Musician Cam Salay has four words to describe Squamish dobro player Michael Kilby.
“One in a million,” said Salay, former member of the Juno Award-winning band The Paperboys. “The rest of us have to put in 10,000 hours to play an instrument well, but he seems to instinctively just pick it up. He’s just out of high school and yet he’s one of the best players anywhere.”
Squamish music lovers will get to hear Kilby exercise those musical chops on May 7 at the 14th annual Brackendale Bluegrass Festival when he takes to the Brackendale Art Gallery stage with North Country, a Seattle-based group that’s considered one of the premier traditional bluegrass bands from the Northwest.
“They’ve been playing a lot of bluegrass festivals across the U.S.,” said Salay. “In addition to North Country, we also have Murfitt and Mann from Vancouver.”
Squamish musicians can get in on the act, as well, according to Salay.
“The show starts at 8 p.m. at the art gallery,” he said. “But earlier in the day – from 2 to 4 p.m. – we’ll have a slow-pitch jam. Slow pitch means beginners are welcome. We are happy to play at everyone’s speed.”
And speed is one of the things that Salay said he enjoys about bluegrass music.
“I was really into bluegrass in my 20s,” he said. “I really like the quickness and speed of the playing, as well as the harmonies between the voices and the instruments. And the music is mostly positive, too.”
Speed is also something you’ll need if you want tickets to the event, advised Salay. “Tickets usually sell out really fast for the bluegrass festival,” he said. “So people should really get their tickets in advance if they want to come.”
Those tickets are available at the Brackendale Art Gallery or Xoco, the chocolate shop on Cleveland Avenue.
For more information, go to brackendaleartgallery.com.
