Ivan Daines has shared his lifelong love of country music and rodeo with thousands and thousands of people over the years at his ever-popular summer music festival.
The 38th annual Ivan Daines Friends and Heroes Country Music Pick-nic takes place at the Daines Ranch and Rodeo Grounds, six kilometres north of Innisfail, on August 14 to 17.
“We have some tremendous artists this year and I can't say enough about them,” said Daines, an Innisfail-Red Deer resident. “I'm sure it's going to be one of the best ones we've ever had.”
As it has in past years, the 2014 festival will feature some of the top country music artists of yesterday and today, as well as some up-and-coming artists Daines believes may be on the road to stardom themselves.
Musicians at this year's festival include Duane Steele, Denver Daines, the Command Sisters, R. Harlan Smith, Tera Lee and Rod Erikson.
As he has done since starting the festival 38 years ago, Ivan Daines makes it a habit of meeting the artists and learning their stories.
“Duane Steele has been a great singer forever, and many years ago when we were both very young he was singing at a rodeo at the Crowsnest Pass and he was with a band called Rocking Horse and I said, ‘If there is any justice in the music business you will be star' and of course he became a star and has hits on the radio. That's one man I'm very proud of. He puts on a great show,” he said.
Denver Daines is Ivan's youngest son. He is making a repeat performance at this year's festival.
“His band is very well rehearsed and they are all great musicians and they've got a great sound,” he said.
The Command Sisters are from Edmonton. They will be making their first appearance this year.
“I predict they are the next superstars of country music in Canada,” he said. “They are tremendous.”
R. Harlan Smith, who is an inductee in the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, is back again this year.
“His music has inspired people for many years,” he said. “He is a tremendous talent. I think he is one of the greatest voices ever in Canadian country music. It's an honour to have him back.”
Tera Lee is making the latest of many appearances at the festival. “She's climbed the charts to be a great star and she's got some great music out there,” he said.
Rob Erickson is a world champion yodeller, making another appearance at the 2014 festival.
“He sings on par with Marty Robbins. He's a kind and gentle man who is unbelievably talented,” he said.
Other artists this year include Dean Ray, Jordan Doell, Denny Eddy, Cassie Cinnamon, Rick Harrow, Gerald Miller, Al Owchar, Debbie Bergeron, JT Moore, Cadilliac Deville, Louis Massicote, Cassidy Peisse, Buddy Gale, Jeannette Carrico, Kylie Sitter and Fred Doberstien.
And of course Daines himself will be performing – for the 38th year in a row.
As in past years, a portion of the proceeds from this year's festival will be going to charities, including the Red Deer Hospice Society, the Kidney Foundation, and the Ivan Daines Music Therapy Program.
A new charity being supported this year is the Ben Steiger Memorial College Fund for young cowboys.
“Ben lost his life at a rodeo school in Thorsby this year,” he said. “It was so sad, so they started the scholarship fund for young cowboys.”
A long-time former rodeo competitor, Daines has been playing music since he was five years old. He says county music and rodeo go together like nothing else.
“Tanya Tucker told me one time that the only difference between rodeo and country music is eight seconds,” he said. “That was a very wise comment. There are great people in both areas.”
The event this year also includes the Canadian Championship Horse Training Contest.
