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Northern Lights Bluegrass & Old Tyme Music Camp Early Bird Deadline June 30

Jun 13, 2014 | 9:45 AM

Join us for our 9th Annual Music Camp (August 11-15)! Visit www.northernlightsbluegrass.ca for more information and be sure to take advantage of our JUNE 30 EARLY BIRD deadline.

Do you want to learn to play an instrument or improve your playing? Join us at the beautiful Ness Creek site for the Northern Lights Bluegrass and Old Tyme Music Camp, held August 11-15 and followed by our Festival held on August 15-17. For beginner to virtuoso skill levels and for the young to the young at heart, our music camp provides a friendly, non-competitive environment for musicians to grow and learn in the boreal forest.

Camp is taught by various festival main stage acts who agree to come out a few days early to share their professional skills with approximately 100 lucky participants. Students of all ages and all skill levels gather to enjoy our camp, and the feedback is always the same… “I'm hooked on camp!” Group instruction will take place along with the opportunity to participate in special interest workshops, jam sessions, and fun evening programming!

You can register online or by printing off and mailing in a registration form. Register before our June 30 Early Bird deadline and get $30 off. And if you know a kid that could use some financial help to come experience learning and music at the camp, don't forget our Send a Kid to Camp Music Program (deadline to apply is June 30)! You can also apply to the Creative Kids program (deadline to apply is June 20).

We're excited to offer two new classes this year along with many other popular favourites:

*New: Sing Out Strong! (Jack Roland) – Want to build confidence and improve your singing sills? Jack, of The Cumberland Brothers, will explore vocal techniques while introducing you to standard bluegrass & oldtime songs.

*New: Dance Band (Dale & Laura Budd) – Taught by our very own Dale & Laura Budd, this class is open to all instruments taught in camp and will focus on Saskatchewan's Dance Hall music traditions.

Banjo – Beginner (Randy Young) – Returning for a 2nd year, Randy has been playing for over 30 years & plays with Redwood Hill of Saskatoon & the Arizona Connection.

Banjo – Intermediate/Advanced (Jeff Scroggins) – A National Bluegrass Championship winner, Jeff has also taught all over the world.

Bass (Alistair Whitehead) – A member of The Slocan Ramblers and a graduate of Toronto's Humber College Music Program, Alistair brings jazzy improvisation and bluegrass together.

Dobro (Bob Hamilton) – Bob plays with the well-known Done Gone String Band as well as running Old Crow Recording Studio.

Guitar – Beginner/Intermediate (Archie Pateman) – Archie holds Americana Album of the Year award from the Independent Music Awards 2009 and has been nominated for 2 Canadian Folk Music Awards.

Guitar – Advanced (Darryl Poulson) – A member of The Slocan Ramblers, Darryl studied jazz at Humber College, studying with Ted Quinlan, Don Thompson & performing with Kurt Elling.

Fiddle – Beginner (Lydia Demi-Smith) – From Bluegrass to Chamber Music, Lydia, a member of Jeff Scroggins & Colorado, loves to teach and perform.

Fiddle – Intermediate/Advanced (Calvin Vollrath) – Calvin has taught at the Canadian Grand Masters Fiddle Camp in Ottawa since its inception, has his own successful music camp each July in Alberta, and we are honoured to have him join us at Northern Lights. Fiddle students are in for both a workout and a treat!

Kid's Music – Fungrass (Mona Goodwin) – For kids 9 & under, this class is an intro to bluegrass & old time music. Play an instrument, make one too, musical treasure hunts, and more!

Mandolin – Beginner (Adrian Gross) – Adrian is a guitarist, mandolinist, and composer from Toronto who co-leads with the Roofhoppers & The Slocan Ramblers.

Mandolin – Intermediate/Advanced (Tristan Scroggins) – Tristan has garnered awards in several states including the State Championship in New Mexico & Arizona.

Old Time Banjo – Beginner (Frank Evans) – Growing up in a Toronto family of classical musicians, Frank's unlikely decision to play clawhammer banjo & Old Time Appalachian music has proven to be highly successful.

Old Time Piano – Intermediate/Advanced (Trent Bruner) – A favourite teacher at many camps, Trent has shared the stage with prairie greats like Vollrath, Arcand, & The Cleavers.

Vocal Harmony (KC Groves) – KC is the founder of the all-girl band Uncle Earl and an internationally renowned songwriter & teacher.

Vocal Harmony (Greg Blake) – Another Colorado member, Greg has been nominated for SPBGMA's “Traditional Male Vocalist of the Year.”

Questions? Don't hesitate to e-mail us at camp@northernlightsbluegrass.ca.

Join our Facebook event for festival and camp here. And for more information on our festival and to buy tickets, visit our website.

Y'all come!