Perogies and Jam held their 7^th Season Finale at the Sunshine Club with a special Canada 150 event.  There were 110 attendees showing their appreciation for the 20 local performers this evening. The doors opened at 6:00 pm with Dwayne Hlady and Bob Carter serving up baked ham with scalloped potatoes and cole slaw, perogies with jam was also on the menu along with Ukrainian sausage. A fine feed indeed!

At 6:50 pm, Emcee Don Harfield welcomed the music fans to an evening of music emphasizing Canada’s rich history in music and humorous songs. Dave Berry, Town Councillor addressed the audience with the importance of Canada 150 (Sesquicentennial) events and the collection of stamps on Canada 150 Passports. All the performers this evening were Canadian and local to the Vegreville area.

Don Harfield and Gordon Forbes started the evening with leading the audience in singing “This Land is Your Land” followed by “Skinnymarink” (well known by Canadian children’s songsters Sharon, Lois and Bram) and springtime fun song “Tip Toe Through the Tulips”. Gordon also sang Roger Miller’s “Do-Wacka-Do”.

Debbie Fedoruk and her students followed up with Chelsea Malabanan singing “The Market of San Jose” and Jessica Clough performing the theatrical song “Stepsister’s Lament”. Ken Timanson sang a humorous song “Paddy McGinty’s Goat” and “Silhouette”. Julia Dolejsi sang “How Far I’ll Go from the Disney movie “Moana”. Debbie Fedoruk concluded their set with the Anne Murray song “Put Your Hand in the Hand”.

Nolia Jarvis from Mundare was up next singing “To be Popular”, “Ireland” and “You’ll Be Back”. Valentine Thibault (on ukulele) with mother Darlene Thibault (on guitar) performed “Traveling Soldier” and “Bring Me Down”.

The Wild Roses (Darlene Thibault, Debbie Hill, Connie Marcinkowski) trio from Viking performed traditional bluegrass songs “Rosewood Casket”, “Fox on the Run” and “Bury Me Beneath the Willow”, with Rob Hughes on drums. Randy Kereliuk (on guitar with Gordon Forbes on lead guitar & Rob Hughes on drums) had the audience wondering and laughing with the “Assumption Song” by the Canadian band Arrogant Worms followed by the humorous song “If My Nose was Running”, and finishing with “Russian Girls”, an original by the Off Ramp Boys.

During the short break, Emcee Don Harfield gave a tribute to the Canadian Red Green show with a roll of duct tape and the Man’s Prayer “I’m a man, but I can change, if I have to, I guess” dedicated to the ladies in the audience.

Roger Harrison (acoustic guitar) was up next performing “Romance Flats”, “You’re My Destination”, and “Rum and Whatever” followed by Albert Stewart (fiddle) performing three fiddle tunes including the “Battle of New Orleans”.

Vegreville band Da’Vision By Zero with Tobin Fell on Keyboard, Matthew James on Bass Guitar, and Andrew James on Drums performed “Country Roads”, “Bringing It Back”, and “The Last Saskatchewan Pirate”.

Joe Proskiw (acoustic guitar), our oldest performer at age 91, is always a favourite with his yodelling and performed three Wilf Carter songs including “There’s a Love Knot in my Lariat”.

The evening ended at 9:25 with Emcee Don Harfield inviting evening’s musicians on stage to conclude with the audience singing “This Land is Your Land”.

We thank our volunteers this evening in the kitchen (Dwayne, Bob & Marlene), soundboard technician (Byron James), greeters (Carol Larrivee, Vicky Paranich and Ruby Kassian), photographer (Rob Hughes) and Emcee (Don Harfield).

Perogies and Jam thanks the community for its enthusiastic fans and their support for the local music community. Perogies and Jam is committed to developing an enduring live music scene in Vegreville by cultivating local music talent.

Photo Gallery
Photography by Rob Hughes