There is something about the air, or the water, in Weyburn that helps this southeast Saskatchewan city (the best to live in on the Prairies for a while now) produce some really good, even great, musicians.
You have some people who just love music and love playing it or singing, and they develop that love into something really good.
Not always does this lead to a career, but for a young girl I interviewed when she was in Grade 6, it is now her career.
Tenille Arts lives and works in Nashville, Tennessee, living out her dream recording, singing, touring and earning awards, not to mention national media exposure. I don’t think that young lady thought this would happen back when she attended St. Dominic Savio School and began taking voice lessons.
More recently, Weyburn had an evening of music at a physically-distant outdoor concert at the fair grounds, held as a benefit fundraiser for a young lady who is an amazing singer in her own right, Ensley Akins.
It was only fitting that the lineup of performers all had local or regional roots. The show was opened by singer Onello Bahingawan, whom I also saw as a young guy at St. Dominic and later St. Michael and the Weyburn Comprehensive, and who knows where his love of singing will lead him as he goes off to Brandon University.
Local group Switch followed with their mix of rock and country, then Dead Levee led by Weyburn native and lead singer, Dane Von Hagen, and the evening finished up with The 7th Avenue.
The latter group is made up of all local guys who also love their music, and while they were in high school they developed their sound and playing abilities.
It was a good evening of music, with a special presentation of a commemorative guitar to Ensley by Dane Von Hagen. I’ve heard Ensley sing for many years, both as a soloist and with her mom Luanne and sister Abby, with dad Shenan often backing them up on guitar. I hope we do get to hear her play and sing again, as coming from a musical family the love of playing is ingrained into her — but first, of course, she has a fight with cancer on her hands, and the concert was all about helping the family out as they get treatment for her. This is part of the musical heritage of Weyburn, and is an example of the love of music doing great good in the community.
