It was a wonderful afternoon for Perogies and Jam musicians, vendors, and shoppers in downtown Vegreville!

But, it didn’t start out that way…

Early in the morning, the rain was so unpredictable that we had to wear rain jackets as we set up the tents. The rain became so heavy by 9 am that the new 10’ x 20’ “picnic style tent” failed. Water came in through the roof seams and it became unsafe to set up the electronic sound system and speakers. After discussions with the event organizers Maureen Easton and Elaine Kucher, we went off to the Train Station to perform.

In response to the weather, Vegreville Train Station owner, Ellen Dunn, moved the paint artists from Art in the Park inside the Train Station and John Wagner set up his sound system on the restaurant side. Faith Swedgan was first to perform at 11 am, singing several original songs while playing her electric guitar. Bailey Stefan followed with cover songs to a gathering audience of family members, local musicians and visitors to town.

By noon, the weather had started to improve, and the Train Station was filling up, so the Perogies and Jam musicians and crew went back over to the tent at the centre of the Street Market which by this time was drying up. Hooray!

By 12:45 pm, everything was set up, sound system checked and musicians playing. The Off Ramp Boys (Randy Kereliuk on guitar and vocals, Ralph Lange on fiddle, mandolin and vocals, and Rob Hughes on drums) filled the air with music to the delight of the street vendors and visitors as the weather continued to get warmer and dry up the street. The uneasiness of the morning was now in our rear view mirror, an appreciative audience filled the chairs, and the vendors were selling food and their wares.

The local young band, Da’Vision By Zero (of course, mathematicians get their name) were up next performing original and cover tunes with Tobin on keyboard and keytar, Jared on electric guitar, Matthew on bass, and Andrew on drums. Beren Hollins, recently from the UK, sang and played guitar accompanied by his daughter Daisy (visiting from Dundee, Scotland) with familiar tunes including the Streets of London and Loch Lomond. Barb Mohr, a familiar singer to Perogies and Jam fans, now hailing from Camrose sang popular folk songs accompanied by drummer Rob Hughes.

For the last hour, the Off Ramp Boys played a variety of popular country and fiddle tunes and then at 4:00 pm the street vendors and musicians started packing up. By 4:30 pm, everyone was glad they came and the memories of the wet morning had faded away.

Thank you Vegreville for your continuing support of the Street Markets and for the Perogies and Jam musicians!

Photo Gallery
Photos Courtesy of Rob Hughes, Cindy Kereliuk and Don Harfield