It’s been over 10 years since Saskatoon’s The Sheepdogs performed at ROOTSandBLUES and 15 years since the infectious roots-blues-rock quartet beat out 15 other competitors to win Rolling Stone’s “Do You Wanna Be A Rock & Roll Star” contest, which let readers select an unsigned musical act to be on the magazine’s cover.
Proud purveyors of guitar-driven modern-day retro rock, the triple Juno Award-winning group has expanded its sound to enhance their trademark beef-and-boogie twin-axe riffs, hooks, shuffles and long-haired aesthetic. “We identify strongly with rock ‘n roll, but there’s definitely some branching out,” says Ewan Currie, The Sheepdogs’ singer, guitarist, songwriter and occasional – and yes, you’re reading this correctly – clarinetist. A mature and evolving sound is a testament of The Sheepdogs’ never-ending desire to follow their muse, become increasingly prolific and deliver thrilling evenings of thundering, organic rock with unpretentious, high-calibre musicianship where soulful Americana grooves fit comfortably alongside banjo-picking and protest songs — and, most importantly, it makes for a fantastic time.