PLAIN FOLK

by Billy Jones
Music Friendly Medicine Hat

Long before I arrived, Medicine Hat was blessed with many bands and talented musicians. After I had settled in, I rarely found anyone that hadn’t owned or played an instrument at one time or another. Music friendly Medicine Hat was indeed an oasis in the desert.

Music, the universal language of peace, is probably what made Medicine Hat so friendly. Every weekend, just about every town--including the Hat--held a dance or a social garnished with music of all types. People laughed and danced and even competed in sports to offset their daily routine.

In its simplest form, music dominated the western farm communities. The great cowboy songs were born here. Cowboy and western music, combined with the traditional folk and dance music of the immigrant European farmers, became the great pacifier.

Cities like Toronto and Montreal sported a greater variety of music and styles. It was here that musicians relied on music for a living. Competition reigned and there was always a ready replacement. There was not the friendly atmosphere shared by the musicians in smaller communities like the Hat.

However, steel guitar players, like me, were the only competitive players in the country and western field. It used to make me laugh because many of them thought they held a special secret that made them a better player. I soon learned that I had to be a little more than a steel guitar player to stay in the game.

In the sixties, folk music arrived in Toronto’s Yorkville district. It came alive with coffee houses and flower children. A new breed of cat emerged that recited poetry. Some of them wrote sorrowful songs about their downtrodden lives. It wasn’t too long before better class musicians and singers, such as Ian and Sylvia, changed Yorkville’s image. It became even more popular with the university crowd. Folk music had arrived with its protest songs, but rock and roll was rapidly gaining momentum.

In order to gain popularity with the younger crowd, the powers-that-be lowered the drinking age. It was disastrous. People, who dressed to enjoy an evening out with their spouse or girlfriend, found their evenings destroyed. The night this happened, clubs were invaded by irresponsible teenagers who held no regard for a dress code or the language they used. The respectable passive crowd, and the groups that played for them, moved on. The clubs never recovered.

Folk music was also affected, but it rose from the ashes to combine with the blues and closely associated bluegrass and Celtic music. It even has a touch of western. With added humor and showmanship, folk music has become a tasty class act worthy of your attention.

Thanks to the Folk Music Club, I’ve had the privilege of seeing and enjoying some of the many groups they’ve brought to Medicine Hat. Excellent local groups like Ezra and the rising Ron Mason often share the stage with these welcome travelers. Watch for them then. Come and see for yourselves. Enjoy!