Jake Vaadeland (Submitted photo/Fragment Media and Jake Vaadeland)

By Derek Craddock

SASK MUSIC AWARD WINNER

Cut Knife musician says winning Folk Artist of the Year a ‘rite of passage’

Dec 12, 2023 | 2:00 PM

While his name was being called at the Saskatchewan Music Awards earlier this month, a local musician was doing what he loves best, performing a show.

Jake Vaadeland was on tour with the Hunter Brothers when he won the award for Roots or Folk Artist of the Year.

Speaking to paNOW, Vaadeland said he tries not to get too hung up on awards shows as his passion is performing in different venues to thousands of fans.

He said he and his band, The Sturgeon River Boys, found out they won after their performance that night.

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This year’s award adds to the successful trophies he won in 2022 for Roots, Folk Artist of the Year and Album of the Year for Everybody But Me.

READ MORE: Northwest musicians win big at Sask. Music Awards

When asked what it meant to win the award for his home communities of Cut Knife and Prince Albert, Vaadeland said it’s special because he never finished school in efforts to pursue a music career, much to the chagrin of his friends and family.

“I left school for music and everybody used to tell me you need to go to university, finish high school and go to university and get a degree or diploma and then you get hired for a job and make a living and have a life,” he said.

“I guess these awards are kind of my equivalent to that in a way, maybe my rite of passage to do what I do and make a living doing it,” he said.

Vaadeland and the Sturgeon River Boys wrapped up their tour with the Hunter Brothers and will soon be announcing more dates in the new year, including many stops in Saskatchewan.

“We’re very excited that in January, we’re going to get to stick around home here and play for the folks in Saskatchewan.”

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derek.craddock@pattisonmedia.com