Back on the Rocking Horse With Joel Fafard

Living on the Canadian prairies can lead to artistic madness. No really, I have witnessed it first-hand. I have also seen the prairies act as the impetus for an artistic-minded individual to dive into the their art and create brilliance.

Saskatchewan performer Joël Fafard has most certainly taken his art by the reins and created something beautiful out of the prairies. His most recent release, "Rocking Horse", has recently been nominated for Outstanding Instrumental Recording of the Year at the Western Canadian Music Awards.

Fafard, who will be playing Loplops Lounge on Wednesday, September 29th, has been recognized throughout the industry for his music for the past decade. One of the more interesting acknowledgements was the inclusion of his tune "Megan and the Wascana Cyclone" in Mel Bay's Master's Anthology for finger-style guitar solos vol. 3. This is a huge critical epoch for any serious musician.

Fafard's own website describes his music as a "fiery blend of urban and rural music that is forging a new voice for the Canadian prairies, his finger-picking, slide guitar embodies such styles as blues, bluegrass, country, Celtic, jazz and classical." Whew! I think what the website is trying to convey is that Fafard is an uber-talented musician worth checking out live.

With five CDs to his name, Fafard most recently teamed up with violist Richard Moody and double bass player Gilles Fournier to record "Rocking Horse", his first entirely instrumental acoustic CD.

For more information on Joel Fafard, visit www.joelfafard.com.

Loplops Lounge is located at 651 Queen Street East (next to the Duke of Windsor). For more information, visit www.loplops.com.