Northern Lights Festival opens with music camp
In a clever bid to restore Bluegrass and Old Tyme music to Saskatchewan’s cultural life, the Northern Lights Bluegrass & Old Tyme Music Society hosts an annual summer music camp (August 13–17).
This unique all-ages camp, which runs Monday to Friday, is scheduled the week leading up to the 13th annual Northern Lights Bluegrass & Old Tyme Music festival. (August 17–19 in the boreal forest at the Ness Creek Site near Big River.)
Eighteen professional musicians assemble each August to provide instruction. It’s a rare opportunity to meet and study with bluegrass and Old Tyme music all-stars.
There is no better way to hone your banjo, dobro, mandolin or fiddle skills than with the handson help of a professional musician.
“Bluegrass and Old Tyme music is difficult to master,” says music camp coordinator Tracy Lalonde in Saskatoon. “Our music camp students are passionate about music and their instruments. And they really want to take that next step and go to the next level.”
Lalonde says that the students don’t want to do it alone. “Music students might take lessons all year but playing alone in your basement just doesn’t cut it. They’re ready to be in a group situation where they can be noticed and participate with more music.” She says they come to music camp for so many reasons but it’s mostly for that inclusive environment where they can get better.
The teaching philosophy of the summer music school is to foster learning in an inclusive way. Lalonde says that everyone has a “starting point.” Students need to be able to play and have positive feedback in order to continue with their studies. “So our instructors foster them with that positive feedback.”
Since it’s a communal event, the students also encourage and mentor each other. In this nurturing setting, emerging players are “encouraged to grow alongside each other rather than compete,” says Lalonde. This creates a positive learning environment for everyone.
Tracy Lalonde, who is originally from Leoville near Big River, is sold on the power of music camp. The self-described “Banjo Mom” is a proud parent to Jaxon Lalonde, 19, who is a successful graduate of music camp.
The banjo player enrolled at age ten and his path was set; Jaxon had found his community. Jaxon now plays in a successful bluegrasspunk trio, In With The Old, with two other music camp students, Ellen Froese-kooijenga and Kasia Thorlakson.
One of the key attractions for returning music camp students is the evolving curriculum. “We’ve added classes almost every year. At first we had one banjo class for all skill levels and then over the years we’ve been able to break the banjo classes into different levels for beginners and intermediate players,” says Lalonde.
She says they’ve also added a special interest class for 2018. “This year it’s Appalachian Old Tyme Dance.”
Also new on the 2018 schedule is a jam band class. “This gives students the chance to play with others where they can learn from the instructor and hone their skills. There are lots of nuances to playing with others,” says Lalonde.
The opportunity to jam with a professional musician must not be missed and this year’s star-studded festival line-up won’t disappoint fans or music camp players.
The 13th annual Northern Lights Bluegrass & Old Tyme Music festival, which runs August 17–19, offers a memorable playbill. The diverse mix of American and Canadian acts share a passion for bluegrass, Americana, Honky-tonk and Old Tyme music.
Highlights include authentic U.S. acts The Barrel Boys, Spencer Branch, The South Carolina Broadcasters and Ben and Joe.
Manitoba’s The Osmond Davis Band is a five-piece that specializes in honky-tonk and bluegrass numbers while Lethbridge’s Shaela Miller Band performs original country blues.
Saskatchewan acts Rugged Little Thing, Gopher Broke and Raven She Hollers are also on the bill. Lalonde says she’s particularly looking forward to Saskatchewan’s Creeland Dancers with their square dance and Métis Jigging performances.
Since it’s central to the society’s mission, Lalonde believes music camp is the humble star of the festival. “People go to festivals for different reasons. One of the biggest goals for us was to get the music back into Saskatchewan families. We felt that it was lost. The music camp is everything.”
If you want to join in this annual summer jam, just follow the strains of bluegrass music to Big River. “Sitting around a campfire and playing music is so magical for people. We do a lot of that,” says Lalonde. “People just can’t get enough of that.”
For more information on music camp and the festival, visit northernlightsbluegrass.com