Jake Vaadeland is a talented “Retro Man”
By Joan Janzen
Jake Vaadeland and the Sturgeon River Boys brought their high-energy show to both the communities of Kindersley and Leader on January 19th and 20th. From the moment Jake and the band came on the stage, the audience was transported back in time to the 1950s era.
Band members Joel Rohs, Stephen Williams and Jaxon Lalonde were all attired in retro suits, and Jake proudly announced the suit he was wearing had once belonged to Wilf Carter.
Jake Vaadeland and the Sturgeon River Boys entertained at Kindersley and Leader on January 19th and 20th while on their Arts Council tour. PHOTO BY JOAN JANZEN
It is hard to believe Jake is barely 20 years old. This self-taught musician grew up in Cut Knife, Sask., watching Grand Ole Opry shows over and over again. Although it sounds incredible, those shows taught him how to play banjo and guitar. His music is a mixture of bluegrass, old-time country, and rock.
His song “Retro Man” aptly described the young entertainer. The lyrics said, “he likes to be himself,” and he does a great job doing it. Jake said it was one of the first songs he had written, and it won him quite a few awards.
Jake and the band’s old-time showmanship delivered plenty of humour, energy, and, most of all, amazing talent. Throughout the concert, Jake occasionally traded his guitar for a banjo and “duel just a little bit” with the other player. The Sturgeon River Boys put on a stellar performance, with the banjo player kicking off one or two instrumental jam sessions while the bass player thrilled the audience with his acrobatic antics.
Jake also surprised the audience by breaking out into some old-time “twist” dance moves and messing up his carefully styled hair in the process. But Jake just whipped out his comb and took his time expertly putting his oiled hair back into place while telling the audience a joke. Now, that’s something you don’t ever see happen on the stage.
The evening was filled with original songs Jake had written, most of which were flavoured with old-time gospel stories about enjoying a bit of heaven on earth. His song “One More Dollar to Go” ended with a member of the audience throwing some coins on stage. “It’s the most money we’ve made,” Jake quipped.
“If you have a request, write it on the back of a hundred-dollar bill, and we’ll be more than happy to play it for you,” he joked. He sang a song about a trip to Cadillac, Sask. and meeting a cow on the road; it’s something most of the audience may have experienced.
During the intermission, Jake and the band were available for photos, and Jake sold vinyl albums and other merchandise. After they took a bow and left the stage, the audience cheered until they reappeared for an encore, dragging the bass player on stage, who was reclining inside his bass case.
“Sorry for all you people who wanted to go home,” Jake said before they ended the evening by singing “Blue Suede Shoes.”
Thanks to the efforts of the District Arts Councils in Kindersley and Leader, the audiences thoroughly enjoyed the nights of entertainment. Leader took the opportunity to host a pub night, which also included lunch.
Jake travels throughout the United States, as well as Europe, but he always returns to Saskatchewan. He started off 2024 with a 22-show Arts Council tour forging through the frigid temperatures of Saskatchewan and Alberta, where he and the band always received a warm welcome.