Sunday Line-Up

Emily Dubois, a talented fiddler hailing from Langbank, Saskatchewan, developed a deep passion for the instrument from an early age. Immersed in the vibrant fiddling community of Canada, she attended renowned fiddle camps like the Kenosee Lake Kitchen Party, where she was mentored by notable figures including Gordon Stobbe, Troy MacGillivray, and Ivonne Hernandez. Over a decade, these experiences fueled her love for collaboration and performance, leading her to mentor and teach young fiddlers.

Following her aspirations, Emily relocated to Victoria to study under Ivonne Hernandez, furthering her skills and expertise in music performance. She obtained a diploma in Contemporary Music Performance under Daniel Lapp and participated in prestigious competitions like the Canadian Grand Masters Fiddling Championship. Post-pandemic, she graduated from Capilano University with a certificate in Arts and Entertainment management. Emily's dedication to Canadian fiddling tradition is evident in her teaching endeavors at institutions like the Victoria Conservatory of Music and her administrative roles in music organizations like North Shore Celtic Ensemble. Now returning to Saskatchewan with her fiancé, she has established the Flatland Fiddling Studio in Regina, eager to contribute to and sustain the local fiddling scene.

Taking their name from the cluster of galaxies containing the Milky Way which can sometimes be seen on a clear prairie night, the Local Group plays music of astronomical proportions. This young Saskatoon-based group puts their own unique spin on hard-driving traditional bluegrass, while seamlessly blending in their original songs and their passion for country, Celtic, and Canadiana. The Local Group showcases hot instrument picking, tight harmonies, surprising arrangements, and an entertaining energy. Their show has been described as “tight and charmingly zany” and is guaranteed to take you out of this world!

Gigging across the prairies for six years, they have played most everywhere you can imagine. From festivals such as Blueberry Bluegrass Festival, Shady Grove, Ness Creek Music Festival, Northern Lights Bluegrass Festival and the Saskatchewan Jazz Festival to opening for Corb Lund in small town Cadillac, Saskatchewan to playing at the Remai Modern Art Gallery in Saskatoon. They have entertained at just about any other kind of show you can think of: house concerts, dive bars, schools, theatres, weddings and old-time dances (guitar player Elliot Dillabough even moonlights as a square dance caller).

Born from a mutual desire to keep soul music alive and real in the modern age, Lyssa and the Try-Tones sound like something you'd hear pressed onto vinyl coming out of Detroit in the 1970s. Based out of Regina, SK, the band’s groovy pulse is topped by Lyssa’s powerhouse vocals which are sure to get the energy moving and good vibes rolling.

True to the spirit of the genre, the band records all their songs live off the floor. With two EP releases under their belt (Chasing Shadows, 2023 & Basement City View, 2022), Lyssa & the Try-Tones are currently working on laying down more groovy tunes that showcase real musicianship while keeping it real in an old school kind of way.