Festival Goes Beyond the Blues
The Saskatoon Blues Festival By Jenn Smith Nelson Coming up on its 12th year, the Saskatoon Blues Festival is stronger than ever. If you were lucky enough to have attended last year, you will recall the memorable and vibrant performances of 2013 Juno nominee’s Shakura S’Aida and Steve Strongman, the exuberant and electric Marcia Ball, or the up close and personal acoustic sets of legends, Steve James and ‘Blind Boy’ Paxton. This multi-faceted festival offers up some of the best local, national and international Blues talent playing the circuits today making it a must attend.
the chance to take in the weekend performances. In fact, the notable ‘Blues in the Schools’ (BITS) program utilizes festival musicians to impart their knowledge on the history, art form, movement and relevance of Blues. Workshops, swap meets, concert series and cabarets make up the rest of the very full-bodied Saskatoon Blues Festival.
However, there is so much more than the incredible caliber of the weekend performances. For weeks prior to the festival, Blues music can be enjoyed at various Saskatoon clubs, bars and coffee shops. Leading up to and during the festival, volunteers and musicians can be found spreading the gospel of the Blues - offering insight on styles, education and history of why from its humble roots up to today, Blues matter. The outreach offers the chance for numerous Saskatoon communities to benefit.
The BITS program has run for 10 years and is a very important component of the festival. Last year alone, 19 schools and approximately 3,700 students participated in the program. Volunteer and Blues Society Member, Linda McFaul expressed the program’s ongoing value “as a vehicle to get students interested in the blues, and a valuable education on racism and music history.”
Outreach programming is extended to senior living facilities where over 400 individuals get the opportunity to have an artist visit them in their residence. And the same goes for schools, targeting the younger audiences who wouldn’t have
For the past five years, volunteering with the Saskatoon Blues Festival in a number of different capacities including as a board member, McFaul is back again leading the charge resurrecting the Blues Camp after the program took a brief hiatus. Along with its return comes a powerful theme for this year’s camp – ‘There ain’t no bullies in Blues’. Like the BITS program, the Blues Camp, sponsored by Cameco Corp., will offer youth, ages 12-17 the opportunity to learn about the Blues and its history while also getting to participate with a festival performance. The chance to learn vocals, bass, percussion, guitars and more, bring excited youth of varying ages together to take part in the camp that runs just before the festival from February 18-21. “It is incredible to see how these kids gel and how cohesive the groups became,” said McFaul speaking of past Blues Camps. “I really just wanted to see it happen again.” McFaul explained how Blues is a great platform for tackling this topic. “Blues music originated out of oppression,” said McFaul. “It’s a natural fit. The camp also has the ability for youth to work on their social skills and through the Blues, express their emotions.” “These kids really come together at the camp and even though they are from different backgrounds and are different ages, they all really get along. This [program] gives us the chance to be involved in some small way in talking about bullying.“
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FOR SASKATCHEWAN WOMEN | VOL. 3 ISSUE 1, JANUARY 2014
And again like the BITS program, which traditionally brings actual Blues musicians into the schools, youth who attend the Blues Camp also receive mentorship from musicians. Musicians see it as an opportunity to give back making this a win-win partnership between mentors and mentees. This year, Nick Longpre and Brandon Ziola, members from popular Saskatoon trio, Apollo Cruz will be taking part and leading