Purveyors of traditional country music, Canada’s Largest Travelling Barn Dance, will be right at home on the stage of Maryhill’s Commercial Tavern, where Paul Weber works every day to promote the same tradition. It’ll be an ideal match on Sunday afternoon.
A staple on CKNX radio from 1936 to 1963 – Canada’s longest running radio show of its kind – the Barn Dance travelled around southwestern Ontario. It was resurrected in 1996 and has been going strong under the auspices of the Barn Dance Historical Society, which operates a museum in the CKNX’s hometown of Wingham.
The travelling show remains a strong draw throughout the region, bringing together artists who love that style of country music, says Doug Dietrich, show manager and music director for the concert series.
“The goal of the Barn Dance Society is to maintain traditional country music … and that’s what you get on stage,” he said in advance of the May 12 performance.
Playing steel guitar, Dietrich leads a five-piece band that features Grant Heywood (drums), Al Alderson (bass), Bill Norris (fiddle) and Fred Lewis (lead guitar). None of them are strangers to country music fans in the area, nor to those who frequent the Commercial Tavern.
The show also features a range of musical guests. This time around, the stage will be taken by Larry Mercey, an award-winning singer, songwriter and recording artist, and member of the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame. Also on the bill are John and Geneva Heaman, a well known husband and wife vocal duet whose performance also features a bit of comedy and ventriloquism to add to the variety show feel; Gerald Davidson, an award-winning singer and recording artist, and leader and featured vocalist with the Country Versatiles band; and Dianne Ditner, singer and leader of Dianne & The Country Cavaliers, a popular dance band in southwestern Ontario.
The day’s host, Paul Weber, will be sitting in on the fun, too.
Barn Dance veteran Jim Swan is the master of ceremonies whose stories and intros move the show along.
“Jim does a really good job of that – it keeps things flowing nicely,” said Dietrich.
Associated with Saturday nights filled with live performances and late-night dancing back in the day, these days the shows are often Sunday afternoon specials, reflecting the demographics of the audience. Having the shows on Sundays also make it easier to have musicians come out, as many are busiest on Friday and Saturday nights, he explained.
Such is the Barn Dance’s reputation that performers are happy to take part.
“It’s like a Gran Ole Opry show – it’s something of an honour to play. It has a cachet.”
Dietrich’s own involvement with the show goes back to 2000. Having been a musician for some 50 years now, he’d been asked to take part for years prior to that, but the schedule never worked out. Buy finally, approached by Larry Mercey to join in, his schedule finally allowed for that about 16 years ago. Shortly thereafter, he became the band leader, a post he’s held since then. He’s the point man for the travelling show – it’s a lot of work, but he’s been enjoying it so much that it keeps him on board – “all the work is behind the scenes, so that when we’re on stage it’s all about the fun.”
Canada’s Largest Travelling Barn Dance rolls into the Commercial Tavern on June 12 at 3 p.m. Tickets $25 in advance or at the door, available at the venue, 1303 Maryhill Rd., or by calling 519-648-3644. Visit www.commercialtavern.ca.
