The busy lobby of Sherwood Park’s Festival Place had the feeling, vibrancy and excitement of a cultural event, not a musical or comedic performance.  And, it turns out, that’s exactly what Buddy Wasisname and the Other Fellers’ show is about.  Now, being from Alberta — born and raised — I never once thought that I’d be outside of the cultural norm.  I understand that many cultures exist and we embrace them all wholeheartedly, but once every so often, you realize just how many people have re-located to Edmonton (Fort McMurray, et al) in hopes of better opportunities and much colder weather. Enter Newfoundland.

I can’t say I know exactly how cold Newfoundland gets, or what the climate is about.  However, I can safely say that the weather in Festival Place for Buddy’s show was electric.  Wait, electric isn’t a climate.  It was hot.  Very hot and very steamy, er…it was animated and exciting.  A great sub-section of Newfies (wait, can I say that?) came out in droves to pay tribute to home-province heroes and men of many jokes and talented musicians, Buddy Wasisname and the Other Fellers.  And more jubilated, they could not be. 

Part sketch-comedy routine, part inspired monologue, but mainly music, Buddy’s set traveled at a mainly quick pace of jokes, quips, lovely songs and honest storytelling about the culture of a proud people and their amusing norms. Every co-frontman took a turn at the microphone and delivered a well scripted, thoughtful performance.   A wonderfully exciting, perhaps at-times-difficult-to-understand, two-hour-plus set of ‘inside’ jokes and cleverly crafted folk songs — songs that wander between borderline sea shanties at one moment and honest, pure songwriting the next.

There’s no denying that Buddy Wasisname attracts an older crowd (I discovered the act through my humorous father), yet, the show was a cultural thrill, a crowd-captivating performance and a genuine display of talent and good, old-fashioned hard work.