Rhythm of bluegrass music takes over River Valley campground this summer
Bluegrass music is the key to success for a River Valley campground.
This long weekend, more than a dozen bluegrass groups and bands are performing for a large four-day musical bash called the “35th River Valley Country and Bluegrass Gathering”.
Warming up the banjo, fiddle, bass, guitar and vocals for their weekend performances is Southwind, a bluegrass group from the Niagara area. The band members include Denis LePage, banjo player, Eric Brousseau, guitarist, Jim Young, fiddle player, and Gary Glenn, bass player.
“I’ve been playing since I was 15. Once you get bitten by it, you get the bug and it's an itch you have to scratch," said LePage.
This is the first of three festivals this year at the campground where people from all over Ontario bring their motor homes and camp out for traditional bluegrass tunes.
This festival will run until July 3. The next one is the “38th River Valley Bluegrass Jamboree” that will take place from July 27-31. Following that, from Sept. 1-4, the campground will host the “19th Annual River Valley Country and Bluegrass Wind-Up Weekend”.
“It’s our 35th festival for this. But we’ve done bluegrass for 38 years. People love the music, they love to play and they love to sing together. Everybody is so welcoming," said Patrick de Boer, co-owner of River Valley Bluegrass Park.
Back in February of 1984, de Boer’s late father Tony bought the property. Only six months later, Tony held his first festival. The shows then became a proud tradition. Tony passed away two years ago. Patrick, along with his two siblings, Doug and Cindy, carry it on to this day.
"He loved the music more than anyone I can think of. Bluegrass was his dream,” said de Boer reflecting on his father’s passion for the music. “He did a lot for bluegrass in Ontario and Canada. We used to go down to the states for the award show."
Bluegrass music started in rural America in the 1930s and 40s. It’s often termed as ‘hillbilly’ or ‘mountain’ music and its electric pace and unique instruments excite listeners.
“It hasn't changed much of the years and it's its own style,” said Kevin Barry, an avid bluegrass listener from Warren, Ont. “The first few bands that came on were really quite good."
Guy Morrissette from Iroquois Falls makes the trip to the bluegrass festivals every year.
"We're a big gang today. We’ve got eight trailers,” he said. “We know a lot of people here. It’s a lot of fun. You get together at night and you jam. So we all get together and play music.”
The de Boer family is hoping to expand the property in the future so more people can squeeze in and hear the sweet rhythm and blues.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
LIVE B.C. seeks ban on using drugs in 'all public spaces,' shifting approach to decriminalization
The B.C. government is moving to have drug use banned in 'all public spaces,' marking a major shift in the province's approach to decriminalization.
Air traveller complaints to Canadian Transportation Agency hit new high
The Canadian Transportation Agency has hit a record high of more than 71,000 complaints in a backlog. The quasi-judicial regulator and tribunal tasked with settling disputes between customers and the airlines says the backlog is growing because the number of incoming complaints keeps increasing.
Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
U.S. flight attendant indicted in attempt to record teen girl in airplane bathroom
An American Airlines flight attendant was indicted Thursday after authorities said he tried to secretly record video of a 14-year-old girl using an airplane bathroom last September.
76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid says he has Bell's palsy
Philadelphia 76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid has been diagnosed with Bell’s palsy, a form of facial paralysis he says has affected him since before the play-in tournament.
AFN chief says Air Canada offered a 15% discount after her headdress was mishandled
After the Assembly of First Nations' national chief complained to Air Canada about how staffers treated her and her ceremonial headdress on a flight this week, she says the airline responded by offering a 15 per cent discount on her next flight.
Trump's lawyers try to discredit testimony of prosecution's first witness in hush money trial
Donald Trump's defence team attacked the credibility Friday of the prosecution's first witness in his hush money case, seeking to discredit testimony detailing a scheme between Trump and a tabloid to bury negative stories to protect the Republican's 2016 presidential campaign.