Thirteen-year-old Michael Kilby has a difficult time finding kids his age with whom to jam.
This Squamish teenager's interests lie far beyond the bubble gum pop of Katy Perry and the cotton candy twang of Taylor Swift. Kilby likes the smooth rolling sounds of American bluegrass musician Del McCoury.
Sixty years senior to Kilby, the silver-haired legion, along with Kilby's father Richard, promoted him to pick on the fiddle 4 years ago. Since then, Kilby's been hooked on bluegrass, gypsy jazz and everything in between.
"I like the function of it," he said while sitting on a couch in his Brackendale home. "I like how it isn't all about the singer."
Kilby's taken to the stage with his father and his fiddle at the Brackendale Fall Fair, but he's kept his flare for strings relatively quiet. A lot of Kilby's friends don't know he plays.
"I don't think his band teacher knows," Richard said.
That will likely change on Saturday, May 5, when Kilby will be the first act on stage for the second day of the 10th annual Brackendale Festival. Kilby has played for small portions of the last two festivals, but this year's he's up for an hour-long set as part of a five-piece act, The Mountain Williams, that includes his father.
Kilby said he enjoys the improv components of bluegrass.
"I am not a super smooth player," he said. "I more think of something quickly."
As for his future involvement with music, Kilby has one dream.
"I would like to go to Nashville."
Kilby will share the stage with some well-known names like Big Machine's Oliver Swain. The Victoria native has been hailed as Canada's quintessential folk and traditional musician. Swain recently was on an international tour as sideman to Juno Award winner Toni Childs. His latest album "In a Big Machine" made the top 40 Canadian roots chart.
Like Kilby, Swain was attracted to the express, radical, experimental side of the music at a young age.
"There's a great diversity in play styles," he said. "It's real people singing real songs."
Swain preformed at the Brackendale Art Gallery (BAG) in 2007. The show was recorded live for C小蓝视频 Radio.
"We had an absolutely amazing time," Swain said.
The Brackendale Bluegrass Festival, which is being sponsored by the Squamish Arts Council, kicks off on Friday, May 4, with traditional bluegrass band 5 on a String. Then be prepared to square dance, as Shout White Dragon gets feet shuffling.
This is the first time the festival will include some good old-fashioned dancing, said Cam Salay, co-organizer of the event.
"The band is quite popular," he noted.
The next day starts with Kilby, followed by Swain's act the Big Machine. Musicians are also invited to an open jam session that will take place on Saturday, May 5, at 2 p.m.
Tickets cost $20 per night or $35 for a two-day pass. Tickets can be bought at the door, at the BAG before hand or downtown at Xocolatl. For more information call (604) 898-3333.
