Perogies and Jam were pleased to have such a great turn out on October 15 despite the heavy snowfall the previous day. Sixty-five faithful showed up at the Vegreville Sunshine Club to hear local performers and young country singer Cassidy Zahar from Bellis, Alberta. Perogies and Jam. MC Don Harfield opened the evening at 7:00 pm with a warm welcome to this second event in our 7th season.

In honour of the 2016 Nobel Literary Prize winner, Bob Dylan, Don Harfield started the “local talent” open mic segment with “The Times They Are A-Changin”. Young Nolia Jarvis from Mundare sang excellent covers of “Ho Hey” and “Sand Castles”. Audrey Stefan performed two original songs “Liar, Liar” and “Line in the Dark”, accompanying herself on piano. We also had a couple of local senior musicians perform. Albert Stewart (Mr. Fiddle) has been playing fiddle for 70 years, since he was 12 years old. Joe Proskiw (Mr. Yodeler), 91 years, sang and played guitar on Swiss Moonlight Lullaby by Wilf Carter, to a standing ovation.

During our ‘intermission’ time to set up for the feature performer, Dwayne Hlady and his very able assistant Bob, were at the counter feeding a line-up of hungry folks for perogies and homemade jam (yes, there really are “perogies and jam” on the menu), local Ukrainian sausage, and a host of other foods from the Sunshine Club kitchen.

Cassidy Zahar performed a beautiful 45 minute set of songs from her first CD and new songs from her recent 2^nd CD entitled Tide. Cassidy first started performing at the age of 11 and after 7 years is now attending the Music Program at Grant McEwan College in Edmonton. She has performed at Perogies and Jam events for the past six years to the delight of her many music fans.

Cassidy started with the John Denver song, “Country Roads”, followed up by an original song “Winter Finds Me” (appropriate for the early arrival of winter this year), and then “Who Rocked the Cradle”. A non-smoker, she enjoyed delivering one of her favourite songs “I Only Smoke When I Drink”. She also performed “Make You Feel My Love” by Bob Dylan, “My Girl in the Pines” by Lead Belly and the classic “House of the Rising Sun”. You can follow Cassidy on her continuing music adventure in life through Facebook and Twitter!

We thank the Perogies and Jam volunteers Rob Hughes (photographer), Randy Kereliuk (welcoming desk), Ralph Lange (sound tech) for their help this evening. We also thank Nick Crapko and the Sunshine Club for their great help. Perogies and Jam is committed to developing an enduring live music scene in Vegreville by cultivating local music talent.

Our “Jam” segment at the end of the evening included COOL (Don Harfield and Peter Arnold) performing a few songs followed by duets by Cassidy Zahar and her long time friend Audrey Stefan.

We look forward to our next event on November 19 at the Sunshine Club when we will be celebrating our 5^th Gospel (and Christmas) Night. Gospel Band Cloud 9 will be the featured artist group and all proceeds will be going to charity.

Thank you all for supporting Perogies and Jam!

Photo Gallery
Photography by Rob Hughes