Wesley Hardisty

Sunday night, fiddler Wesley Hardisty played a concert at the Saturna Community Hall that was full to bursting with live music lovers. The Hall is a worthy venue with its great acoustics. The Wild Thyme bus coffeeshop gave away homemade pie at the intermission. Wesley accompanied by his sister Marie on fiddle, and brother Brendan on percussion for some numbers, played many of his own creations and traditional fiddle tunes and also a piano piece.

Warm and generous with his great musical talent, and love of life, the concert was an experience to savour. Interspersed with his very entertaining music— traditional and self-inspired—were his stories of his life, grounded in gratitude, joy and connectedness. His great talent is matched by his generous and warm nature.

Coming from Fort Simpson in the Northwest Territories, Wesley heard his cousin Elisa playing at a fiddle camp when he was 13—that experience changed his life. With support from his hometown friends and family Wesley attended highschool on Salt Spring, enrolling in Gulf Islands School for the Performing Arts. Wesley credits his many teachers and the wonderfully demanding and creative environment for nurturing him and allowing him to do and be all that he could in his years of attendance. Having been graduated and out for a year, he is about to hit the teaching/playing/performing road with Victoria fiddler Calvin Cairns (String Band, Balkan Jam Band, The Bills).

There is a great tradition of fiddling and live music stretching from here to the NWT and Wesley has some fine mentors, a few familiar to us on the Islands. It was a treat to be in on the start of a great career. - Islands Tides Sept 12 2013 Priscilla Ewbank

When Wesley Hardisty realized the nominees were being called for his category at the Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Awards he closed his eyes and held onto his chair. "The next thing I knew they called my name," he said.

Wesley Hardisty of Fort Simpson won the best fiddle CD category at the Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Awards in Winnipeg on Nov. 1. -
"The next thing I knew they called my name," he said.

With his debut album entitled 12:12 the young fiddler from Fort Simpson won the best fiddle CD category at the awards ceremony in Winnipeg on Nov. 1. "It's really just a thrilling and honourable thing," he said.Speaking from Salt Spring Island, B.C., where he currently lives, Hardisty thanked all the voters and his supporters who took the time to vote for him and any other artists they supported. Hardisty also thanked his manager Ellie Langford Parks and the NWT Arts Council, which funded the album. - Northern News Services (Nov 15, 2012)

"i drove the killer dwarfs and the rolling stones and weird al and norah jones... i can't say i ever drove elvis presley but i will always brag that i drove wesley" - Rick Neufeld

"“Wesley rocked it- he is amazing!”"
- - Stevie Salas, Aboriginal People Television Network show, Breaking New Beats.(Nov 06, 2010)

"SSI artists offer gifts to Will and Kate Fiddler Wesley Hardisty has already presented his gift to the royal couple. Having just completed Grade 11 at Gulf Islands Secondary School, the teen was in his home territory teaching at the Kole Crook Fiddle Camp in Yellowknife this week. He played with other aboriginal musicians at the Somba K’e Civic Plaza for Will and Kate’s welcoming ceremony on July 5. Prior to the engagement, Hardisty had just finished a session at the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s national event in Inuvik where he played several performances, led fiddle workshops for youth and bore witness to the testimony of elders who were impacted by residential schools. Hardisty will be back on Salt Spring later this month, where audiences can look forward to hearing him play with Artist Party Revolution."
- - Elizabeth Nolan - Gulf Islands Driftwood, Gulf Islands Driftwood - News (Jul 06, 2011)

"Folk on the Rocks has released a list of 23 solo performers and bands that will perform at the 32nd annual festival on July 19-22 near Long Lake in Yellowknife. Voted in 2010 as one of the top 10 festivals in Canada by CBC Searchlight, the festival annually attracts 4,000-5,000 people. The line-up includes folk/rock singer Bruce Cockburn, singer-songwriter Ron Sexsmith, Brooklin, Ontario-based blues/folk band Timber Timbre and Toronto-based indie pop band Ohbijou, which executive director Penny Ruvinsky said tends to draw crowds. Performers are a 50/50 mix of southerners and those from North of 60, including acts who have appeared in previous years and ones new to the festival. Confirmed performers include returning acts Wesley Hardisty, Washboard Hank and the Corn Pickles, Pura Fé, Indio Saravanja, Grey Gritt and Snake People. "
- - CHRIS TALBOT,, Northern Journal (Apr 17, 2012)

As the stage was being reset, one-man fiddling machine Wesley Hardisty warmed up the full house with Tweener, a lovely jiggy piece that made my feet bounce. As always, Hardisty is in his element onstage and his love of music shines through in every bow stroke and tap of his toe. - Meghan Howcroft , Gulf Islands Driftwood (Jun 08, 2011)

"The sense of maturity in Fiddler Wesley Hardisty performances demonstrate an experience and personal expression that belie his age. Taylor Ashton, lead singer of Fish and Bird, said his band's performance with Hardisty was impressive. “We were really surprised when we found out how young he was and his playing is so, so beautiful; especially how long he has been playing violin,” said Ashton. “He was really gracious and we were really impressed. Surprisingly professional for how young he is.” In many ways, Hardisy has one foot in tradition and one in the future when it comes to his music. Though he is inspired in part by more contemporary rock and roll artists, such as Angus Young of AC/DC, who he suggests has a “confident” presence on stage, and Johnny Cash, whose “Folsom Prison Blues” is a covered highlight of Hardisty's act, the young fiddler admits he is contributing to Northern culture with the fiddle."
- Simon Whitehouse , Northern News Services (Jul 28, 2012) - Northern News Services (Jul 28, 2012)

"Every so often an entertainer takes up residence on Salt Spring and in short order captures the imagination and hearts of islanders. Such a musician will fill the bill at Music and Munch on Wednesday Aug 22. His name is Wesley Hardisty and his instrument of choice is the fiddle. " - Gulf Islands Driftwood (Aug 15, 2012)

"Salt Spring musician Wesley Hardisty has been nominated for an Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Award for Best Fiddle CD. The nomination is for his debut CD called 12:12, which was released in May of 2011. Music industry voters determine the nominees in each category and online voting by members of the public determines the winners. The CD features Wallabee Indeed members Geoff McFarlane and Oscar Kempe, music teacher Bruce Smith, producer Daryl Chonka and Quinn Bachand from Victoria. “It was amazing to get this news,” said Hardisty, “just as I was coming home from a northern tour, playing three festivals and teaching in six communities. I am really thrilled.” Wesley wrote or co-wrote five of the 10 tracks on the CD."
- Gulf Islands Driftwood, Gulf Islands Driftwood (Aug 22, 2012)

"Wesley is combining Aboriginal, rock, country and traditional folk influences to produce music that will grab your attention. His first CD 12:12 came out in May 2011 ....In a world where many young fiddlers seek to impress by playing as hard and fast as possible, its subtlety and maturity is refreshing. He has a lightness of touch and a delicacy to his phrasing that sets him apart. So remember the name, Wesley Hardisty- fiddler, songwriter, multi instrument, inspirational speaker, role model and recording artist. I'm sure we are going to be hearing a lot more from him in years to come- just remember you read it here first!" - Penguin eggs Magazine, Sept 2012

page 26/ 27 and 28

http://gulfislands.p2ionline.com/FlipAQUA/sitebase/index.aspx?adgroupid=133737&view=double&FH=535 - AQUA Magazine Nov 2010

“One of the best nights ever at the Treehouse Café.” - Mark LeCorre, owner of Treehouse Café and professional sound engineer

The burgeoning young talent of Wallabee Indeed -fiddle interwoven with modern sound- impressed the crowd of over 200 and had fellow musician Ed Peekakoot predicting that 'they will go far." - Kate Leslie, Driftwood Weekend, April 23 2010

? ...." a trio of young men called Wallabee Indeed. These guys really stole the show, cranking out an incredible mixture of rock, blues and Celtic with the fiddle of Wesley Hardisty leading the way. When the crowd kept roaring for more, the organizers tossed the schedule into the trash and just let them play on!" - Driftwood August 8th 2010