With a tough first act to follow Clint Dutiaume took the
stage and kept the energy alive and toes tapping. He played for the
first time, a fiddle tune that he wrote for his son.
Kimberly Dawn, who also performed, put on a very impressive
performance. The next entertainer was comedian Howie Miller all the
way from Edmonton, Alberta, who had put on a jaw dropping
performance.
With a short pause for supper which hosted a variety of
different vendors. The returning Freebird band put on an incredible
opening act. With their original songs (in the process of being
recorded), toe tapping fiddle tunes, and various cover songs
preformed magnificently.
The
show of the evening was about to begin as Marty Stuart and the
Superlatives pulled up in their limousine. With the sun about
to set Marty Stuart and the Superlatives took the stage………
With his smooth voice and southern accent, the charismatic Marty
Stuart blew the crowd away. With his heartfelt tunes, perfect four
part harmonies, and greatest hits, he kept the audience captivated.
His touching stories are unforgettable.
He told us of a story where in the
1960’s Roy Orbisson’s house had burned down. It appeared that his
sons were playing with lighters or matches and had accidentally set
their house on fire. Both of his sons perished in that fire. Roy
sold his property to Johnny Cash. Mr. Cash promised him that no
building will ever stand where his house once stood as long as he’s
alive. Mr. Cash kept his promise till the day he died. He planted
all kinds of beautiful plants and fruit trees as a memorial. When
Mr. Cash passed away Marty Stuart (Mr. Cash’s ex son in-law and
neighbor) purchased the property, and promised that no building will
ever stand, where Roy’s house once stood. Marty Stuart told the
story with such passion, that you could see people from the audience
with tears welling up in their eyes.
He also talked of his CD entitled “Badlands”. What led
to the creation of the CD was yet another one of his captivating
stories.
Marty told us that in 1963, when he was a member of
Johnny Cash’s band they played in a small town/community called Pine
Ridge, which was the poorest town/community in the United States of
America, and still is. Pine Ridge is inhabited by the Lakota Tribe;
he said he couldn’t believe all that these people had gone through,
and all that they are still going through. That they are a truly
remarkable people. He is also very proud that they made him an
honorary member of their tribe. So he wanted to do something to
raise awareness to the plight of aboriginal communities, the pains
that they have suffered, and that some are still suffering today,
especially Pine Ridge, the home of the Lakota people.
Marty
Stuart said “All these years I thought I was a Cowboy and I turned
out to be an Injun!” The audience just roared with laughter.
After a few laughs and almost a few tears the
music carried out into the night. Members of Fisher River Cree
Nation presented Marty Stuart with a homemade quilt with their
prayers to pass on to his father, who had recently suffered a head
injury.
When I spoke with Marty Stuart backstage he said that
ever since he was a little boy he wanted to be a musician, he wanted
to be part of a band. To play music for audiences across the world,
he said his dream came true. When asked what advice he would give
to youths and aspiring musicians, he said “Follow your heart, be
yourself, and be original and whatever the cost”.
Marty Stuart and the Superlatives future plans include
entertaining for new audiences in new places, and to keep creating
music. Marty said there are always going to be songs to be written.
When I spoke with Director, George Crate he informed me
that apparently on the way back to Winnipeg, Marty Stuart and his
band the Superlatives were talking. They said that playing in
Fisher River Cree Nation reminded them of why they do what they do;
they haven’t felt that for awhile.
The night had literally ended with a bang, as fireworks
cracked off into the night sky. It was a spectacle to be seen, I
have never seen such a remarkable display of fireworks.
After a fun filled, entertaining evening in Fisher River
Cree Nation, I am looking forward to returning again next year. I
hope everyone reading this will go next year, it was truly worth the
trip, and it was an unforgettable evening
