Category: Fensala Hall

Above: Photo of Ryan McMahon provided by the artist for promotional material.

The March 8th, 2025 Fensala Hall concert with Ryan McMahon had ENERGY: with stories, Dad jokes, and of course GREAT music that made the evening soar! He brought his old lamp and comfy kitchen chair and welcomed us all to join him for an evening of heartfelt music and laughter!

Ryan played a couple of covers including “Old Man” by Neil Young. During his performance we were treated to original songs; many from his latest album “Live Now”, plus his just released “Used to be You”.

Ryan “lost an hour” in Markerville, staying overnight in the Buttermaker’s House. He joined the Kaffistofa coffee gang on Sunday for a few more stories and laughs to start the day, and had a photo taken with Marie Sveinson and Frank Sigurdson for good measure!

Ryan is a third of the way through his LEARNING TO SHINE: 25 Years in Music tour. He plays Ponoka on March 10th, and then it’s on to Saskatoon and Wynyard. His tour takes him to Manitoba and Ontario; hitting Alberta again for several shows, and finally BC for even more during the last week of March and onward!

Check out the itinerary on his website at https://ryanmcmahon.com/

Photos by Byron Nilsson

After spending 2023 recording & releasing his seventh studio album and touring as Burton Cummings’ & Tom Cochrane’s support act, Ryan McMahon is spending his 2024/2025 on the run once more. No stranger to Canadian highways, Ryan will be embarking on several months of tour dates between Sept 2024 & April of 2025.

A 25-year veteran of Canada’s musical landscape, Ryan has long been a genre fence-sitter, blending the boundaries of folk, rock, roots & country. He’s shared the stage with everyone from Mother Mother to Lisa Loeb to Aaron Pritchett, and at the age of 44 has just begun writing music for his next album. Equally at home fronting a full band or playing solo like so many folk troubadours before him, Ryan’s sincere songwriting & dynamic delivery resonates with any audience.

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

Above: Photo of Shaye Zadravec and Tim Leacock provided by the artist for promotional material

On November 9th, 2024, Fensala Hall was brimming with the great sounds of Shaye Zadravec and Tim Leacock during the second offering of the Fensala Hall Concert Series 2024/2025 season. Playing to an almost full house, the duo delivered some great classic country along with Shaye’s own ballads. — Photos by John McKechnie

Hailing from Calgary, AB, Shaye Zadravec, a strong vocalist and passionate performer, continues to develop and pursue her career in music.

Since beginning in 2011, she has released an EP, “Norway”, and a full length album, “Now and Then”. Both recordings reached audiences within Canada and overseas which has since led to two European tours throughout the Netherlands.

Accompanied by seasoned musician, Tim Leacock, the pair weave originals and carefully chosen material in their set. Shaye flourishes in the art of interpretation and draws influence from a wide variety of artists and genres carrying her audience on an emotional musical journey.

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

Above: Image provided by The Travelling Mabels for promotional material

FENSALA HALL CONCERT SERIES presents THE TRAVELLING MABELS!
October 5th, 2024 was a fun-filled evening with great music, free popcorn, prize draws, free dessert, a few tears, and lots of laughs! The standing ovation brought the band back for three more terrific tunes!
Here are photos from the much enjoyed Saturday evening!

Photos by Byron Nilsson

The Travelling Mabels are an award-winning folk/country group from southern Alberta. For more than fifteen years, they have brought their own unique brand of harmony, humour and musicianship to audiences from coast to coast, performing at venues ranging from folk clubs and community halls to big festivals. They have shared the stage with many notable artists including Ian Tyson, Tom Jackson, The Elvis Imperials and Gene Watson. They have also collectively written and recorded four CDs which have enjoyed extensive airplay on radio stations such as CBC and CKUA.

As an ardent fan once humorously stated “If the Eagles and the Trio (Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris) were a family, then surely their children would be The Travelling Mabels”.

Their song release, Alberta Blue, has been a long time fan favourite and features a cameo vocal performance by the legendary Ian Tyson.

Their latest album titled “Take Me Home” features 11 songs, comprised of mostly original music, a Billy Joel instrumental cover and a remix of their most popular song “Alberta Blue”.
Additionally, the lyrics to Alberta Blue have been featured in an award winning Children’s board book titled “Alberta Blue – A Prairie Sky Lullaby”.

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

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

Above: Promotional photo of 6 Minute Warning supplied by the group

Fensala Hall Concert Series with 6 Minute Warning, March 25, 2023

6 Minute Warning is a Canadian vocal group based out of Edmonton, Alberta. The group consists of six members with extensive backgrounds in rock, pop, jazz, classical, and choral music. 6 Minute Warning is renowned for its exceptional singing tight harmonies, seamless phrasing, thrilling leadsolos, and intricate beatboxing. Their love for singing and their ability to create a soundscape with their voices continues to inspire audiences both young and old.

The group’s repertoire ranges from the upbeat stylings of rock and pop music to the complex nuances of jazz, drawing influence from Boyz II Men, Take 6, Michael Jackson and many others. 6 Minute Warning has had the pleasure of performing with many talented artists and organizations, including Ben Folds, Glass Tiger, Mark Masri, Ruben Studdard, the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, and Pro Coro Canada. They have also performed as guest artists at various festivals including the Canadian Cantando Festivals, and ChoralFest North alongside the
talented contemporary vocal ensemble Sixth Wave. In 2008 they competed in David Foster’s Star Search, placing as finalists and performing at his prestigious charity auction.

Recognizing the importance of encouraging choral and vocal education and encouraging young men to sing, 6 Minute Warning performs and presents workshops for many high schools and community groups.

Above: Promotional photo of Megan Nash supplied by the artist

“Megan Nash is writing some of the most beautiful songs in this country right now”
– Tom Power on CBC’s Q.

Megan Nash is a songwriter that lives on Treaty 4 Territory. They’ve won and been nominated for numerous awards, including a 2019 JUNO Award nomination for Contemporary Roots Album of the Year for Seeker, 2021 Saskatchewan Music Award for Alternative Artist of the Year, and 2021 Best of Moose Jaw Award for Best Musical Artist. The recognition back home is in no small part due to her long and winding history of hitting the road, where she’s done international showcases in the United States, the UK, Germany, and Estonia on top of countless gigs in Canada’s small towns and sprawling metropolises.

Megan Nash & the Best of Intentions – Are We Still in Love? (Official Video)

Megan Nash & the Best of Intentions – Are We Still in Love? (Official Video)

‘Are We Still in Love?’ from the album “Soft Focus Futures”

Filmed on Treaty 4 Territory
Produced by Hot Tag Films
Creative Concept/Co-producer – Megan Nash
Directors – Rob White and Megan Nash
Director of Photography – Rob White
MUA – Gina Brass

Special thank you to Darnell Stewart, Tanner Wilhelm Hale, Brady Frank, Dalton Lam, and Kara Golemba. This video was made possible with the financial support of Creative Saskatchewan.

Are We Still in Love?

they tore all of them down
they want to farm that land
but it’s really quite a pity
hard to find a treeline like that

they picked all of them up
heard they made a deal overseas
but it’s really quite a shame
that train cry is nothing but a memory

Are We Still in Love?

they burned all of them down
hard to tell it was a yard
but if you’re walking through in June you can still find asparagus and rhubarb

and they closed the store
right after they shut down the school
but when the market got bad
it felt like there wasn’t much left to do

Are We Still in Love?

when this is all gone
will we still be left
or will we always be thinking about
what’s
next

Are We Still in Love?

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www.megannash.ca
Copyright 2021 by Megan Nash, under exclusive license to acronym Records