AT FOLKWAY MUSIC,
STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOHN SEWELL
in an upbeat area of Waterloo, the glistening eye candy of acoustic and electric guitars, banjos, mandolins and ukuleles is staggering. The fruits of owner Montreal native Mark Stutman’s labour — old and new fretted instruments, bought, sold, repaired and made — are housed and displayed throughout the building, itself laden with a rich musical history. An artist first, astute businessman and luthier, he is a true maven, particularly with Gibson guitars, which he speaks about at conferences continent-wide. He also spoke with us about Folkway Music, a place that’s guaranteed to stir your musical soul. guitars and make left-handed guitars that would then be available.
Q AThe fellow I learned from (Sergei de Jonge, a master luthier), who’s still teaching, is in the Gatineau area of Quebec. I took a residential course and I stuck around and worked for him after I finished. Then I started to build instruments and it morphed into this. After getting my honours degree in environmental studies, geography and urban planning at the University of Waterloo, I decided to stay in the area and picked Guelph. I opened Folkway Music in 1999. Waterloo hadn’t blossomed then the way it has now and 13 years later, in 2012, I ended up back here in Waterloo.