Category: Columns

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Hillbilly Highway – Recovering from a wild week(end) at Bird’s Hill

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by Sheldon Birnie

It’s that time of year again, where brain cells struggle to regrow after an onslaught of booze, chemicals, smoke, and sun. The week(end) that is Winnipeg Folk Fest failed, once again, to disappoint this festival goer. With a diverse and interesting line-up, beautiful weather, and wild & wacky times in the campground, I’m feeling exhausted and inspired once again. Continue reading “Hillbilly Highway – Recovering from a wild week(end) at Bird’s Hill”

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Hillbilly Highway – Hitting the Highway to Dauphin

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by Sheldon Birnie

Last week, my adventure to Calgary to cover Sled Island took a turn for the worst. Southern Alberta was hit with an unprecedented disaster that forced the cancellation of the bulk of the festival (and all my coverage), as well as the evacuation of up to 100,000. My heart goes out to all the folks who are still out work and house or home. The damage is, quite frankly, staggering. But the people and local governments in the area are doing all they can to get back to normal in the face of calamity.

I’m hoping that my bad luck with weather and festivals does not hold any further, as I prepare today to hit the Highway to Dauphin Countryfest early tomorrow morning. Vehicle is secured, camping gear prepared, and press pass waiting at the gate. It’s gonna be a wild one, friends. Continue reading “Hillbilly Highway – Hitting the Highway to Dauphin”

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Hillbilly Highway – Northcote comes a knockin’

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by Sheldon Birnie

Northcote is the musical project of Victoria-by-way-of-Regina’s Matt Goud. With the recent release of his self-titled, sophomore album, Northcote expands on his trademark sound with a more confident, more fully realized LP. Backed by the largest band he’s ever taken on the road with him, Northcote is blazing a trail down the Hillbilly Highway, from one end of Canada to the other.  With stops in Winnipeg and Calgary for Sled Island upcoming, Matt took a few minutes out of a traffic jam in Quebec to talk to Stylus about the new record, the Highway, and attending boarding school in Dauphin, MB. Continue reading “Hillbilly Highway – Northcote comes a knockin’”

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Hillbilly Highway – Blake Berglund, Real Deal

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by Sheldon Birnie

Blake Berglund is a Saskatchewan songwriter with a keen eye for detail and the work ethic of his cowboy forefathers. With a full summer of bookings looming ahead, Stylus caught up with hard hustling troubadour on a break from seeding at his family farm in Kennedy, SK, to talk about touring, songwriting, his background in hard rock and country, and contemporary roots music. Our conversation stretched on for longer than anticipated, but here’s the bulk of what Blake had to tell me. Continue reading “Hillbilly Highway – Blake Berglund, Real Deal”