Skip to content

Waskasoo Bluegrass Society shuts down

After 11 years and umpteen Red Deer concerts, the Waskasoo Bluegrass Music Society has called it quits.

After 11 years and umpteen Red Deer concerts, the Waskasoo Bluegrass Music Society has called it quits.

The group’s last event was the Spinney Brothers performance on Oct. 23. Ironically, it was the best attended concert in the last three years, said society president Donald Teplyske.

As well as drawing dwindling crowds to events that barely paid for the musicians that were brought in from across North America, the society was also plagued by internal apathy. Teplyske said the same small core group of volunteers was shouldering all of the workload, and nobody else was prepared to step up and take over.

The society’s board considered the situation in September and regretfully resolved to fold.

“We decided, let’s end it on our terms,” said Teplyske, who added the society’s bank account was getting drained.

While the group could have struggled along by applying for government grants, he believes other non-profits could make better use of the grant money.

“Everybody is upset that it’s done . . . but how much work can a handful of people do for the betterment of other people?”

Perhaps others will decide to revive the idea of holding regular bluegrass concert in Red Deer someday.

“More power to them,” said Teplyske, who appreciates all of the support his society, which was formed in 2000, has received over the years from members, sponsors and the local community.