By Max Mertens
Talk to Luke Doucet about this year’s Sleepwalk Guitar Festival for five minutes and it’s clear that organizing the festival was a labour of love for him.
“I saw that there were different guitar festivals in North America, but nothing in Toronto like this,” says the Canadian guitarist and singer-songwriter, speaking backstage at CBC’s Glenn Gould Studio in Toronto. “The goal was to put the focus back on the instrument for at least one weekend. This was on the bucket list of fantasies.”
Last year’s inaugural lineup included Dinosaur Jr. frontman J Mascis and Television’s Richard Lloyd, and the 2012 edition is set to be even bigger, with performances from Wilco’s Nels Cline, James Burton, Albert Lee, Junior Brown, Paul Pigat, Colin Linden (of Blackie and the Rodeo Kings), Colin Cripps and more. This year there will also be several workshops featuring Burton, who was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001, and has played with the likes of Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Joni Mitchell. The festival runs Nov. 2–4 and takes place at The Great Hall in Toronto. Tickets and passes are available via Six Shooter Records’ website or at Soundscapes (572 College St.).
“I made my wish list of people that I love in the summer and we started making phone calls,” says Doucet, referring to both himself and Six Shooter Records founder Shauna de Cartier. Doucet admits that the biggest challenge of organizing a new festival is finding an audience and convincing artists to play. With last year’s Sleepwalk under his belt, he’s confident that this year’s crowds will be even bigger.
Of Burton and Lee (five-time consecutive winner of Guitar Player magazine’s “Best Country Guitarist,” among other distinctions), Doucet adds, “They’re peerless in a lot of ways.” Doucet says that while he’ll get the “lion’s share of the credit” as curator, he wants everyone to understand how essential a role the Toronto-based Six Shooter has played in the process.
“Without them this festival wouldn’t exist,” he says.
While the curator is mostly busy these days playing as half of duo Whitehorse with his wife, Melissa McClelland, he’ll reunite with his band the White Falcon on Friday afternoon for a one-off set. When asked if fans can expect any surprises from Doucet’s performance, he simply states, “It’ll be a little more guitar-heavy. When I think about my guitar, I look at it like teenagers look at a skateboard. It’s fun.”
Speaking of teenagers, the festival isn’t just about the established acts, either. A cash sponsorship of $1,000 and a Traynor amplifier will be awarded to one talented 19-year-old (or under) musician. Candidates were asked to post a YouTube link of an original composition or an interpretation of an existing work to the festival’s Facebook page. Entries will be judged on innovation, artistry, and technique.
“I want to encourage young people to be involved as much as possible,” says Doucet. “It’s a chance to give back.”
And who knows? Maybe the contest will help foster a future Sleepwalk Guitar Festival headliner. If everything goes well, Doucet plans to continue the festival next year, with even bigger names (he mentions that Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers guitarist Mike Campbell has already expressed interest), and possibly a larger venue.
“I’ll start thinking about that on Monday morning,” he says with a laugh.
Related:
Listen to Luke Doucet on CBC Music
Listen to Melissa McClelland on CBC Music