The Red Ride Tour rides again.
Celebrating its 6th incarnation, this tour features an eclectic collection of indigenous musicians.
Haida/Cree singer-songwriter Kristi Lane Sinclair, Apache violinist Laura Ortman and Thunder Bay’s own Oji-Cree folk singer Nick Sherman. Toronto rock duo The Johnnys had to unexpectedly fall off the tour due to an injury.
The Red Ride Tour hits Thunder Bay at The Foundry tonight (Saturday, May 14).
What was first conceived as a DIY tour between two friends has blossomed into a nation-wide, travelling showcase of indigenous musicians, this year taking a grassroots approach.
“It has been amazing watching the tour grow,” says founder Kristi Lane Sinclair. “We’ll be visiting reserves and smaller communities that normally don’t get a lot of live music.”
The Red Ride Tour is a mix of musical genres and a collective of indigenous artists whose goal is to showcase the diverse talent, in a colourful community of culture.
Born in rural Sioux Lookout, the remote First Nation community of Weagamow Lake and North Caribou Lake trap line, singer/songwriter Nick Sherman presently resides in Thunder Bay.
He’s been called “the voice from the wilderness.” An above accurate claim, as his voice embodies rich tones of honestly and raw realism.
Simultaneously his voice and lyrics strike a chord with anyone who can appreciate a good story, a strong guitar or a campfire.
Nick Sherman is multi-tasking. As we breeze through this interview, he is attempting to navigate himself around the CBC building in Toronto, ON.
“This building is insane. I don’t know where I’m going, I’m trying every floor.”
He keeps his cool and is a charming interview. With busy schedules, we manage to accommodate one another with a small window to chat.
Sherman is fresh off the heels of two Canadian Music Week showcases. Both were successful and exciting experiences, especially the showcase played with local Thunder Bay band, The Honest Heart Collective.
“So many people came out and supported us. There are a lot of fans from Thunder Bay who live in Toronto and they packed the venue,” says Sherman.
Angie Valente, tbnewswatch.com: How did you get involved with the Red Ride Tour?
Nick Sherman: I met Kristi Sinclair a few years ago and she was wanting to showcase First Nations artists across Canada. I was happy to join her. Since then I’ve always participated and supported the event, it’s a very unique tour. A big part of it, is that it’s put on by a First Nations woman. For six years it’s been growing.
AV: Do you identify with the genre of contemporary folk?
NS: I think that the singer-songwriter genre in itself is a good way to describe my music. It has its own sound. When you hear the word “folk” you think of a guitar and story based music, which is what I think my music sounds like. I put my own spin on it.
AV: As a musician from a secluded area, how were you exposed to music growing up?
NS: Growing up my Grandpa played a lot of guitar and my cousins and uncles played music. That’s how I heard a lot of the songs that I remember, on an acoustic guitar. High school was a crash course on popular music, it took a while to catch up. We didn’t listen to typical top 40 radio or records. My parents played their tapes. High school was a big part of music that resonated with me; punk and hard core genres. I appreciated the energy and rawness and I carried that into my own music.
AV: Where does the title of your latest album “Knives & Wild Rice” stem from?
NS: It was an old run down sign that a friend of mine took a photo of while travelling. I was fascinated by it, and drawn to the simplicity of the store and sign. I wanted my record to reflect that as well. I thought it sounded amazing. That description recreated sonically what I wanted to do, make a simple sounding record. When you see the title you get a sense of where it’s coming from, and being a North Western Ontario musician, the title reflects that.
AV: When did you pick up a guitar?
NS: I was 15 years old and I taught myself. I picked up a guitar book and learned chords and played songs that I liked and tried to write my own. I wanted to learn how to play. I learned from family members and community members that I respected. A big part of it was sitting down and teaching myself.
AV: How did you discover your voice?
NS: Singing came later. I never thought of myself as a singer and that kind of came out of necessity because it was hard to keep bands together and I wanted to make and play music.
AV: As an aboriginal artist living in Thunder Bay, do you see yourself as a role model?
NS: I wouldn't give myself that title. I do hope my music inspires any young people from small northern communities to give any goals they have a shot.
AV: Image plays an important role for every artist. How would you describe your image?
NS: That's a hard one. I like to be comfortable but also think that it's important to dress for the event. If people are coming to see you perform I think you should put some effort into what you’re wearing. So I guess I look like a dad that likes denim jackets.
AV: Explain the title of your debut album, “Drag your words Through.” What is the biggest difference between the two albums?
NS: Drag your words through is the title track and in the song it talks about struggling with saying what you want to say. I guess that title was important because it was my first record and it felt like I was doing that, dragging my words through. The biggest difference is that Knives & Wildrice is sonically tamer. I wanted my songs to stand out and keep the simplicity of me playing my acoustic guitar but also letting it drive on some songs. There was nothing that didn't need to be there on Knives & Wildrice.
AV: Which of your tattoos holds the most meaning for you?
NS: I have a memorial tattoo for my cousin that took his life. He was more like a brother, we played music together when we were younger.
AV: What was the first record/tape/CD that you purchased?
NS: I remember "borrowing" my older cousin’s Nirvana and Green Day tapes when I was a kid. Played them until they broke.
AV: Words of wisdom for aspiring musicians?
NS: Always write or record your ideas and perform as much as you can.
The Red Ride Tour hits Thunder Bay at The Foundry on Saturday, May 14.
