A lineup of all-star entertainment will be kicking off at the Vilna Cultural Centre from July 20 to 22, as Vilna’s Ag Society gets set to enjoy its 2nd Annual Vilna Cowboy Fest.
Jackson Mackenzie, one of the organizers and volunteers with the Vilna & District Ag Society, said last year’s event drew somewhere over 300 people, mostly from outside Vilna. “It was so well received. Our board voted unanimously to do it again immediately.”
This year’s event has as good a line-up as last year or even better, he said, with St. Paul’s own North American fiddle champion Calvin Vollrath headlining the event, alongside Canadian grand master fiddle champion Mark Sullivan. “I’ll tell you, nobody plays fiddle like they do. They are so outstanding,” said Mackenzie, adding the two fiddlers will perform on the Saturday night from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., and then will carry straight on through, performing music for the dance that goes until midnight.
Besides helping to organize the event, Mackenzie will also perform alongside Sullivan and Vollrath, and fellow country singer Kayla Patrick. The 16-year-old Patrick recently took part in a 2012 Canada-wide contest for singer-songwriters, Much Coca-Cola Covers and came in the top three out of 1,300 entries.
On performing with the up-and-coming Patrick, Mackenzie says, “She’s a cute young thing and I’m an old goat. It works pretty good.”
There will also be a diverse group of other performers, such as award-winning gospel singer and Vilna-area artist Adele Johnson, North America’s premiere female cowboy poet, Doris Daley, and comedian Ol’ Ugly, whom Mackenzie called “a scream. This guy tells the craziest stories you ever heard.”
As for cowboy poetry, it is an art form that is gaining in popularity, Mackenzie said, arising from the days when cowboys would work in the day and sit around the fire at night, spinning a good yarn that also rhymed. “The good ones, they can deliver it with style. We had some terrific poets last year; we brought Doris Daley back, because she was a huge hit.” Bryn Thiessen, who works in movies as a cowboy extra, will also be bringing in his cowboy poet skills to the festival this year. “He’s also a cowboy preacher. We have cowboy church on Sunday morning. You’ve never been to church until you’ve seen him,” Mackenzie promises.
Other performers include Patti Lamoureaux on fiddle, Gordon Stobbe on fiddle and mandolin, guitarist Craig McGregor, fiddle player Randy Foster, Kimberley Holmes on keyboard and musicians Bob Glidden and Dave Johnston.
Breakfasts, lunches and suppers will be available from the kitchen at the hall, and a concession is open all day. There will be on-site RV parking and dry camping for those who want to stay for the weekend, with a weekend pass costing $50. More information about the weekend line-up, tickets and ticket prices can be found online at vilnaagsociety.com. Anyone aged 17 or under can attend the festival for free.
Mackenzie urged anyone who likes good cowboy music to come on out. “I hate to see people kicking themselves afterward. It’s going to be so good. You don’t get better entertainment than this in the major centres.”