We just found your fall playlist
If it hadn’t been for Roy’s brother, we might have missed out on this awesome music /Image: Anthoy Kost
Kevin Roy helps us get ready for hibernation
Article: Paige Kreutzwieser – Staff Writer
From Junior High School teacher to folk musician, Kevin Roy certainly has “left a life of certainty, a professional career, in search of purpose” as his website describes.
When he decided to leave teaching, Roy never thought performing with a guitar would be more difficult than enlightening and preparing the minds of young children.
“So far it has been an absolute huge learning curve and very overwhelming. It’s a lot more work than I ever thought it could be.”
But at the end of the day, Roy says he is doing what he loves and loving what he’s doing.
Roy’s musical background began when he was around ten years old, starting the way most of us do when we pick up things as a child.
“My older brother had a bass guitar … and being the younger brother, it was monkey see monkey do.”
Roy got himself a guitar and taught himself the classic Stairway to Heaven. He never mentioned it, but I’m sure Good Riddance by Green Day was likely one as well.
Roy grew from performing in front of his family and friends to exposing his original material to the public after he graduated high school.
“In the last eight years or so I’ve been out around playing in bands or solo here and there. But it was more just a weekend warrior kind of thing.”
When Roy finally made the decision last summer to exclusively pursue a career in music, his first stop was folk festivals around his hometown’s music scene. A born and raised Winnipegger, Roy was able to make connections and network with some of the best folk and bluegrass artists from around the country.
“It was hugely inspirational for me to have the opportunities to sit in jam circles and collaborate with artists that are just some of the best,” says Roy.
[pullquote]“It was hugely inspirational for me to have the opportunities to sit in jam circles and collaborate with artists that are just some of the best.”[/pullquote]
But why folk music? The specific moment Roy chose it as his genre comes down to a 2005 university classroom icebreaker.
“It turned out of the 20 people in my class around 15 of them were singers, songwriters or musicians.” But Roy added that one classmate really stood out – the one who played banjo. That led to Roy’s first ever jam session with a banjo player, and from there a friendship, and a band mate, was found.
Roy’s music is the perfect playlist for any student stressing out through midterms, starring out the fourth floor library window beside your depressing disorganized cubicle, taking in the last little bit of orange and red still left hanging on the trees.
His first solo album Taller Than Trees also pairs nicely with a warm cup of tea and a heavy knit sweater. Just listen to “Two Rivers” and I am sure two minutes in you’ll realize you already subconsciously began boiling your water.
However, life lately hasn’t been all tea and sweaters for Roy.
“Things have been hectic, trying to keep organized. Busier than I ever could have imagined, trying to be my own publicist, and booking agent. It’s been a little bit crazy to say the least.”
But, Roy is finally where he wants to be in life.
“I’m looking to finally shift my focus from spending days in front of computer and emailing venues … to me getting up every day, driving to a new city, playing music, meeting people and having a great time while doing it.”
In the next week, Roy is taking his talent and album to the west coast, where he will start a tour in Vancouver alongside mandolin player Donovan Locken for a duet show cross Canada.
Roy will be at the Creative Centre in Regina, on Oct. 25 for his third show on the tour. Saskatchewan artist Kristen Berkel will be the opening act.
