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Performer's Bios:
Born on December 27, 1937, Alfie Myhre has played fiddle for most of his life. At age 11 he came in second in the Grand North American Fiddle Championships.
Besides honing his astonishing talent, Alfie founded the successful music store, Myhre’s Music, in Edmonton, Alberta, in 1967.
Loved and respected worldwide, he has graced many a stage, and we are thrilled to have him and his son, Byron, entertain for you at Vilna Cowboy Fest 2024.
Alfie Myhre has been involved in Canadian old time fiddle for more than 70 years. The Grand Masters honoured him with a lifetime achievement award during the 2013 CGM fiddle competition in Saskatoon.
Alfie Myhre was inducted into the Country Music Alberta Hall of Fame in 2020 and is a two time Grand North American Old Time fiddling champ. He is a true Canadian Country Music Legend.
Alfie Myhre
Multi instrumentalist, Byron Myhre has established a well-respected reputation both on stage and in the recording studio, not to mention countless awards from regional and national fiddle competitions. His father, Alfie Myhre, taught him everything he knows!
In addition to a remarkable musical career, playing in such renowned groups as Jerusalem Ridge, Byron continues the tradition of his father in owning and running Myhre’s Music to the present day. Visit MyhresMusic.com
Byron Myhre
Bj Smith
Bryan (Bj) Smith is an experienced horse trainer, riding coach, packer, mountain guide, clinician, survival expert, and Canadian Ski Patrol instructor. He has taught wilderness topics at the university and college level and delivered hundreds of hour long safety talks to school students.
Following a full career in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, where he experienced years of service in the arctic, Bj supervised criminal investigations for the Government of Alberta, instructed for the Lethbridge College and sat as the President of the Lethbridge Therapeutic Riding Association. He routinely guides groups of wilderness travellers horseback through the Rockies, often on week long trips of a hundred miles or more. His skill and knowledge as a packer and horseman has been recognized by the Alberta Trail Riders Association and private equestrian clubs who have enjoyed his clinics. He consulted with Rafter Six Ranch Resort and the Trail Riders of the Canadian Rockies. He developed and instructs ‘The Wilderness Wrangler’ outdoor course at Olds Agricultural College, which focuses on back country horsemanship skills. Past President of the Alberta
Cowboy Poetry Association, recipient of the Academy of Western Artists Will Rogers Award and National Cowboy Poetry Rodeo Silver Buckle, his professional and comical performances have been featured at Cowboy Poetry Gatherings and Festivals across western Canada, the USA and on Cruise Liners. Bj is the author of three books, two CDs and is often featured on radio and television shows.
Visit Bj at www.BjSmith.ca
Rodeo cowboy, pasture rider, wildlife artist, singer/songwriter/poet, Ed Brown has the perfect background for an original storytelling approach. Poems from the absurd to the thought provoking, and songs influenced by various genres both musically and lyrically, combine to present a truly authentic western performance. In his capacity as a writer, his songs and poems have been performed by several other artists in both Canada and the US. An award winning performer, Ed Brown has headlined at all of the major cowboy festivals in Western Canada.
Ed Brown
Kayla Patrick is a singer-songwriter from Edmonton, Alberta. She has been involved in music from the early age of 7 and started to write her own songs at the age of 9 when she received her first guitar. Her father had a significant impact on her music, he taught her how to play the guitar and is the reason why she has started singing classic country. At the age of 10, she won the Global Country Star Search and got the opportunity to travel to Nashville to perform in a national singing competition where she took home 4 awards. Over the years she has had the privilege to perform on stages at Big Valley Jamboree, Rexall Place, Ottawa Blues Festival, the Edmonton Folk Music Festival, and the Edmonton Winspear. In 2012, she was chosen as part of the Top 3 in the Much Music Coca Cola Covers Contest out of 1300 entries across Canada and received the opportunity to walk the red carpet at the award ceremony in Toronto, Ontario. Currently, Kayla is in school studying hard to become a psychologist and is continuing to write songs in hopes of releasing new music in the near future.
Kayla Patrick
Bob Glidden
Bob has worked in Country and Bluegrass Music since the 60’s.
It was Bob's ability to play guitar, steel guitar, dobro, mandolin, and bass fiddle which led to several jobs in Country and Bluegrass bands and also many recording sessions. Bob has to his credit nine albums including three Bluegrass albums that were award winners in the Eastern Canada Bluegrass Awards and East Coast Country Music Awards along with working on over sixty albums for clients from Eastern Canada, New York State, Arizona and Alberta. Bob has performed at many shows and events in Arizona, including the Glendale Folk Festival, The Marty Robbins music night in Glendale and the prestigious annual Steel Guitar Show in Phoenix.
One of Bob's favourite activities is giving workshops on guitar, dobro and bass fiddle and has conducted workshops at bluegrass festivals including presentations to the music faculty at Florida Atlantic University. Another honourable mention is the winning of the Eastern Canada Dobro Award five times. After the fifth win, he was presented with a “Master’s Award” and taken off the list of future candidates; the first to achieve this honour.
Just recently, in December 2019, Bob was presented with a certificate of recognition by the Arizona Country Music Association for his support and performance of Country Music over the years. After making his home in the Edmonton area in 1999, Bob has worked with many fine musicians on stage and in the studio and, thanks to these musicians and their fans, the Country Music that we love is here to stay.
Check out Bob’s 300-plus videos on YouTube, under “Bob Glidden Music”.
D Dub Mac, short for Daniel Wallace MacMullin, from Norse/Welsh descent, hails from Nova Scotia, Glacé Bay, in fact, where musical tradition reigns supreme.
Because of his Celtic background, music has always played a role in his life. Entertainment in fact! His mother was Mary Joy of the Country Court in the 60’s and 70’s and was even invited to play the Opry, but declined as she couldn’t leave her 9 children.
Arriving at the very end of the line, this youngest son arrived accompanied with a twin brother, and they both played in band since grade 6! Trumpet led to guitar and then led to flutes, whistles, percussion and then singing! Daniel then entered the Illusionist trade, performing for almost 40 years on stage all over Canada, Hawaii, cruise lines, and parts of the US! His interest in Country stems from Celtic Folk Music and his love for poetry derived itself from acting and songwriting.
A big city boy, he feels he’s come home to his true rural roots. It’s been a long journey, but one that is filled with tales.
D Dub Mac
WayneO has been the most popular seniors entertainer in the greater Edmonton area for approximately the last 20 years. He has also taken his love of music to Alabama, where he has wintered often, and even played his guitar once on the streets of Nashville.
With his keyboard and guitar he performs a wide variety of music, and we are happy to have him share some country classics with us at Vilna Cowboy Fest 2024.
Wayne will also be our main emcee for the weekend.
Wayne O
Jim Beaudoin
My Dad ,was not only my biggest fan, but was also my musical influence and idol. Anywhere you could find him: the house, barn, truck or tractor, he would be singing a song. At a young age my parents bought me my first guitar at a filling station in our home town of Maymont, Saskatchewan.
Both my Dad and I liked singers like Marty Robbins, Johnny Cash, Hank Snow, and Elvis, as well as the lively Southern Gospel. I got married and moved to Spruce Grove, Alta. with my wife Pat and three lovely daughters. I continued to sing to myself and around family campfires, but as a shy guy I was not too much into singing in front of people. Matter of fact when I am working as a welder, and I am off by myself, you may have heard a tune or two.
Then several years ago Pat pushed me on the stage at Garden Valley Jamboree. My wife knows what is best, because since then, we have traveled all around to Jamborees, having the time of our life. So I thank her for the push. She is my biggest promoter and supporter. I hope you all enjoy our music as much as we enjoy singing it,also a member of Alberta Cowboy,Poetry Association,love Cowboy Western Music.
I’m now retired from welding ,and have the best grand, great- grand kids in the whole wide world , to play with, and I enjoy to perform at senior centers,performing classic country and cowboy music !
Jackson Mackenzie
Jackson Mackenzie is a singer/songwriter/guitar player/poet from right next door to Vilna, in Smoky Lake County. Near the turn of the century, when performing at a seniors residence in Edmonton, the then Mayor of Stony Plain, Donna Cowan, invited him to attend the Stony Plain Cowboy Gathering Society’s annual Cowboy Poetry event. He had never heard of such a thing.
At the time, Jackson and Jessi were a country/bluegrass/gospel duo (Jac & Jessi) from St. Albert. They went to check this out, met some outstanding cowboy poetry folks, and auditioned on the spot for the following year. Jackson continued to entertain at their event for 20 years in a row, with Jessi joining him as often as she was able.
In 2009 Jackson moved to the Vilna area, and the next year the Vilna & District Ag Society expressed an interest in a cowboy poetry event of their own. Jackson helped organize it and it ran from 2011 - 2016. Now, after a 7 year hiatus, Vilna Cowboy Fest, as it is known, is back for your entertainment and elucidation (they say that’s a college word for ‘we hope you get something out of it’ or possibly ‘don’t be late for lunch’).
Jessi Jo Charles
Jessi Jo Charles was originally from Thunder Bay Ont.
She came to Alberta at age 11. Early on, her father encouraged her singing. It became a lifelong passion of hers. Jessi sang in various choirs and church settings. She teamed up with Jackson Mackenzie as a country duo, in 2001. She was also a member of 2 Bluegrass bands, Woodbend and Mountain Spirit, over the years. Her musical endeavors have taken her to various performances around Alberta with her accompanying musicians. She and Jackson have recorded 5 CDs together along with Bob Glidden. As well, you may find the Woodbend Band CD available at the Artist's table.
This set is dedicated to her late Step Father, Walter Falk, and Betty, his wife, who is attending today.
She would like to personally thank you for supporting local talent this weekend.