What do funk legends, Celtic melodies, and Mi鈥檏maw roots have in common? For guitarist Don Ross, they all come together in a sound as unique as his life story鈥攁nd 麻豆社国产audiences are about to have a chance to experience it firsthand.
Canadian guitarist Don Ross will perform two shows at the on Nov. 5.
The day will begin with a 1 p.m. concert for students from Don Ross Middle School and Howe Sound Secondary, followed by a 7 p.m. performance for the community.
A blend of Mi鈥檏maw and Scottish heritage
Raised in Montreal by a Mi鈥檏maw mother from Nova Scotia and a Scottish father, Ross notes that both heritage and environment have shaped his career.
"In the summers, we鈥檇 visit family on the reserve lands in Nova Scotia. As I got older and started touring, I鈥檇 also visit Scotland every once in a while," he said.
"But even with those influences, my music has always reflected my urban roots. Every now and then, there might be a Celtic flavour, and I鈥檝e written a few songs about Indigenous issues, but most of what I do is shaped by growing up listening to James Brown and Stevie Wonder."
(Bruce Cockburn and Joni Mitchell among others are also on the list.)
So, how did the 63-year-old musician鈥檚 journey begin? A guitar appeared in Ross鈥檚 home when he was just eight years old, and he鈥檚 never looked back.
鈥淢y brother picked up the electric bass, and I stuck with the acoustic guitar. I started with a flat pick like everyone else, but I loved the way you could play bass lines, melodies, and chords all at once with your fingers.鈥�
A partnership built through social media
Ross will perform alongside German guitarist and singer-songwriter Jule Malischke, with whom he has collaborated over the past year and a half. Their shows blend solo performances with duets, providing a varied and engaging experience.
Malischke and Ross鈥檚 partnership began in the most modern of ways鈥攖hrough social media.
鈥淥ne day, the Facebook algorithm played one of her videos, and I thought, 鈥榃ow, she鈥檚 amazing!鈥� We connected online, and that turned into us working together.鈥�
Locals in 麻豆社国产will get to experience their chemistry firsthand now. 鈥淲e split the show between solos and duets鈥攊t鈥檚 more fun that way," Ross said. "You鈥檒l hear everything from folk to jazz to a bit of Celtic flavour."
World traveller, Canadian at heart
Ross鈥檚 guitar took him to places such as 鈥斺�淎ustralia, India, Russia, China, South Korea, and a dozen European countries.鈥�
However, travel has also deepened Ross鈥檚 appreciation for his home country.
鈥淚 think travel has made me appreciate, first of all, what a lovely country I get to live in. I mean, there are a lot of other places I love, but I realize that Canada is a very special place in the world.鈥�
鈥淲hen I was young, I always wanted to travel and see the world. And, you know, the guitar has kind of been like a boat that I've floated around the world on.鈥�
He鈥檚 also learned to appreciate the charm of smaller community performances.
"Sometimes, when you play in big cities all the time, you get a little bit lost in the shuffle.
There鈥檚 too much going on, and sometimes it鈥檚 even hard to draw a crowd because there鈥檚 so much happening. But in a smaller community, it鈥檚 much more of an event when you come through," he said.
And yes, Ross is just as amused as everyone else about Squamish鈥檚 connection to the other Don Ross, the middle school and the man who inspired its moniker.
鈥淚t鈥檚 hilarious that there鈥檚 a school with my name!鈥�
That other local Don Ross was the long-time secretary treasurer of the Howe Sound (now Sea to Sky) school district from some time in the late 1940s or early 50s into the 80s.
鈥淪quamish鈥檚 Don Ross was a very active citizen, as well as a big supporter of kids' sports, especially soccer,鈥� said retired principal and former school board chairperson, Rick Price, in a press release.
This is the first school concert presented by the BAG Society.
鈥淧art of the mandate of the BAG Society is to bring arts education experiences to 麻豆社国产youth.鈥� said Catherine McInnes, artistic director of the Brackendale Art Gallery Society in the press release.
鈥淭hey will experience it in an authentic space, on stage at an iconic heritage arts venue, just down the road from their school,鈥� she said.
For those who鈥檇 be interested in buying tickets, visit
Bhagyashree Chatterjee is The 麻豆社国产鈥檚 Indigenous affairs reporter. This reporting beat is made possible by the.
