Jake Vaadeland

Jake Vaadeland at Dakota Tavern, 6 July 2023

GM:  With me today is 20 year old Jake Vaadeland of Saskatchewan. Thank you for sitting down with me before your Dakota Tavern show in Toronto. Ever since I heard of you last year, Jake, I have been following your career and waiting for my chance to meet you, to see you perform. Tonight I have that opportunity.

Would you please tell my listeners about your childhood, where you lived, what was that life like in rural Saskatchewan. 

JV:  I grew up in Big River, farming in a Scandinavian settlement — Park Valley — on a ranch, in a home with a wood stove and clawfoot tub, by the Sturgeon River. Dad had a guest horse ranch where he took folks out on horse rides and overnight trips, cooking on outdoor fires.

GM:  You have said your Dad, Gord, was a huge inspiration to you all your life. In what ways?

JV:  Both parents were. With good life lessons, staying calm, helping me on stage and with the ranch. I take after my Dad, looking after the horses at the ranch and the cattle that were at my grandparents’. They taught me old timey things, some good some bad.  My family was very musical, mostly on Mom’s side. Dad, Gord, was fairly successful in bluegrass bands in 1990s and won SaskCountry Music Awards. Both parents took me, from a young age, to Northern Lights Bluegrass old-time music festival. They got me into bluegrass that led to my style of music now.

GM: You have been singing since you were a pre-schooler, correct? What do you recall of your earliest performances?

JV: As soon as I could talk, basically, I could memorize lyrics. I didn’t believe my parents until I saw a video of me singing a Johnny Cash song word for word.

GM:  Your bio says you are a self-taught multi-instrumentalist and songwriter. Your sound has been described as a blend of bluegrass and 50s rockabilly. What were the first instruments you played? And what is your primary instrument now?

JV:  Mandolin then went to the banjo at about 14. I now play guitar as the front man in the band. I have a bluegrass banjo player in the band now.

GM:  What was it like as a high schooler playing such old-fashioned, traditional music? 

JV:  Not very good. Kids said no one likes bluegrass. I hardly wanted to finish high school — I had music and touring and was getting a career started, making money already. But my Mother and Grandmother were teachers so I had to finish. I completed school online. 

GM:  Your band is called Sturgeon River Boys. How long have you known the members?

JV:  Joel Rohs, on electric guitar and Stephen Williams on stand-up bass live near where I grew up and played here and there with Dad. I originally played with Ira, my bluegrass friend, and we used his band. When he moved, Dad’s band came over to me about two years ago. Jaxon Lalonde, on banjo, we have seen each other forever at festivals.  Our steel player, Grady Caplin, is from Windsor. He was introduced to us by Jeremy Johnson, my manager. We have only known him a few weeks but he feels like a two year member. We’re having him move to Saskatchewan.

GM:  What first caught my eye about you was your stage wardrobe, a retro rockabilly look. But I have seen you on Facebook modeling top hat and tails. It seems you have a real flair for clothing. Where do you find your hats and suits?

JV:  “Better Off Duds” in Saskatoon. I decided not to wear the black/blue/white suits but to wear patterned. Also some old guys gifted me their old suits. I also buy at Value Village, even for my personal clothes. The top hat, in its box, was found in a theatre in Saskatchewan.

GM:  Are all the songs you have recorded on your CDs self-penned?  Many songwriters say they write about their life experiences. Where do you get the ideas for your songs?

JV:  Yes. I write about things I have witnessed, how I feel, at first about peer’s disapproval but about being yourself and not caring what others think. I wrote about not going back to Nashville. I was there and didn’t like it much. Heartbreak hasn’t happened but I do write some steppin’ out songs.

GM:  You have been part of Saskatchewan’s Telemiracle twice, at the age of 14 and 19. Thank you for your support of this charity that provides financial assistance to Saskatchewan residents to cover medical costs that are not otherwise covered.  How did you get involved?

JV:  I got involved with Ira. We auditioned and got in. It was in Regina, the biggest thing ever for us at that time. We tried the second year and didn’t get in but Ira’s family band did. Later I was invited to play. Due to Covid we pre-recorded four songs. In the last one I was offered to be a national host and played as well.

GM:  I want to congratulate you on all the Saskatchewan awards you have won, both the Country Awards and the all genre awards. Seven awards, that I count.  It must be rewarding to be acknowledged by your peers.  What were you thinking when you took to the podium to accept?

JV:  The first awards I won I was on stage elsewhere and wasn’t thinking about the awards. I was too nervous to be at the awards event.  But my friends were watching and sending me updates, you won, you won. I have, this year, been nominated at the Western Canada Music Awards.

GM:  Now that touring is back in full swing following the pandemic, you have a full schedule.  Tomorrow you are at the famed Mariposa Folk Festival then back to the west.  You will be playing Calgary’s King Eddy and the Stampede’s Coca-Cola Stage during the world-famous Calgary Stampede. Have you played at the Stampede before? 

JV:  I have played corporate events during Stampede week but this is the first real time on a Stampede stage.

GM:  There are many different types of food at the Stampede and other fairs. Are there any fair foods you look forward to?

JV:  No, I try to eat as healthy as possible, salad before a show or a good steak. I don’t try even ice cream as I have a severe peanut allergy. I am careful and have not had an episode since the first one.

GM:  What is your favourite home-cooked meal?

JV: I have no favourite meal or song. Just like everything done right. But I do like Norwegian kumla that Grandma makes.

GM:  What is kumla?

JV:  It is a potato, flour, bacon dumpling boiled in water after the ham is cooked in it. Grandma pours bacon grease over it.  The best part is when Grandma cut the left overs in squares and fried it. I takes 3 hours to make and 20 minutes to cook.

GM Note: Here’s a link to a Norwegian kumla recipe. Hopefully, it tastes as great as Jake’s Grandmother’s version.

GM:  Other than music, what hobbies or interests do you have?

JV:  I used to be a decent bowler and went to the provincials. I didn’t go on as I worried too much at competitions. Other than bowling, no sports. I do like metal railroads and making miniature homes and collecting antiques for the home I have now. Folks say they like going through my house as it’s like a museum. I even have an 1800’s gold picture frame and a grandfather clock.

GM:  I get to see you again this summer at the Big Valley Jamboree Songwriters Showcase. You are, of course, an instrumentalist, a singer, a dapper dresser, but also a songwriter. What does it feel like to be playing at Big Valley as a songwriter?

JV:  I was there last year too. I am not used to being solo but it is nice to talk intimately about the songs. It is a good stop on the summer tour.

GM:  What are your plans or dreams for your future?

JV:  Keep doing this for the rest of my life.

GM:  Best wishes on your career, Jake. See you at Big Valley.