“Rugged Little Thing” is hoping to learn some new stories from new fans and friends, when they perform at the Cugnet Centre for the Communithon Concert Jam on Saturday, October 21. The Saskatoon-based duet plays a mix of bluegrass, old time and folk music and they share a passion for music
Ryan and Jille Shotton met up the Ness Creek Site during a festival a few summers ago. “We started playing music together that winter and quickly realized that we had something special, and not just in music. We played at a bluegrass festival the next summer and I proposed to him on stage during our performance,” said Jille. “We have since gotten married, made an album, are currently working on our second, and played many festivals/tours together. We are both songwriters so we like to incorporate that into our show as well as some traditional tunes and instrumentals on banjo, guitar and mandolin.”
Their biggest influence comes from the many different festivals, music camps, bluegrass societies and incredible Canadian musicians that have kept traditional music alive. “Every year we go to the Northern Lights Bluegrass and Old Time Music festival at the Ness Creek site in northern Saskatchewan. They do such a great job of bringing in the best in old time and bluegrass,” said Jille.
“It is there we met bands like The Slocan Ramblers and The Foggy Hog Town Boys out of Toronto and learn from them. That is really where you get the most inspired, when you sit down with other musicians and share ideas.”
One of their favourite performances is when they are able to perform at intimate house concerts or listening rooms like The Bassment in Saskatoon or the Creative City Centre in Regina. “At these shows you really get to see the audience and hear them react to your show. You get a good sense of how they are feeling. The best part is afterwards when people come up and tell you their stories. In these more intimate settings you actually get a chance to meet everyone and walk away with a few new friends,” said Jille.
The most enjoyable part about traveling to different communities is playing to a new audience. “We also love meeting musicians from different areas. A lot of the tunes we play can sound so different from region to region, especially down in the states, so it is so cool to play and share tunes with other musicians who have learned them differently. That is how this music has survived for so long, being passed down from generation to generation by musicians playing and sharing with each other.”
“We just came back from West Virginia where we went to an amazing festival called Clifftop. There were 3,500 people there and over 90 per cent of them we musicians,” said Jille
When they listen to music, it is most often current bands that are also playing bluegrass or old time. “Mostly these are bands who have travelled through town or we met at a festival. Ryan has a hard time going to a show and not buying a cd or 10. We also like to throw on the classics every once in a while, Reno and Smiley, The Stanley brothers,” said Jille. “I grew up with "folkies" as parents so I can't help but listen to some John Prine or Guy Clark every once in a while. Ryan has a harder edge to him and likes to indulge in a bit of Bob Seger now and again.”
Both Ryan and Jille are excited about coming to Weyburn to perform for the Communithon Concert Jam. “Especially with everything that is going on in the world today, it seems like a no brainer to do something to give back a bit.” To give back in their own way, “Rugged Little Thing” will be giving 50 per cent of their CD sales at the event back to the Weyburn and District United Way.
The 36th annual Communithon will be held at the Cugnet Centre on Friday, October 20 and Saturday, October 21. The Friday portion of Communithon will feature local talent and will be televised live on Access 7. The Saturday portion will feature seven different Canadian bands and costs $50 to attend. There will be food and liquor offered during the Communithon Concert Jam. Tickets are sold online at www.weyburnunitedway.com, and in person at the Weyburn Police Station, Prairie Sky Co-op Food Store and the Weyburn Review/Weyburn This Week office.
