Five years ago Eli Barsi was making her way back to Canada from Branson, Missouri. Always making sure to make it home to Kennedy for the Christmas season, she got together with the Kennedy Recreation Board and together they organized a cowgirl Christmas.
Barsi performed alongside a poet and fiddler, while the community enjoyed a delicious dinner. Once Barsi found herself living in Moosomin she decided to continue the Christmas special through organizing a two-night concert series inviting special guests such as Brad Johner, Gary Fjellgaard, Ronnie Prophet and Glorian over the years.
For Barsi's fifth annual Hometown Christmas in Kennedy held on Friday, Dec. 6, and Saturday, Dec. 7, she asked fellow Kennedy native performer Blake Berglund to join her as well as Freddie and Sheila Pelletier.
Berglund, the Saskatchewan Roots Artist of the Year, performed centre stage. With nothing but his voice, a harmonica, and his guitar Berglund rocked the Kennedy Hall with his country music. Explaining to the crowd the experiences leading up to each song he's written Berglund performed to his hometown crowd who laughed and cheered throughout his set. Which Berglund was happy to have as performing at home has the greatest amount of nerves before performing for the artist, though it's also extremely satisfying once on-stage.
"I love it!" Berglund stated enthusiastically. "It's nerve-wracking, I've performed at 150 shows this year and I always get butterflies, but I have more butterflies performing here at home."
"It was really comfortable on-stage though. Everybody comes out and I get to see people I haven't seen for 10 years. I have family here and I don't get to play here enough."
His relatable songs with a comfortable stage presence in Kennedy showcased the performers talent, which led him to becoming the Saskatchewan Roots Artist of the Year for 2013.
Berglund, between his 150 shows including travel across Montana and western Canada, was able to take some time to record a live album in August titled "Jasper + Moose Mountain," which will be coming out next June. The record will feature 17 songs and will include a four song EP.
For more information about Berglund's past music and upcoming CD can be found at www.blakeberglund.com.
Barsi then followed Berglund to the stage to perform. Joined by John Cunningham, her husband, on the upright bass and harmony vocals as well as Brenten Thorvaldson on the mandolin, fiddle, and harmony vocals, the performance was thoroughly enjoyed.
Barsi performed a number of classic Christmas carols, but also performed her own Christmas music from her album, "A Merry Prairie Christmas." This also included a song she wrote specifically for Cunningham to sing based on his childhood.
The songs were very well received and the crowd even sang along for much of the performance as well.
In addition to the Christmas tunes, focused on remembering the true meaning of Christmas, Barsi and her band performed music off of her recently released album "Portrait of a Cowgirl."
The crowd howled with approval and was excited to see the home grown talent onstage.
"It's my hometown," Barsi explained after the show, "They've always been so supportive throughout my whole career, ever since I was a little girl."
The support, but appreciation of Barsi never forgetting where she came from could be felt in the hall. This was made particularly clear during the break and following the performance when each person in attendance shook hands and visited with the artists.
The night coalesced in Barsi introducing The Pelletiers, made up of husband and wife duo Freddie and Sheila.
Sheila explained they thoroughly enjoyed performing in Kennedy because of the audience. A lot of performing comes the give and take of the crowd, so to be able to joke with the crowd and have everyone laughing was something they thoroughly enjoyed on stage.
"We loved it!" she exclaimed. "What a nice crowd! It was wonderful!"
They have been playing together for 20 years, but both have been in the industry for a number of years playing with various bands throughout the years.
The couple played a number of Christmas tunes, but also brought various loved music from the past such as Johnny and June's duet, "Jackson."
Sheila played the guitar and sang beautifully, while Freddie's guitar picking was simply amazing as he moved like lightning across the neck of the guitar. He also sang wonderfully, while giving the crowd a treat as he sat playing the guitar and clogging at the same time. Something extremely difficult, he had the crowd standing up to get a better view of the performance.
The Pelletiers were extremely satisfied with being able to perform both nights in Kennedy.
"We're really thankful to Eli and John for having us," Sheila explained. "It's a great show put on for the community to enjoy. Eli's been able to bring in different acts every year and it's great of the community to come out and support her each year and they were sold out both nights."
Sponsored by Boulet Boots, Barsi was able to give a pair of boots away each night to those who attended.
Help for Barsi to put on the show came from many community members including Richard and Dorothy Barsi, Heather and Dave Mcmillan, Georgina Barsi, Juanita and Nevaeh Armstrong, Celina Cummins (Â鶹ÊÓƵern Saskatchewan Teen Globe), Wyatt Mullie, and the Kennedy Figure Skating Club.
The evening of camaraderie and fun was had as the audience including community members as well as those from as far as Manitoba and Alberta enjoyed the Kennedy natives and guests perform with Barsi hoping everyone has a blessed Christmas and New Year.
"I wish everyone a 'Merry Prairie Chrismas' and a blessed 2014!" Barsi exclaimed.
