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Journey from ‘nowhere’ to Rolling Stone

The Sheepdogs’ Ewan Currie takes time out to chat about the band’s appearance at Burnaby Blues Fest
Sheepdogs
From Saskatoon to stardom: Canadian boogie rockers The Sheepdogs are headlining this year’s Burnaby Blues + Roots Festival at Deer Lake Park. The festival is set for Saturday, Aug. 8, and tickets are $60 for a full-day pass or $200 for four. Check out www.burnabybluesfestival.com to buy tickets.

Coming to Blues Fest this weekend is the Canadian boogie rock sensation, The Sheepdogs.

Formed in 2006, the band hailing from Saskatoon graced the cover of Rolling Stone after winning the magazine’s Choose the Cover competition. The contest was decided by popular vote, with The Sheepdogs coming out on top after building their brand with appearances at Bonnaroo Music Festival and on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.

The outcome may have come as a surprise, as the contest had never been won by an unsigned act before.

The band is now touring and reaping the rewards of all their hard work.

“(The album) is good. It’s all done,” said Ewan Currie, who lends The Sheepdogs his dulcet vocal tones and his skills on the guitar.

Though Saskatoon might not have the same international reputation as musical hotbeds like Nashville for country or New York for hip-hop, Currie said that his hometown’s local music scene was a key part of the band’s success today.

“There were quite a few places to play and get opening gigs. You know, there’s good people and bad people, just like there are talented people everywhere,” said Currie of not overlooking the talent in smaller cities. “It’s a pretty lively little town.”

To the outside observer, it wouldn’t be outrageous to call The Sheepdogs an overnight success. From being unsigned one year to sharing stages with the likes of Michael Bublé and Drake the next, Currie said the reality of making it big hasn’t quite hit him yet.

“You kind of have to stop and take pause. … Sometimes you have to step back from the craziness.”

The band from Saskatoon continues to defy odds and surge onwards and upwards on the international stage.

Just as Currie himself said, “Bands can come out of nowhere.”