After touring around Canada and seeing the sights, Simon Jongsma of the band Once Nomadic said the alt-country/bluegrass duo decided this year to leave Sudbury, Ontario where they had begun and pick out a new life on the West Coast.
Jongsma is now living in Squamish and Meredith Charbonneau in Vancouver. The duo came together in 2010 but didn鈥檛 settle on its folksy alt-country and bluegrass sound right away.
鈥淲e started playing together four or five years ago, but our first project was a full band in Sudbury,鈥� said Jongsma. 鈥淲e then moved towards our current country/bluegrass sound. We needed to go in a direction, and that鈥檚 where we went. We also became a duo, because it鈥檚 easier to play folk and country, and for touring. But after touring and travelling around in late fall, we decided to move out here.鈥�
Since the big move, the duo has also transformed into a trio. 鈥淲e鈥檝e added guitarist and vocalist Dave Phillips from Vancouver to the group,鈥� he said.
The trio plays original material, but Jongsma said they usually pull out a cover of an old Bill Munroe tune or classic country song during their shows.
鈥淚 really feel the old style bluegrass and country and connect with it,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 feel it is the most powerful music.鈥�
The band鈥檚 2012 debut album, 鈥楾il the Birds Come Down, features intertwining harmonies, a rustic sound, and a decidedly slow, folk ballad feel.
鈥淭he album is very much toned down,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut our live shows, depending on the crowd, are more upbeat. We do like to play some fun, bluegrass songs that get people鈥檚 feet tapping.鈥�
Once Nomadic is also working on a second album.
鈥淲e have a full album鈥檚 worth of songs we鈥檝e written since that debut,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut now it is about finding the right studio 鈥� hopefully in Vancouver 鈥� where we can record the new album.鈥�
Jongsma said Once Nomadic would grow again for the recording sessions.
鈥淚 want to record with a full band this time,鈥� he said. 鈥淥ur music and songwriting has definitely progressed since we first started writing songs and touring. Our songs definitely have that old country, ironic storytelling that finds humour even in dark places.鈥�
The band鈥檚 music will cross some deep and dark waters this summer, when Once Nomadic heads out on a sailing tour of local islands.
鈥淲e have this idea to get on a sailboat and tour the pubs from Bowen Island to Salt Spring Island, and all around this summer,鈥� he said.
But on Friday (June 5), Squamish audiences get to check out Once Nomadic at the Howe Sound Inn and Brew Pub. The band hits the stage at 10 p.m. and there鈥檚 no cover charge.
For more on the band, go to
