let us know about it. And remem­ in the next issue. Deadline Date for that submission is ber, you can have your event posted for free at September 15th. I want to make it clear that I will not be WWW. BLU EG RASSCANADA. CA surfing the net to acquire this information this year. Page 2 PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE Whoaaaa .... someone please put the brakes on! This summer is rolling past like the fingers of a banjo picker, playing Earl's Breakdown in double time. Despite having a few items checked off my summer list of things to do, there is so much more left undone. Somebody once told me that the older you get, the faster time flys ... many retirees I talk to, say they are busier now than when they worked, and wonder aloud, how they ever had time to work. Despite my ainxt about unfinished business, I have managed to enjoy more than just a few lazy, hazy, days, at bluegrass festivals. Seated in my lawnchair, with the sounds of three part harmony washing over me ... For me, that's when the passage of time, seems to slow a bit. The rhythm of life pulses with noticeably less stress. The dog pants intermittently, the buzz of the Pine Beatles rises and falls in cresendo and diminuendo ... and there I am, transported back in time. Take away the amps and the RVs, and this could be the way it was, even long before my time. Canada has a rich history of bluegrass, which (as I have pointed out before) was mainstream country not so long ago. I embrace this heritage, and it's cultural diversity. Aspects of gospel, folk, celtic, fiddle, and more, are all now incorporated into the bluegrass genre. Musical skills and traditions passed down through generations, still course through the fingers ofthe players, as they per­ form set after set of new and traditional songs. Some of the players are first generation musicians, who have taken to bluegrass as if it were some vital component of their genetic code. Isn't it? Aren't we all looking to reconnect with a part of our history, that isn't fraught with synthetic rhythms, pounding drum machines, ear-splitting bass, and looped-over pitch-corrected vocal feats of engineering? Bluegrass is real. There are no gimmicks! It is something that can be perfomed live and un-plugged, and sound consistently organic. What you hear on an al­ bum, is essentially what you hear on stage. No kareokee here! If kids these days spent half as much time playing a real guitar, rather than playing Guitar Hero video games, they would be virtuo­ so performers. That is why I verily believe that festivals need to include participatory events for children. For example, the last festival I attended was Rivervalley; the festival mascot dresses in costume, gives kids musical instruments and instruction, and as the bands play on-stage, the kids form a line and weave in and out of the crowd, on and off stage, and dance and sing ... Although it may not be a conscious act, the seeds of bluegrass are being planted. And with the demographic shift with the blue-haired­ crowd fading out, new, young, and enthusiastic kids are learning about history and life, and music and values. This is what life is all about. When I'm dead and gone from this world, what will be left, but the seeds I planted for the next gene­ rations. Sometimes my wife tries to tell me, that bluegrass is not a matter of life and death ... and I agree ... it's more important than that. With warm regards from bluegrass central, Page 3 Tipsfor Bands: How to get the most out of your BMAC membership. by Gord DeVries The Bluegrass Canada Make your recordings Band Profile Fmture: serving as Membership Co-onli available nationally in and Webmaster. the Bluegrass Canada This is a special feature, offered at All information related to Bluegrass no additional cost, to help you Shoppe: Canada Baml. Profiles should be present and market your band to addressed to: prospective presenters. You will be This new feature will be available memb [email protected] featured in a dedicated page, which by the 1st of September. or by phmte: 519-668-0418 will provide all the information Event postings are made by BMAC's needed by people looking for a Where You're Playing: band to play their event. The page Regional Representatives, which are will be accessible from your listing contacted by em ail through the List the prestigious ho okings website interface. on the "Resources-Bands' page you've accomplished in the past. which has Canada divided into five Our Regional Representatives regions. Use the B:MAC Event Calendar are: to post all your upcoming gigs .... Region 1 (Atlantic)- Jerry Murphy Who You Are: Go to www.bluegrasscanada.ca Region 2 (Central) - Rolly Aucoin "Events" then "List }Tow· click on Region 3 (Prairies) - TB.A 11 Tell your story with a compelling event **FREE*"' • Fill in the form and Region 4 (Y,T est Coast) - Rick Ford bio. Include individual band submit. IT'S JUST THAT EASY! Region 5 (The North) - T .B.A member bio s (with photos). List the bands' achievements, In summary - benefits of For more information about the nominations, awards received, etc. BMAC membership Blllegrass Canada Shoppe program, contact: Remember, prospective promoters memb [email protected] • Band 1i sting and a Page on will be looking here first. -or by phme: 519-668-0418 BMAC website with link to Band web site What You Look Like: • Band listing in magazine • Free event postings at Include a v,1,w·wbluegrasscanada. ca photo as in the • Band Listing on Facebook example at left (with events) and individual • BMAC creating new audience band member markets, and opportunities for photos. bluegrass to be seen, heard and played Add photos of the band in action - • educational seminars/tools (ie. on stage, at jams, etc. Let your Gary Hub bard) imagination loose ... make it as • Advertising at a 2 5% di scount interesting as you can. from our regular rates. Page 4 Now Booking! The Bluegrass '.\.1artins consist of: El·dn ( Dad) - Bass&: \ ·ocals Jcan.l - riddle & \·ocals Larita - Dobr<~ & \'ocals Dale - Guitar & \ ·ocals Jamee - B.m30 & Yocals I.cc - . 1andolin & \ : ocals Anne makes special appearances \.Vi h her fiddle and dancmg shoes! APPEARING AT CONESTOGA TRA ILS BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL AUGUST 17-19, 2012 2007 SPBGMA IB C in N ash ville, T N 8 Time Spbgma··1nstrumental Group of the year" 2009 Spbgma Vocal Group of the Year•· 2009 IBMA Showcase Band From Jefferson City, Missouri this band has gained notoriety nationwide as one of the best young bands to =me along in a great while! Staying busy performing coast to coast from week co week, their talent and popularity grows =ntinually. The Martins are a high energy, fun loving family group that v-n.11 entertain you v.rith their traditional and =ntemporary efforts. Bringing to you a number of fan favorites and some original songs v.rith spine tingling harmony along v.rith some blistering instrumentals cha will keep you glued to your seat!!! "This is the real deal with the real feel.