It was a great surprise to see Steve Seskin on the bill at the Canmore Folk Festival. Steve Seskin is the kind of songwriter who has all the other songwriters running across the grounds to see him perform at a festival. During a career lasting 40 years, he has become known as a folk songwriter who has penned some of the most popular country songs of the last 2 decades. His songs such as Life’s a Dance, and I Think About You have been recorded by Tim McGraw, Mark Wills, John Michael Montegomery, Collin Raye and many others. With 7 number one hits and many charted recordings by other artists, he describes himself as a songwriter-singer, but he is truly a seasoned performer in his own right. Perhaps his best known song among parents and educators is Don’t Laugh at Me, which has become an international anthem against bullying. Over the past several years, Steve has also become quite involved with performing at school assemblies and writing songs with children. You can find out more about his work with youth on his website.
Steve was very generous to sit down with me for a wide ranging discussion about songwriting during a whirlwind day prior to his feature performance at the festival just before flying home.
Glen Reid is a veteran of the Canadian Music scene. He began to make a name for himself in the late 1960s, in the folk community in the Yorkville district in Toronto. Throughout tht 70′s he was a session musician and band member on several popular Canadian television shows including Singalong Jubilee, John Allan Cameron’s Let’s Have A Caleigh, The Ryan’s Fancy/Tommy Makem Show, The Harry Hibbs Show, and the George Hamilton IV Show.
In the 80s he moved to Burks Falls Ontario, where he worked as a cabinet maker, raises horses and became a well known luthier.
You can read more of his stories and purchase his albums at glenreid.com.
By the time this is released, the 2011 Mariposa Folk Festival will have passed. This is the last of my interviews recorded at the 2010 edition of Mariposa. I have known Blaise Alleyne for several years, mostly through social media. Blaise is a multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter, Catholic, and programmer from Toronto. He is deeply interested in the Free culture movement who contributes to free software projects, is a regular contributor to Techdirt, and releases his music under Creative Commons Licences. He is in demand as a violin player with many Ontario musicians, including, Mike Celia, Dave Borins and Robyn Dell’Unto.
Last month my family attended the Canmore Folk Festival. This is part 2 of a showcase concert put on by U22 productions on July 29 at The Communitea Cafe in Canmore. U22 is a non profit organization dedicated to nurturing and developing the talents of Albertan performers under the age of 22.
Performers featured this episode:
The Doll Sisters are a sister duo who write and perform haunting old-country inspired songs with tight harmonies accompanied by guitar, fiddle and mandolin.
Braden Gates is a champion fiddle player, but he is also an adept fingerstyle guitar player and accomplished storyteller/songwriter.
Samantha and Emily Schultz are sisters from Edmonton with rich voices, and a knack for writing catchy, folk flavoured pop songs.
Last month my family attended the Canmore Folk Festival. While we were there I spent alot of time with my friend Rhea March who founded U22 productions. U22 is a non profit organization dedicated to nurturing and developing the talents of Albertan performers under the age of 22. On Friday July 29, The Communitea Cafe in Canmore hosted a showcase concert featuring several young performers. I recorded that concert and will feature the concert recordings in the next 2 podcast episodes.
Performers featured this episode:
Layton Kramer- 16 year old songwriter from Canmore Alberta
Dean Kheroufi is a 16 year old wizard with a 6 string bass and a looping pedal.
The Command Sisters are 13 and 16 year old sisters who have recently landed a development deal in Nashville. With their catchy melodies and tight harmonies they are an act to watch out for.
Michah Turchet is a 16 year old “country boy” from small town Alberta who has undertaken to master flamenco guitar and he’s well on his way.
I first saw the Breakmen performing at a little stage behind the booths in the middle of the midway at the Edmonton Capital City Exhibition in 2006. Their tight harmonies and obvious respect for bluegrass, country and roots music delighted me from the first song. It was my pleasure to interview Ben, Matt and Lee at the Mariposa Folk Festival last summer.
I only captured a part of the Breakmen and Deep Dark Wood’s powerful rendition of Belong to that Band at Mariposa 2010. Fortunately someone else got it on video and they posted it on their youtube channel.
Next weekend is the 51st annual edition of the Mariposa Folk Festival, and I still find I have 3 shows from last year to release. Last summer, I finally got the chance to interview Suzie Vinnick. I first became aware of Suzie and her amazing voice in the late 80s when I was attending university in Saskatoon. Suzie was a featured performer on a local radio station, C95′s compilation of local musicians, Cityworks 88. Over the years I have seen her perform at numerous festivals, but this is the first time I had a chance to chat with her. You may also recognize her voice from the “Always Tim Horton’s” jingles. Enjoy.
If you are at the Mariposa Folk Festival next weekend, you will find me in the Children’s village building drums with sonotube and packing tape. Drop by and say hello.
You can leave comments on the blog, send me an email to ductapeguy at hotmail dot com or join the For The Sake of the Song Podcast group on Facebook.
