What a wonderful country music concert evening!

Perogies and Jam was pleased to have Travis Dolter perform at the Sunshine Club on Saturday, February 16. Emcee Don Harfield welcomed over 75 country music fans to the Travis Dolter: Every Song a Story! Concert evening in Vegreville.

Travis Dolter grew up on the family farm near Hay Lakes, Alberta about an hour south west of Vegreville, near Camrose. He started performing at age 6 in the family band, the Polka Ramblers and started playing guitar at age 12. He literally grew up on stage! He is a natural performer and has an infectious sense of wit and humour. Amongst his many recognitions to date as a singer, songwriter, musician and performer, Travis was a finalist in the 2018 Big Valley Jamboree ATB Homegrown Talent competition and was runner up in the 2018 Country 106 Star Search Competition.

The music began with the Open Mic session at 6:45 pm with folksinger (and local farmer), Lorne Fill, performing a short set of songs “Bila”, “Bye Bye Bi-Plane”, “The Unicorn” and “A Big Truck Brought It”. Lorne has been and still is a popular performer at Perogies and Jam ever since it started back in January 2011. Denice Balid a local high school student with a passion for music was up next, performing songs “How Deep is Your Love”, You are My Sunshine” and “Fools Rush In”. To conclude the Open Mic segment, our local poet, Mary Leonty recited her most recent poem, “The Window”.

Travis Dolter, on his Taylor acoustic guitar, started his first set at 7:30 with cover song “Out Last Night” by Kenny Chesney followed by a Travis original “Hell If I Know”. Accompanying Travis was Rudy Blades on bass guitar and back up vocals and Lane Anderson on keyboard and on back up vocals. Travis performed the Buddy Holly song “Oh Boy!”, the Everly Brothers’ “Bye Bye Love”, followed by the John Denver classic “Country Roads” during which he mingled with the audience all the while playing his guitar. He concluded his first set with “Wagon Wheel” by the Old Crow Medicine Show and “Lonely Drum” by Aaron Goodvin.

During the set break, chef Hlady along with his helpers Bob Carter and Pete Homeniuk continued to serve up heaping plates of Ukrainian food (including perogies with his specialty jam!), chicken wings and fresh veggies, and other fare.

Returning after the break, Travis now on his Fender Telecaster electric guitar, performed the classic “Rock Around the Clock” followed by the Merle Haggard song “Mama Tried”. He followed with another Travis’ original “Just to Say I Did”, the classic Elvis Presley song “Blue Suede Shoes” and an Ian Tyson song “Navajo Rug”. After another Travis’ original “Now or Never”, the attention went to featuring keyboardist Lane Anderson on “Great Balls of Fire” and Rudy Blades on bass. Travis surprised the audience with the Ukrainian song “Yarema” about a Ukrainian boy of the same name. Travis concluded his concert with the George Strait song “Check Yes or No” and the Alabama hit “I’m In a Hurry to Get Things Done”.

Not wanting the evening to end so soon, the audience rose to their feet for a standing ovation, and Travis responded with another Buddy Holly classic “Love Not Fade Away”. Everyone had a great feel good evening and appreciated Travis Dolter coming to Vegreville. Emcee Don Harfield joined them on stage to invite them back to our town again soon.

Perogies and Jam thanks our volunteers this evening including sound technician Randy Kereliuk with the assistance of Travis’ father Trevor Dolter, photographer Rob Hughes, and our door greeter Anna Tomyn. We also thank our audience for coming out to another Perogies and Jam concert event!