A number of unique acts from all over the country took to the stage at the Boscombe Hillbilly Jam this past weekend. On Friday evening and throughout the day on Saturday, amateur performers impressed the audience with a broad range of traditional music, country, and bluegrass, mixed in with some poetry and good humour.
The grounds were thick with camping units as the popular outdoor music festival attracted guests from as far away as Finland, Florida, Arizona, and British Columbia. However, the majority of the more than 1,500 guests and performers hailed from Alberta and Saskatchewan.
Warm temperatures on Friday and Saturday made for pleasant relaxation and entertainment outdoors with many guests in attendance enjoying the outdoor portable dance floor. A steady rain on Sunday thinned the crowd out somewhat, and forced guests indoors for the pancake breakfast and the conclusion of a pleasantly successful weekend with an afternoon of gospel music performances.
There are always some acts that stand out more than others, and this was true again this year. Terry Cardinal and his family gathered up on stage during the late hours of Saturday night to sing bravely a few sets they dedicated to his recently deceased five-year-old grandson Tayden Kaylor Cardinal. Tayden was killed in a go-cart accident in Saddle Lake less than three months ago.
Cardinal’s family support his music interests and he expressed the fact that they were together on a “healing journey.” Young Tayden used to follow his grandfather on singing gigs and memorized all of the words to the songs they sang together.
“We know he was still with us tonight in spirit,” Cardinal said. Due to the long line-up of performers, Cardinal and his family weren’t able to get on stage until very late in the evening when unfortunately most of the crowd had retired to their beds. But for those who remained vigilant, the dedication touched their hearts.
