About us

The Northern Lights Bluegrass and Old Tyme Music Society Inc. is a not for profit organization formed to promote, encourage, foster and cultivate the preservation, appreciation, understanding, enjoyment, accessibility, support and performance of traditional instrumental and vocal music in Saskatchewan.

GOALS
The Society has been formed to create an annual Festival along with other events and workshops that celebrate this re-emerging form of music, providing opportunities for musicians and audiences alike to enjoy and learn this genre so the bluegrass and old time traditions remain and grow as a part of Saskatchewan’s musical fabric.

WHAT WE DO
Foster and cultivate the growth of bluegrass and old tyme music in Saskatchewan; support and encourage Saskatchewan and Canadian artists; provide an audience for emerging local artists by promoting local talent; provide educational workshops and an environment for learning and passing the music to new and experienced artists alike; and, create partnerships and encourage new opportunities for bluegrass and old time music in Saskatchewan.

MEMBERSHIPS
Membership in the Northern Lights Bluegrass and Old Tyme Music Society Inc. has benefits! Members are encouraged to attend and participate in the Society's meetings and have the right to vote for or serve on the Board of Directors.

Another benefit is that members may attend the festival itself in exchange for volunteer time. The Society and Festival are products of a volunteer run non-profit organization. Society memberships are $10 per year.

If you would like more information about becoming a member of the Northern Lights Bluegrass and Old Tyme Music Society, please email info@northernlightsbluegrass.ca or contact President Heather Pocock at 306.343.5671, evenings and weekends.

Cheque or money orders for the membership fee of $10 can also be mailed directly to the Society at 718 10th St. E. Saskatoon, SK, S7H 0H1. Upon receipt of payment, a membership card will be returned via mail.

VOLUNTEERS
Many volunteers contribute many hours to make the Northern Lights Bluegrass and Old Tyme Music Society Inc.’s actvities a reality. All volunteers must be paid members of the Society. Volunteers must work a minimum of 6 hours to receive free entry to the festival.

If you are interested in volunteering or returning as a volunteer please email info@northernlightsbluegrass.ca or contact volunteer coordinator Anne Aalen at 306.343.7389, evenings and weekends.

JUST WHAT IS BLUEGRASS
AND OLD TYME MUSIC?
PDF of article

COMMUNITY CREATING MUSIC
IS POWERFUL AND ENRICHING
The Northern Lights Bluegrass and Old Tyme Workshop Camp and Festival achieves much more than a multi-day event providing education and entertainment in these genres to Saskatchewan, from within our province and beyond.  The annual event is an environment where emerging and experienced musicians can make music together.  There is true artistic merit in the human experience of sharing tunes and creating musical community.

An integral aspect of bluegrass and old time festivals – more than many other festivals – is the musical sharing that happens after the day’s classes or the mainstage performances are through.  It takes the musical experience beyond that of an audio CD or a stage performance, and makes it real, alive and personal.

The form of community musical gathering provided at our festival and workshop camp is one of the few places in our society where age, social and economic status or professional accomplishment don't matter.  One may jam with musicians for years and never know or care what they do for a living.  Age is especially irrelevant.  The practice of passing along knowledge from older to younger generations is strong in traditional genres, and a circle of folks making music will be littered with musicians who've been playing since they were knee-high to a banjo, alongside rank beginners.  Often in these traditional genres, musicians proficient on one instrument will pick up a different one to learn, becoming beginners again. So there's no need to feel self-conscious about musicianship being low-level, and the culture of support gets passed along like the music.

You learn, you do, you teach.

The fond memories we have of our festival and workshop camp are these “real” moments.  Our Board and Society members are enthusiastic about what we have been able to accomplish – we have seen the power of this community musical experience and are excited and charged to provide the opportunity for it to happen again.  There is a wealth of bluegrass and old time music that has flourished in Saskatchewan’s rural environment, but in true grassroots fashion is unorganized and widely unknown, especially in urban areas.  Our efforts to preserve old time prairie music and promote bluegrass fill a big gap in our province, and ensure that this aspect of our musical legacy survives.

The Northern Lights Bluegrass and Old Tyme Music Society creates the vessel, the environment, the context – where these genres of music not only remain alive, but thrive, for the benefit of musicians and music lovers alike - today and for generations to come.

IF YOU LIKE BLUEGRASS MUSIC by Diane Reid
PDF of article