{{Short description|none}} {{Use Canadian English|date=February 2026}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2026}} '''Music of Saskatchewan''', one of the Canadian prairie provinces, includes a variety of genres including Indigenous music, folk, country, jazz, and classical traditions.
== History == In the early days of settlement, the musical landscape of the province was defined by military and police bands, church choirs, immigrant teachers, and many travelling groups of artists who travelled by rail across the continent.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://esask.uregina.ca/entry/music.html|title=The Encyclopedia of Saskatchewan {{!}} Details|last=Saskatchewan|first=Cory Toth - Encyclopedia Of|website=esask.uregina.ca|access-date=2017-10-21}}</ref>
== Cultural centres ==
===Regina===
Regina was incorporated in 1883, and became the provincial capital in 1905. Early in its history, the city boasted numerous bands, including a brass band, Musical and Dramatic Society<ref name="Keillor">{{cite book|last1=Keillor|first1=Elaine|title=Music in Canada : capturing landscape and diversity|date=2006|publisher=McGill-Queen's University Press|location=Montreal|isbn=9780773530126|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=P4rf9W02vv0C&pg=PA134|access-date=17 December 2016}}</ref>{{rp|134}} and a number of church choirs.<ref name="Swales">{{cite book|last1=Swales|first1=Robin|title=The Encyclopedia of Saskatchewan|chapter=Music|url=http://esask.uregina.ca/entry/music.html|access-date=18 December 2016}}</ref><ref name="Brandhagen">{{cite book|last1=Brandhagen|first1=William L.|title=The Canadian Encyclopedia|date=2006|chapter=Music in Regina|url=http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/regina-sask-emc/|access-date=17 December 2016}}</ref>
Frank L. Laubach, a professional Scottish musician arrived in Regina in 1904, and was a prominent figure for eighteen years. During that time, he founded the Regina Philharmonic Society (1904), the Regina Orchestral Society (1908), the Regina Operatic Society (1909) and the province-wide Saskatchewan Music Festival (1908, with F. W. Chisholm).<ref name="Brandhagen"/>
After Laubach's retirement in 1922, three choral and orchestra society groups exist: Regina Symphony Orchestra, Regina Male Voice Choir and Regina Choral Society. Only two years later, the three societies again merged to form the Regina Philharmonic Association. The Regina Symphony Orchestra later departed from that association, in 1926.<ref name="Brandhagen"/>
Musicians from Regina include Edith Fowke, Stu Davis, Colin James, Muriel Kerr, Owen Underhill, Jack Semple, Dagan Harding (formerly of Despistado and Geronimo),<ref name="Adams">{{cite news|last1=Adams|first1=Gregory|title=Dagan Harding 'Best Times' (album stream)|url=http://exclaim.ca/music/article/dagan_harding-best_times_album_stream|work=Exclaim|date=March 2, 2015}}</ref> and Kenny Shields of Streetheart.<ref>{{cite web|title=Kenny Shields|url=http://www.kennyshields.com/bios_ks.html|website=Kenny Shieids and Streetheart|access-date=17 December 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Shields and Streetheart continue to answer the call of their fans|url=https://leaderpost.com/entertainment/music/shields-and-streetheart-continue-to-answer-the-call-of-their-fans|access-date=17 December 2016|work=Regina Leader-Post|date=August 20, 2015}}</ref>
Bands from Regina include The Dead South, Ghosts of Modern Man, Into Eternity, Library Voices, and Rah Rah.
William Earl Brown founded the Soundaround label starting in the 1960s which featured many of the local country and ethnic bands recording in his basement studio. Mel West & The Meteors, and The Canadian Downbeats had a few singles on the Soundaround label, later picked up Canada-wide via Stan Klees' "Red Leaf" label. Mel West & The Meteors would chart Canada wide with their tracks "Sad & Blue" and "Seventh Saint".<ref name="Meteors">{{cite web|title=Mel West & The Meteors Rock & Roll from Regina, Saskatchewan|url=http://www.superoldies.com/featured/MelWest/melwest.html|website=Super Oldies|access-date=17 December 2016}}</ref> Earl had later success with the Grand Coulee Old Tyme Jug Band, and sold a number of albums via TV infomercials in the 1980s.<ref>{{cite web|title=Grand Coulee Old Tyme Jug Band|url=http://www.worldwidesunshine.com/eMerchantPro/pc/Grand-Coulee-Old-Tyme-Jug-Band-c308.htm|website=Sunshine Your Music Your Heritage|access-date=18 December 2016}}</ref>
===Saskatoon===
The city of Saskatoon was founded in 1882 and incorporated in 1903. During that time, the city's population grew swiftly. In the early 20th century, operettas by Gilbert & Sullivan, vaudeville and minstrel shows were among the most common forms of musical performance.<ref name="Mills">{{cite book|first1=Isabelle M. |last1=Mills|last2=Brandhagen|first2=William L.|title=The Canadian Encyclopedia|date=2006|chapter=Music in Saskatoon|url=http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/saskatoon-sask-emc/|access-date=17 December 2016}}</ref> Saskatoon's first concert was held on December 1, 1884, by the Pioneer Society. It featured solos, duets, choruses, readings, and recitations.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/saskatoon-sask-emc/|title=Music in Saskatoon|last=Brandhagen|first=William L.|work=The Canadian Encyclopedia|access-date=2017-05-25|language=en}}</ref>
The Saskatoon Philharmonic Society was founded in 1908,<ref name="Keillor" />{{rp|}} and won a prize at the first Saskatchewan Music Festival in 1909. The number of professional groups continued to grow. The Saskatoon Oratorio Society was founded in 1913,<ref name="Seiler">{{cite book|last1=Seiler|first1=Robert M.|last2=Seiler|first2=Tamara P.|title=Reel time : movie exhibitors and movie audiences in prairie Canada, 1896 to 1986|date=2013|publisher=AU Press|location=Edmonton|isbn=9781926836997|page=63|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LbRIUgQFwOMC&pg=PA63}}</ref> performing Handel's Messiah with nearly 200 singers at Third Avenue Methodist Church in December 1913.<ref>{{cite web|title=Choirs - Saskatoon Oratorio Society|url=http://spldatabase.saskatoonlibrary.ca/ics-wpd/exec/icswppro.dll?AC=SEE_ALSO&QF0=SUBJECT&QI0==%22SASKATOON%20ORATORIO%20SOCIETY%22&XC=/ics-wpd/exec/IcsWPPro.dll&BU=&TN=LHR_RAD&SN=AUTO22942&SE=11&RN=0&MR=20&TR=0&TX=1000&ES=0&CS=2&XP=&RF=www_SingleRecord&EF=&DF=&RL=0&EL=0&DL=0&NP=4&ID=&MF=&MQ=&TI=0&DT=&ST=0&IR=0&NR=0&NB=0&SV=0&SS=0&BG=&FG=&QS=&OEX=ISO-8859-1&OEH=ISO-8859-1|website=Saskatoon Public Library|access-date=18 December 2016}}</ref> The Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra formed under that name in 1931, after several earlier attempts to form an orchestra had occurred.<ref name="James">{{cite book|first1=Kevin |last1=James |first2=Florrie V. |last2=Elvin |first3=Glen |last3=Gillis |title=The Canadian Encyclopedia|date=2006|chapter=Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra|url=http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/saskatoon-symphony-orchestra-emc/|access-date=17 December 2016}}</ref><ref name="SSO">{{cite web|title=History of the SSO|url=http://saskatoonsymphony.org/about-the-sso/history/|website=Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra|date=29 December 2011|access-date=18 December 2016}}</ref>
With the Great Depression in the early 1930s the musical community suffered. However, private teacher Lyell Gustin and his students presented twenty concerts a year in Saskatoon during the thirties, as well as teaching in surrounding areas. The Western Board of Music was organized in 1936, led by Arthur Collingwood, Chair of Music at the University of Saskatchewan. The music festival movement continued to expand, and in 1936 the Music Teachers’ Association was established.<ref name="Swales"/>
The Celebrity Concert Series, held by the Saskatoon Kinsmen Club, began, in 1944, to introduce international celebrities every year for twenty-six years.<ref name="Mills"/> Other groups include the Saskatoon Lyric Theatre Society (active 1955), the Saskatoon Opera Association (founded 1978), and the Prairie Opera Inc. (founded 1986). At the University of Saskatchewan, the student chorus the Greystone Singers was founded in 1959. Alumni of the Greystone Singers founded the Saskatoon Chamber Singers in 1977.<ref name="Mills"/>
Musicians from Saskatoon include Joni Mitchell, Neil Chotem, Jon Ballantyne, Brenton Price Dutton,<ref name="Vachon">{{cite book|first1=Jean-Pascal |last1= Vachon |title=The Canadian Encyclopedia|date=2006|chapter=Brenton Price Dutton|url=http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/brenton-price-dutton-emc/|access-date=17 December 2016}}</ref> Susan Pesklevits Jacks,<ref>{{cite web|title=Susan Jacks|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/susan-jacks-mn0001158195|website=All Music|access-date=18 December 2016}}</ref> Lorraine McAllister Richards,<ref name="Richards">{{cite book|title=The Canadian Encyclopedia|date=2006|chapter=Lorraine McAllister |url=http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/lorraine-mcallister-emc/|access-date=17 December 2016}}</ref> Irene Bubniuk,<ref name="BUBNIUK">{{cite news|title=Irena BUBNIUK Obituary|url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/nationalpost/obituary.aspx?pid=181019630|access-date=18 December 2016|work=National Post|date=August 9, 2016}}</ref> Brenda Baker,<ref name="Belford">{{cite book|last1=Belford|first1=Richard |title=The Encyclopedia of Saskatchewan|chapter=Baker, Brenda (1959–) |url=http://esask.uregina.ca/entry/baker_brenda_1959-.html|access-date=18 December 2016}}</ref> Chris Lindgren,<ref name="Manning">{{cite news|last1=Manning|first1=Edna|title=Harpist shares love of music, storytelling|url=https://thestarphoenix.com/Harpist+shares+love+music+storytelling/8388919/story.html|access-date=18 December 2016|work=The Star Phoenix|date=May 15, 2013}}</ref> Paddy Tutty,<ref name="Gregory">{{cite book|first1=David |last1= Gregory|title=The Canadian Encyclopedia|date=2006|chapter=Patricia Lorraine Tutty|url=http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/patricia-lorraine-tutty/|access-date=17 December 2016}}</ref> Kyle Riabko,<ref name="Ouzounian">{{cite news|last1=Ouzounian|first1=Richard|title=An Awakening star is born: Kyle Riabko goes from Saskatchewan open mike jams to Broadway stage – and he's just 20|url=https://www.thestar.com/comment/columnists/article/425114|access-date=18 December 2016|work=Toronto Star|publisher=E1|date=2008-05-14}}</ref> Lesia Zubrack Romanoff,<ref name="Church">{{cite book|last1= Church|first1=Sarah|title=The Canadian Encyclopedia|date=2006|chapter=Lesia Zubrack|url=http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/lesia-zubrack-emc/Lesia|access-date=17 December 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Lesia Romanoff|url=http://panow.com/obituary/523047/lesia-romanoff|access-date=18 December 2016|work=PA Now (Prince Albert)|date=July 3, 2015}}</ref> Mike Ferbey (of the Rhythm Pals),<ref>{{cite web|title=The Rhythm Pals|url=http://www.ccma.org/cgi/page.cgi/hall_of_fame_inductees.html?log=view&log_id=18|website=The Canadian Country Music Association|access-date=18 December 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=The Rhythm Pals|url=http://bcradiohistory.com/Biographies/RhythmPals.htm|website=BC Radio History|access-date=18 December 2016}}</ref> and Walter Babiak.<ref name="Berke">{{cite book|last1= Berke|first1=John|title=The Canadian Encyclopedia|date=2006|chapter=Walter Babiak|url=http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/walter-babiak-emc/|access-date=17 December 2016}}</ref>
Bands from Saskatoon include One Bad Son, The Sheepdogs, and Wide Mouth Mason.
In 2004, Theresa Sokyrka, born in Moose Jaw and since moved to Saskatoon, became first runner-up in the second season of ''Canadian Idol'' with her jazz and blues-influenced musicianship. Lionel Richie, appearing on one episode, said that Sokyrka had inside her the soul of an old black woman.<ref>{{cite web|title=Theresa Sokyrka|url=http://www.corporateentertainers.ca/rosters/theresa-sokyrka/|website=Corporate Entertainers|access-date=18 December 2016}}</ref>
===Moose Jaw===
Moose Jaw is home to the Moose Jaw Band and Choral Festival, which has been held every year since 1950.<ref name="Crann">{{cite news|last1=Crann|first1=Justin|title=Highland Festival hits 65th year|url=http://www.pressreader.com/canada/moose-jaw-times-herald/20140513/281547993916031/TextView|access-date=18 December 2016|work=Moose Jaw Times-Herald|date=May 13, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=About the Moose Jaw Band and Choral Festival|url=http://mjbandfestival.com/|website=Moose Jaw Band and Choral Festival|access-date=18 December 2016}}</ref> The city co-hosted the Juno Awards of 2013.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.mjtimes.sk.ca/Local/News/2011-09-14/article-2748301/Juno-awards-coming-to-Moose-Jaw-and-Regina/1 | title=Juno awards coming to Moose Jaw and Regina | newspaper=The Moose Jaw Times Herald | date=14 September 2011 | first=Rebecca | last=Lawrence | access-date=23 March 2012}}</ref> Connect-22, billed as Saskatchewan's 22nd and Final Electronic & Tribal Music Festival is scheduled for Besant Campground near Moose Jaw in 2017.<ref name="Connect">{{cite web|title=About|url=http://connectfestival.ca/|website=Connect|access-date=17 December 2016}}</ref>
==Bands from Saskatchewan== ===Public bands=== The Saskatoon Concert Band is a civilian public band based in the city, consisting of two bands: the concert band and the auxiliary band. The Saskatoon Auxiliary Concert Band was formed in 1987 to cater to a demographic of musicians who came out of retirement. The Saskatoon Concert Band was founded in 1949 as the 406 Wing Band of the Royal Canadian Air Force and would later be renamed as the 23rd Wing Band. During this era, it took part in the Canadian National Exhibition as well as performing jointly with Mexican solo trumpeter Rafael Méndez as a guest artist. 10 years later, it was dissolved to create the Kinsmen Concert Band. In the mid-1960s, a section from the band came back into military service, this time as the HMCS Unicorn Band in the Royal Canadian Navy. The band evolved into its current form in 1982 as a non-profit organization.
The band took part Saskatchewan's Centennial year celebrations, during which it toured Northern Saskatchewan, as well as performed at events in the Saskatchewan Legislature.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Saskatoon Concert Band |url=https://www.pressreader.com/canada/saskatoon-starphoenix/20180809/282299615994444 |url-status=live |access-date=June 20, 2020 |via=PressReader |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200301034336/https://www.pressreader.com/canada/saskatoon-starphoenix/20180809/282299615994444 |archive-date=March 1, 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Saskatoon Philharmonic |url=http://saskatoonphilharmonicorchestra.com/5.html |url-status=live |access-date=June 20, 2020 |website=saskatoonphilharmonicorchestra.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200301034339/http://saskatoonphilharmonicorchestra.com/5.html |archive-date=March 1, 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The History of the Saskatoon Concert Band |url=https://www.saskatoonconcertband.ca/history.html |url-status=live |access-date=June 20, 2020 |website=saskatoonconcertband.ca |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161030032753/http://saskatoonconcertband.ca/history.html |archive-date=October 30, 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Making Music for over six decades |url=https://thestarphoenix.com/news/making-music-for-over-six-decades/amp |access-date=June 20, 2020 |website=thestarphoenix.com}}</ref>
===Other bands and artists=== *The Age of Electric *Bombargo *Breach of Trust *Jordan Cook *Stu Davis *The Dead South *The Deep Dark Woods *Despistado *Ghosts of Modern Man *The Holly Springs Disaster *Hunter Brothers *I Spy *Tom Jackson *Colin James *Brad Johner *The Johner Brothers *Kacy & Clayton *Connie Kaldor *Kick Axe *Chad Klinger *Melanie Laine *Library Voices *Means *Andrea Menard *Maybe Smith *Jess Moskaluke *Megan Nash *The Northern Pikes *One Bad Son *Donny Parenteau *The Poverty Plainsmen *Queen City Kids *Rah Rah *Kyle Riabko *Jessica Robinson *Jack Semple *Andy Shauf *The Sheepdogs *Slow Down, Molasses *Static in Stereo *Streetheart *Joey Stylez *Sylvie *Sympathy *Jon Vickers *The Waltons *Colter Wall *Wide Mouth Mason
==Festivals== * Regina Folk Festival (Regina), 1969–present <ref>"Music-related festivals popular", ''Regina Leader-Post'', 2002-07-16, p. B7.</ref> * Craven Country Jamboree, (Craven) 1983–;<ref name="Krista">{{cite news|last1=Sharpe|first1=Krista|title=The Craven Country Jamboree by the numbers|url=http://globalnews.ca/news/2829641/the-craven-country-jamboree-by-the-numbers/|access-date=17 December 2016|work=Global News|date=July 16, 2016}}</ref> in collaboration with Country Thunder Music Festival as of 2016<ref name="Sharpe">{{cite news|last1=Sharpe|first1=Krista|title=Same party different name: Craven Country Jamboree rebrands|url=http://globalnews.ca/news/3030552/same-party-different-name-craven-country-jamboree-rebrands/|access-date=17 December 2016|work=Global News|date=October 27, 2016}}</ref> * Sasktel Saskatchewan Jazz Fest, 1989–<ref>{{cite web | title = SaskTel Saskatchewan Jazz Festival : Archives | url =http://www.saskjazz.com/archives/archives.php | access-date = June 11, 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070820185640/http://www.saskjazz.com/archives/archives.php |archive-date = August 20, 2007}}</ref> * Ness Creek Music Festival (Ness Creek), 1991–<ref>{{cite web|title=Our Roots|url=http://www.nesscreekmusicfestival.com/our-roots|website=Ness Creek Music Festival|access-date=17 December 2016}}</ref> * Long Day's Night Music Festival (Swift Current) 2003–Present<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.blendersmusic.ca/long-days-night|title=Long Day's Night|website=Blenders Music}}</ref> * Connect Music Festival (Besant), electronic, 1995–2017<ref name="Connect"/> * Gateway Music Festival (Bengough), 2005–<ref>{{cite web|title=The Thirteenth Annual|url=http://www.gatewayfestival.com/#about|website=Gateway Festival|access-date=17 December 2016}}</ref> * All Folk'd Up (Montmartre), 2010–<ref>{{cite web|title=Festival Info, The History|url=http://allfolkedup.net/festival-info/|website=All Folk'd Up Music Festival|access-date=17 December 2016}}</ref> * Grilledcheesapolooza Music Festival (Kindersley), 2010–<ref>{{cite web|title=About Grilledcheesapolooza|url=http://www.gcpmusicfest.com/about/|website=Grilledcheesapolooza|access-date=17 December 2016}}</ref> * MazzFest (Saskatoon), hardcore punk festival, 2010–<ref name="Morin">{{cite news|last1=Morin|first1=Chris|title=MazzFest Returns to Saskatoon|url=https://www.ominocity.com/2012/05/31/mazzfest-returns-to-saskatoon/|access-date=17 December 2016|work=Ominocity|date=May 31, 2012}}</ref> * MoSo Fest (Saskatoon), 2011–<ref name="Murphy">{{cite news|last1=Murphy|first1=Sarah|title=MoSo Fest Gets Buffy Sainte-Marie, Suuns, Shotgun Jimmie for 2016|url=http://exclaim.ca/music/article/moso_fest_gets_buffy_sainte-marie_suuns_shotgun_jimmie_for_2016_edition|access-date=17 December 2016|work=Exclaim!|date=March 22, 2016}}</ref> * Noise Fest (Regina), punk, hardcore and rock, 2014–<ref name="Beatty">{{cite news|last1=Beatty|first1=Gregory|title=Noise Fest|url=http://www.prairiedogmag.com/noise-fest/|access-date=17 December 2016|work=Prairie Dob|date=May 14, 2015}}</ref> * Phantasm Festival, electronic music, 2014–<ref>{{cite web|title=Phantasm Festival|url=http://phantasmfestival.ca/|access-date=17 December 2016}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == * Sask Music - [http://www.saskrecording.ca/ Home | SaskMusic] * [http://smc.usask.ca Saskatchewan Music Collection.] University of Saskatchewan. * [http://rabble.ca/podcasts/shows/ruckus/2009/04/15-music-saskatchewan-part-1-3 The Ruckus - Audio Interview with Lorena Kelly from Sask Music, April 2009]
{{FestivalsSaskatchewan}} {{Canada topic|Music of}} {{Portal|Music|Canada}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Music Of Saskatchewan}} Category:Music of Saskatchewan