15 Minutes of Fame a huge success
Manny Everett
Times Contributor
Twenty-five performers strutted, strummed and sang their hearts out in fifteen minute intervals on Sunday at Rosebud’s Sixth Annual 15 Minutes of Fame.
Spectators gathered with their lawn chairs, blankets, coolers and snacks and hunkered down for some amazing concerts and performances on a stage positioned between the Rosebud Opera House and The Thorny Rose Café in Rosebud.
Rosebud has a long and rich tradition as an artist’s village. The beauty of the valley caused the Blackfoot to name it Akokinskway “By the River of Many Roses.”
The picturesque valley inspired Canada’s famous painters, The Group of Seven to visit and paint the landscape. The flagship of the town is Rosebud Theatre, a professional theatre that attracts over 40,000 visitors every year. Productions range from drama and comedies to full-blown summer musicals. But for one day of the year, music is king!
The event started off in a big way at noon with guitar virtuoso Calum Graham taking the stage. Calum is the Winner of the 2010 Canadian Guitar Competition. The guitar virtuoso has been blasting his way through the Alberta music scene in the short five years he’s been playing.
From the small town of High River, Alberta, he is truly a unique talent that is destined for the World Stage. This 19 year-old fretwork phenom has a dynamic and upbeat style, and is at the forefront of a new generation in music. Graham has won numerous awards including Canada’s Walk of Fame’s “A Song For Canada” competition that was announced last Thursday.
Other awards that he’s won include 2009 Canadaian Youth Talent Competition and 2009’s Calgary Stampede Talent show.
A variety of local and Alberta artists on deck included: local magician Lothar Malmberg, Scott Heatcoate, Natalie Gauthier, Joal Kamps, local painter/photographer Randall Wiebe, Chesea Murphy, local band The Cat Country Cougar Hunters, Matt St. Jean, Men of Bud, Jesse Northey, Steve Ellerbeck, Andrew Scott, Tom Pearson Project, Justine Vandergrift, Donovan Snider, Divided by J, The Peacocks, Paul Filek, Jordan Craig, local singer/songwriter Marie Russell, Fire Coulee Bandits, local singer Cassia Schramm, Mull River Shufflers and the ever-popular Rosebud River Valley Boys.
To highlight a few of the artists that performed were Andrew Scott along with his wife Julie, who captivated the crowd with his energetic performance with singing/gargling the song “Don’t Worry Be Happy” while playing his ukulele.
He finished off his performance with a rendition of the old campfire song of “Ghost Riders in the Sky.”
Justine Vandergriftcame with lyrics, rich vocals, creative melodies, rhythmic guitar strength and ever evolving musical arrangements guaranteed an intriguing performance.”
Her musical roots range from folk to blues, indie rock and country.
The evening concluded with a reunion concert of the Rosebud River Valley Boys. This bluegrass band consists of local boys Bill Hamm, Lewis Frere, Royal Sproule, Jason Bertsch, Mark Lewandowski, Nathan Schmidt and Keith Hamm. The original band formed 20 years ago, and have travelled across Alberta creating foot-stomping good will among the masses. One of the spectators commented that “a wonderful nugget of golden talent could be found nestled in among the coulees and it’s great to come out to such a wonderful event virtually in our own backyard.”