While the CFL features an annual Banjo Bowl between Winnipeg and Saskatchewan, Midland now also has its own claim to the five-stringed instrument.
Jared Jylha, promotions and marketing co-ordinator for the Midland Cultural Centre, expects this weekend’s BanjoFest Midland to be a bona fide hit.
“It’s going to be awesome,” Jylha said, adding people seem excited with both the main Saturday evening concerts and the afternoon workshops featuring top banjo players and designed to be diverse in genre, lively and educational.
Jylha said they're hopeful BanjoFest will become an annual event and follows in the tradition of Ukefest, which will celebrate its fifth anniversary this spring.
“We try to offer all kinds of content,” he said, noting past UkeFest offerings have attracted hundreds of people from various locales with similar numbers expected this time around when it covers three days from May 15-17.
“This year, we’re excited to see it grow.”
As for BanjoFest, Jylha said organizers saw a need for it, given the banjo’s resurgence in popularity from its more traditional country and bluegrass roots.
“I think people will enjoy it because it’s in the realm,” he said, noting the instrument can be found in so many genres of music nowadays. “A lot of people from this area go to the Guelph Banjofest.”
Jylha said the unique instrument has become more mainstream over the years in part due to both its playability and versatility.
“There are so many different ways to play it,” he said, noting techniques range from clawhammer to regular finger picking.
Featured acts include legendary Celtic banjoist Brian Taheny playing with North Atlantic Drift and clawhammer specialist Allison de Groot with fiddle expert Tatiana Hargreaves, who collaborated with Laurie Lewis on her Grammy-nominated album.
And next week, the Midland Cultural Centre will host Sharon Shannon as part of a St. Patrick’s Day weekend offering March 13.
“It will be her second time here,” Jylha said. “She’s coming back by popular demand. A lot of people wanted to see her again.”
According to Jylha, the Irish folk performer still holds the record for album sales in Ireland and has toured with artists such as The Waterboys, Bono, Willie Nelson and Steve Earle.
Shannon is also a well-known collaborator in a variety of genres, including hip-hop, cajun, country and classical.
For more information regarding the festival, click here.
