Author: Historic Markerville

Jim Martin

Jim Martin and Blair Thorson booked the Buttermaker’s House for July 19 to 21, 2024 to display their artwork and perform demonstrations of cottonwood bark carving for the public.

Jim decided he would take the opportunity to present “Stories with a Smile”, introducing and promoting the art of oral storytelling for adults through his affiliation with Storytellingalberta.com which has Chapters throughout Canada. It’s existed for 40 years, is a nonprofit, and its goal is to promote the art of oral storytelling. There’s a chapter in Calgary, in Edmonton, another one in Strathcona, and just recently one was formed in Red Deer.

From Jim’s presentation, which took place over two days, July 20 & 21, 2024:

“And what is a story? Well… It can be anything you want it to be.

“Usually people start with personal stories, things in their life or events that other people might be interested in, and it gives an advantage in that you already know the story. You lived it; so you don’t have to study up on it much.

“It could also be a folktale. There’s a lot of folktales that’ve gone through hundreds of years and the poor ones have been edited out. They’re a great source of stories, and they really give you a message at the end as well.

“You can have an epic story about history; or a poem, which is just a story that rhymes. It could be a song, because songs are a story with music. A story can be anything you like, and you can either write it yourself, or you use an existing one from a book or online. Out of respect for the author, you usually acknowledge the author of the story. And if you’re telling for profit, you should really contact the author and get their permission to tell the story.

“So stories have three elements: The story, the teller, and the audience.

“The story has got to be relevant to the audience; have some meaning for them and be memorable.

“The story teller, if he hasn’t written that story himself or herself, can take that story and manipulate it and make it fit their presentation style. And they present it to the audience.

“The role of the audience is first to be attentive to the teller, because unlike music where there’s lots of noise, if somebody is talking over top of the teller or using cell phones or the like, it really disturbs him. The second roll is to give reactions to the story. A good story teller is always watching the audience to see how they’re reacting. He may find that they aren’t reacting the way he thought they would. So next time he tells the story a bit differently.”

Buttermaker’s House Artist Residency is supported by Red Deer County and Alberta Foundation for the Arts. An award is available to qualified applicants, sponsored by INLNA (Icelandic National League of North America).

https://www.historicmarkerville.com/buttermaker-house.html

Suzie Vinnick at Fensala Hall

Above: Photo of Suzie Vinnick provided by the artist for promotional material

SUZIE VINNICK took the stage in Markerville on April 20th, 2024. The last show of the season for Fensala Hall Concert Series was a packed house, and Suzie captivated the crowd with her exciting mix of original songs and covers. The stage was set up on the east wall of the Hall, and when the bass guitar came out she was “shaking the ceiling” with her stand-out performance.

On Saturday, April 20th, Canadian Folk Music award winner Suzie Vinnick led the audience on a musical adventure – with stories, original songs, and covers – for our final concert of the season in Fensala Hall. Suzie’s gorgeous voice and impressive command of guitar and bass turned the evening into a delightful and enduring memory for all.
Here are some more photos from the evening.

Photos by Byron Nilsson

A Saskatoon native transplanted to the Niagara Region of Ontario, Canada, Suzie Vinnick is the proud owner of a gorgeous voice, impressive guitar and bass chops and an engagingly candid performance style. Suzie has won 11 Maple Blues Awards, one Canadian Folk Music Award and is a three-times Juno Nominee. She has also twice won the International Songwriting Competition – Blues Category. She released her seventh solo album entitled “Fall Back Home” in September 2022.

Sponsored in part by Red Deer County and Alberta Foundation for the Arts!

John Hewitt Trio at Fensala Hall

Above: Promotional photo of John Hewitt, submitted by the artist

The popcorn is all swept up and tables and chairs are put away, but my, oh my, what a great concert thanks to John Hewitt (Acoustic guitar, vocals, harmonica); Patrick Hughes (Electric guitar, vocals); and Connor Miskiman on Upright Bass.

Our fourth concert of the season was held March 16, 2024 at Fensala Hall in Markerville with a full house of music lovers enjoying the show. The John Hewitt Trio played several original songs from their albums, and sprinkled in a pinch of John Prine and a dash of stories from life on the road.

And when asked for some audience participation where we chimed in on a tune’s chorus, it turns out Markerville has one of the best group of singers for MILES around! Who knew?

Photos by Byron Nilsson

John Hewitt is a force not seen since the end of the 70’s. There are bands, artists and songwriters that mimic and imitate but John Hewitt absorbs and reimagines. From folk clubs to house concerts, festivals to halls John is a master of storytelling, arranging, producing and a painter of poems scarcely seen in today’s musical climate.

Since his early teens taking in the powerful sounds of the Beatles, Tom Petty, Neil Young, Bob Dylan, Van Morrison and the Grateful Dead he has been wandering, searching and yielding a crop of new ideas from the old world. A multi-instrumentalist from Sault Ste. Marie Ontario and being Alberta bound since 2018 John’s mark on the Western music scene is impossible to go unnoticed. Performing over 150 shows per year (From Alberta and British Columbia to Montana, Colorado, California and beyond), covering 20,000 miles per annum and releasing upwards of 3 albums in that same timeframe there is no comparison to the work ethic, the attitude and the drive that John has as an artist.

Fronting the New Americans and touring solo most of the year his output impresses the young and the old, the folk and the rock, the country and the town and the only thing left at the end of the night is a feeling you won’t get anywhere else.

Sponsored in part by Red Deer County and Alberta Foundation for the Arts!

Brooke Wylie at Fensala Hall

Above: Promotional material for Brooke Wylie Band concert in early 2024

What do you get for your $30 TICKET?
Coffee and Dessert is included! FREE Popcorn! Door Prizes! Bar Service is available! And of course you get to enjoy an incredible concert with the BROOKE WYLIE BAND on February 10th, 2024 while supporting Stephan G. Stephansson Icelandic Society in their ongoing projects.
— Facebook Post from February 6, 2024

Pre-show and halftime. Their great sound and fun and relaxed stage presence made for a night to remember. It was all that and “Garth-Brooke”

Photos by Byron Nilsson

Below: “Another wonderful night of music at historic Fensala Hall in Markerville with the Brooke Wylie Band.” — Photos by John McKechnie

Brooke Wylie is a uniquely Canadian roots singer/songwriter born and raised in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

Boasting three full length albums under her belt to date, Brooke and her Calgary based band released a brand new handful of songs, in an EP called “Part One”, on September 13, 2019 These songs were arranged by The Brooke Wylie Band, welcoming Paul Holden (Lethbridge, Alberta) on bass for the recording.

The powerful musicians making up The Brooke Wylie Band currently includes Garth Kennedy (keys), Jay Bowcott (lead guitar), Ben Jackson (drums) and newest member, Curtis Glas on bass!

Sponsored in part by Red Deer County and Alberta Foundation for the Arts!

SGSIS Newsletter’s logo, 1989

Looking through the archives of older SGSIS NEWSLETTERS recently, via “the binder” kept in the Creamer Archives of hole-punched printouts starting in 1989, has been quite interesting.

The first thing to catch my eye was some of the timeless artwork displayed in many of the issues. A quick check with Marie Sveinson revealed that both Creamery images were created by her mother, PHYLLIS JOHANNSON. Bernice Andersen confirmed the newsletter’s first logo with the Stephansson house artwork was designed by Les Johnston. I’m posting scanned images of photocopied papers, so the reproduction quality is not the best. The artwork is wonderful, and I feel worth sharing again!

— Facebook post from February 2, 2024

John Wort Hannam at Fensala Hall

Above: Promotional photo supplied by the artist

It was a wonderful evening of music and stories at Fensala Hall in Markerville on November 11th, 2023. It began with Hamo on his accordion and keyboard reliving EuroVision, a fun way to start the evening. Then John Wort Hannam and Scott Duncan regaled us with stories and songs. The sold-out crowd thoroughly enjoyed the wit and wisdom of the musical numbers and went home fully satisfied with the performance of two craftsmen. — Photos by John McKechnie

In 2001, John Wort Hannam quit his teaching job and spent 10 months depleting his savings while sat at his kitchen table, wearing a lucky hat, writing his first ten songs. Those songs would become his first recording Pocket Full Of Holes, released in 2003.

Eighteen years later, the Alberta musician has released seven full-length recordings and has a few feathers in that lucky hat. Feathers that include a JUNO nomination, a Canadian Folk Music Award for Best Album of the Year, A CBC Galaxie Rising Star Award, a Kerrville Texas New Folk win, and numerous Western Canadian Music Award and Canadian Folk Music Award nominations.

Recent years have seen a great deal of change in John’s life – becoming a Dad, turning 50, a move to the big city (Lethbridge), a marital reckoning, a long, deep bout of depression, and episodes of losing his singing voice. But John has emerged a better songwriter, a better singer, and a better player. On Acres Of Elbow Room, John has further found his lyrical style and has landed squarely on his niche in the folk/roots world. He’s spent years learning the craft of songwriting and is taking those tools to write some of his most personal songs. He has, quite literally, found his voice.

These days John Wort Hannam has the same lucky hat but a new sound, a new band, a new confidence, and a ton of new songs. And it’s coming across loud and clear in his live show. With his firecracker band – Jason Valleau on upright bass, Jon May on drums, Scott Duncan on fiddle, and Stephen Fletcher on keys – John is making waves in a new soundscape.

Sponsored in part by Red Deer County and Alberta Foundation for the Arts!

Matt Masters at Fensala Hall

Above: Photo of Matt Masters submitted by the artist for promotional material

“Matt Masters is first up for this year’s Concert Series at Fensala Hall. You can still get season tickets for $125 for all five concerts. Or pick and choose which concert you want to come to. This is a fundraiser to help pay for the upkeep of our five historic sites and gives you a chance to support the Alberta talent that will bring great music to your community.” — from a Facebook post on Sept. 17, 2023.

September 23, 2023 — Setup is complete and sound checks are starting. Doors open at 7:00 pm tonight at Fensala Hall for MATT MASTERS. Concert starts at 7:30 pm. 24 Main Avenue, Markerville.

Photos by Byron Nilsson

The Matt Masters concert at Fensala Hall was a treat last night! Matt and his band, Jeremy Gigneaux on fiddle and Wayne Garrett on steel guitar were a delight to listen to. — Photos by John McKechnie

Born in North Battleford, Saskatchewan and raised in Alberta, Matt Masters has had an extensive career in the arts as well as in politics. He was program leader for Alberta Music Cities at The National Music Centre, coordinator for 125th Anniversary Programs at Lougheed House, and event coordinator for Toronto Blues Society, founded and developed Canadian festivals and events such as the Spaghetti Western Music Festival, The Barney Bentall Cariboo Express, as well as produced for The Maples Blues Awards and CBC Radio. Masters has emceed countless reputable events including YYC Music Awards, Alberta Spotlight, Beltline Bonspiel, Calgary Folk Festival, and Bow Valley Music Club. Not only impassioned by the arts, Masters’ words have always been backed by his actions and he ran head to head against Stephen Harper in the 2015 federal election as the NDP candidate in Calgary Heritage.

More recently, Matt Masters has founded the quickly expanding Canadian company Curbside Concerts that has employed many musicians through Covid-19, while safely delivering live music performances to communities across the country. In 2020, Matt added a couple of new nominations to his repertoire of Music Industry and Person of The Year at the YYC Awards, which at the time, he was also a presenter for.

After a hiatus of almost a decade from his last full-length album, Matt Masters has now leaned back on his first love of performing and recording Country Western music and turned his efforts inward to create a lasting piece of music history. The result of these recordings are an homage to some of the world’s most prestigious country greats titled Everybody Loves A Winner which honours Matt’s deep respect of the legacy that is Country and Western music. The album includes covers of the likes of Willie Nelson, Joe South, Ian Tyson, and Dimitri Tiomkin. Everybody Loves A Winner is produced by fellow Canadian Leeroy Stagger and features some of the country’s finest players, including guest spots by Jill Barber and Barney Bentall. Matt Masters’ new album checks another box off toward a growing list of his esteemed accomplishments.

Sponsored in part by Red Deer County and Alberta Foundation for the Arts!

2023-09-15-Grand-Opening

“Good afternoon and Velkommen, Ladies and Gentlemen, honoured guests.”

September 15, 2023 at 2 pm, master of ceremonies d’Arcy Gamble drew the attention of the guests and began the program for the Grand Opening of the Buttermaker’s House celebration, on behalf of the Stephan G. Stephansson Icelandic Society (SGSIS).
Acknowledging that “we could not have done it without help from all corners”, d’Arcy began introducing representatives from the Federal Government, Alberta Government, and Red Deer County. We heard presentations from Tom Sveinson (Past President of SGSIS), Donna Nelson, and President John McKechnie. Finally it was time for the Ribbon Cutting, with the help of special guests Val Osborne, the youngest granddaughter to Carl Morkeberg; and Joan Sandham, the oldest living granddaughter of William Haine Jackson.