THE NEWS FROM BRUNER’S BROOD - THE CANADIAN GRAND MASTERS SENDOFF FIDDLE SHOW AND DANCE: CANWOOD ELKS COMMUNITY CENTRE, TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 2026

Hello, everyone! As I write this article when moments allow, I trust all is well with you and that your musical experiences again have been enjoyable and pleasant. For those who have recently liked and followed my artist page since my last posting August 23rd, 2026, thank you very much for your interest and kind support, as I warmly welcome all the new followers who have come onboard. Please share this page with others, tell those you know that this page and website exists, and let them know that activities and events are lining up nicely for fall 2026 and beyond. Here’s the latest for my Facebook pages and www.trentbruner.com.  Upon return to Canwood from a one day Alberta trip for a TV interview, recording session and having Hannah receive a fiddle lesson with Calvin Vollrath, it was time for two performances on Monday in Canwood. I was at our local seniors’ home, Whispering Pine Place for a planned concert with the Canwood Library Board on Monday morning with Hannah Moira and 18 year old country singer Erik Weberg of Canwood for a one hour show for the residents and relatives. Music was well received during the morning by all present. After lunch, it was time to set up at the Canwood Elks Hall for the fifth annual evening show and dance. This event is in support of contestants and other representatives participating in the 2026 Canadian Grand Masters Fiddling Competition in High River, Alberta, south of Calgary. When the musicians showed up, sound check and rehearsals with all the entertainers then took place.  We then had a supper break, (provided by the Library Board) rehearsed contest sets for the upcoming national competition and prepared for the evening performance. Those in attendance mostly came from north central Saskatchewan, except for one couple from Altona, Manitoba. As it was the same from last year, about half of the 140 people in the hall attended this fiddle show for the first time, which was noted by all in attendance. The show opened with special guest Hannah Moira Midtboe-Bruner of Valestrand, Norway, playing a solo hardanger fiddle tune to bring the audience to their seats, followed by the singing of “O Canada.” After the national anthem, the two hour show began, with Yours truly on piano and master of ceremonies for the evening. Erik Weberg opened with his guitar in hand singing traditional country songs from Hank Williams and Hank Snow, with help from Lucas Welsh on guitar, Austin Castle on backup fiddle and Yours truly. The Saskatchewan representatives for the Canadian Grand Masters then took to the stage, with Joseph Desjarlais of Saskatoon playing a selection of traditional and Métis fiddle tunes for the audience, and Austin Castle of Swift Current and Emily Dubois of Regina performing a set of twin fiddle arrangements. Yours truly then played an original piano solo, “Amour,” which was sent out to visitors from the former Saskatoon French Canadian danced troupe “La Ribambelle”, followed by Lucas playing a set of Chet Atkins guitar tunes. Hannah Moira Midtboe-Bruner then returned to the stage to share folk melodies in the Norwegian tradition on both standard fiddle and hardanger fiddle (which was appreciated very much by all present) and a sample of her Canadian fiddle tunes for the 2026 national competition. The show portion closed with 2013 Canadian Grand Masters Fiddling Champion James Steele of Saskatoon performing many old time favourites, followed by all the fiddlers in a closing medley. A 50/50 draw was then made, where Erik Weberg won, but donated the money back to the fundraising efforts for the representatives participating in the upcoming national competition. along with a raffle draw for a feather painting from local artist Lucille Scott, won by Marilyn Lofstrom of Canwood. An old time dance took place until the end of the evening with all performers providing the dance music.

Many thanks go to all radio and television media, print media and social media for promotion of the evening. Special thanks also go out to the members of the Canwood Library Board for arranging the evening, Lucille Scott for the feather painting for the raffle, and the Canwood Seniors Club for the use of their meeting room for rehearsals with all the musicians before show time. In addition, the talent lineup should have included guest step dancer Camille Bell of Gravelbourg, but because of work and family situations, she had to withdraw at the last minute. However, the Bell family wanted to support this cause and gave a donation to support the cause for representatives attending the 2026 Canadian Grand Masters. We appreciate the generosity of this family who have been active in French Canadian culture in Gravelbourg through their participation in “Les Danseurs de La Rivière La Veille” from the 1980s to the 2010s, and a group I performed with often from 1993 until 2012.

My next report will come from High River, Alberta, from the 36^th Canadian Grand Masters Fiddling Competition on August 28-29 at the Highwood Centre in High River, Alberta. Those who wish to purchase tickets can do so through https://www.canadiangrandmasters.ca, but tickets are selling fast. Preliminaries start at 12:00 Noon Mountain Time with the finals at 7:00 pm Mountain Time. Check for the broadcast time in your area. Inductions for the Canadian Fiddle Hall of Honour will take place during the Saturday Night Finals as well before the award presentations.The competition can also be seen live on Facebook through the Canadian Grand Masters Fiddling Association’s Facebook page. Please find this page and share with all you know! For those unable to view the competition live, you can check the same page for the replay of both sessions afterwards. But the more who view it live, the better! Set up a watch party and invite your family, friends and neighbours to tune in! Until next time, see you somewhere down the musical trail! Musically yours, Trent