Feature Story: Edmonton musicians from ’60s, ’70s, set to rock and roll at reunion

Edmonton musicians from ’60s, ’70s, set to rock and roll at reunion

Photo Credit: Dwayne Osepchuk/AB Rock & Roll Reunion History FB Page


Several Edmonton-area rock and roll bands from the ’60s and ’70s are set to play again in the 2011 Edmonton Rock and Roll Reunion taking place Saturday, July 9, 2011 – including members of “The Chessmen” – pictured above during the 1960s.

Linda Hoang, Tuesday, June 28, 2011

EDMONTON – It’s all about rock and roll, baby.

That was the state of mind for countless Edmontonians during the ’60s and ’70s and that same idea is resonating once again for about 150 people set to gather next weekend for the 2011 Edmonton Rock and Roll Reunion.

“It’s like a big family reunion,” said Lynn Wells, the event organizer.

Wells, a musician from the ’60s himself, has long been putting together rock and roll reunions in the Edmonton area.

“You see the need for this as you get older,” he said with a laugh.

“You start to lose some of our friends for various reasons, cancer, natural causes, accidents everything else.”

That, Wells says, is why he tries to gather up the old crew every few years.

“We try to have a few more parties together, reunite old friends. It’s just to bring everyone together a couple more times if we can,” he said.

This year’s event will feature musicians from the bands “Cold Feet,” “Flying Saucers,” “Sons of Adam,” “The Chessmen,” and “Gary and the Pick Ups” — rock and roll bands that all performed in the Edmonton area years ago.

Wells himself plays bass for Cold Feet — a band that still performs even today, although less frequently.

“Some of the bands are still playing but a lot of them are guys who have retired and want to get together and have some fun,” he said.

The last Edmonton Rock and Roll Reunion was held in 2006 at the Winspear Centre. Prior to that the group came together to perform at Bonnie Donn Mall in 2004. And the first big event that started all of the reunions was held back in 1988/89.

Wells says this year’s event, taking place on Saturday, July 9, is sold out for the most part.

And he can understand why.

“It’s like anything, it’s classic,” Wells said. “You look at an old car and you get memories, ‘oh I had a car like that, Uncle Bob had a car like that,’ and you get a memory.”

“When we bring these players together, they’re going to start reminiscing, they’re going to bring out the old stories and maybe some new ones.”

Uwe Wojdak agrees with Wells.

Wojdak owns Hayloft Acres, the outdoor entertainment stage site where the reunion is taking place.

He says the event is all about the memories, old and new.

“I used to dance to all of those guys on a Friday night when we were young,” Wojdak recalls fondly.

“We used to go to Alberta Beach because there was a big dance out there. There was also a place out east called Lakeview. We all used to go to these dances, pick up girls, drive too fast, whatever a guy did back then,” he said with a chuckle.

This time around, Wojdak will actually get the chance to play with some of the musicians he used to watch on stage.

It’s his first rock and roll reunion and he says he just can’t wait.

“There’s an old song by Rick Nelson called ‘Garden Party’. The lyrics go, ‘I went to a garden party to reminisce with my old friends, a chance to share old memories and play our songs again,’ it’ll be like that,” Wojdak said. “Make new memories and add them to the old ones.”

The 2011 Edmonton Rock and Roll Reunion takes place Saturday, July 9, from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m. at Wojdak’s Hayloft Acres, an acreage south of Sherwood Park.

“Hopefully everyone walks away saying, ‘Hey, that was great. Let’s do it again in five years,” Wells said.

Photo Credit: Rock and Roll Reunion Facebook/joripagestudios


CHECK OUT THE HISTORY OF EDMONTON ROCK & ROLL BANDS (IN PHOTOS):


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“Feature Story” is a section of this website where Linda (that’s me!) tells stories about interesting Edmontonians and interesting happenings in Edmonton, because that’s what she loves to do! If you’ve got a story idea you think she should turn into a story, or have questions or comments, click here to email Linda!!

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8 Comments

  • Alan Schietzsch says:

    Hey great article! Could be first of a series – next, maybe starting with the “The Hot Box”, history of YEG music venues?

  • Jimmy Childs says:

    ,,Thanks for the nice write up Linda..

  • Real Fagnan says:

    great stuff Linda1 It,s so important to continue the awareness of our musical history, even more these days.I was a young, up-and-coming guitar picker in St. Paul when these guys were playing in the 60’s and 70’s and they were my heroes.Very sadly though I have to miss the reunion though because(ironically) I had committed myself long ago to my won high-school reunion with a musical and fund-raising element to it in St. Paul.Sometimes ,you just wish you could clone yourself!Everyone who is part of this has my full admiration and best wishes.Rock on people! Real Fagnan

  • Nothing more I could add,,great job Linda, Keep it up
    Gary Donnelly

  • Dayna Kent says:

    Thanks Linda !
    What a great article and pics !
    I was one of the first to buy tickets to the Rock And Roll Re-Union and I am sooo looking forward to it ! Although I did not grow up here in Edmonton ( I am a West Coast Girl!) I think it is going to be great to see all the old bands reuniting and doing what they do best …… Making Music !!!
    Rock On Rock And Roll Reunion !!

  • Maria A says:

    Sold out or not, I’d have crashed the gates just to hear Sons of Adam, if only they had run this event next weekend instead! Wonder if some generous soul will post a video afterward…
    The band was so cool when they appeared at Zorba’s in the 60’s.

  • Al Dunbar says:

    ack!! why did I only hear of this after the fact! The one in 1988/89 was a blast. It would be great to see us all looking even that much older – but still alive!!

  • Dale Ringuette says:

    Linda- Thank you for all your fine work.
    I so enjoyed the chance to play again
    behind Gary D.as hie drummer again

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