After touring around Canada and seeing the sights, Simon Jongsma of the band Once Nomadic said the alt-country/bluegrass duo decided this year to leave Sudbury, Ontario where they had begun and pick out a new life on the West Coast.
Jongsma is now living in Squamish and Meredith Charbonneau in Vancouver. The duo came together in 2010 but didn’t settle on its folksy alt-country and bluegrass sound right away.
“We started playing together four or five years ago, but our first project was a full band in Sudbury,” said Jongsma. “We then moved towards our current country/bluegrass sound. We needed to go in a direction, and that’s where we went. We also became a duo, because it’s easier to play folk and country, and for touring. But after touring and travelling around in late fall, we decided to move out here.”
Since the big move, the duo has also transformed into a trio. “We’ve added guitarist and vocalist Dave Phillips from Vancouver to the group,” he said.
The trio plays original material, but Jongsma said they usually pull out a cover of an old Bill Munroe tune or classic country song during their shows.
“I really feel the old style bluegrass and country and connect with it,” he said. “I feel it is the most powerful music.”
The band’s 2012 debut album, ‘Til the Birds Come Down, features intertwining harmonies, a rustic sound, and a decidedly slow, folk ballad feel.
“The album is very much toned down,” he said. “But our live shows, depending on the crowd, are more upbeat. We do like to play some fun, bluegrass songs that get people’s feet tapping.”
Once Nomadic is also working on a second album.
“We have a full album’s worth of songs we’ve written since that debut,” he said. “But now it is about finding the right studio – hopefully in Vancouver – where we can record the new album.”
Jongsma said Once Nomadic would grow again for the recording sessions.
“I want to record with a full band this time,” he said. “Our music and songwriting has definitely progressed since we first started writing songs and touring. Our songs definitely have that old country, ironic storytelling that finds humour even in dark places.”
The band’s music will cross some deep and dark waters this summer, when Once Nomadic heads out on a sailing tour of local islands.
“We have this idea to get on a sailboat and tour the pubs from Bowen Island to Salt Spring Island, and all around this summer,” he said.
But on Friday (June 5), Squamish audiences get to check out Once Nomadic at the Howe Sound Inn and Brew Pub. The band hits the stage at 10 p.m. and there’s no cover charge.
For more on the band, go to oncenomadic.com.
