The Flummies head to Corner Brook for the ECMAs
Funded Under: The Labrador Cultural Travel Fund
Amount Funded: $5000
The Aboriginal Recording of the Year Award will be presented at the ECMA Awards Gala:
Date: March 1, 2009
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Venue: The Pepsi Centre, Corner Brook
For The Flummies:
Contact: Leander Baikie
Phone: (709) 897-5070
E-mail: baikie@nf.sympatico.ca
Website: http://www3.nf.sympatico.ca/baikie/theflummies/
Interview with Leander Baikie of The Flummies:
 The Flummies are a five piece aboriginal music group based in Happy Valley – Goose Bay. They are prominently known for recording and preserving the historical, cultural and traditional songs of Labrador. Original group members Alton Best (vocals, acoustic guitar and harmonica) and Richard Dyson (accordion) have been joined by Tunker Campbell (acoustic and electric lead guitar and vocals), Leander Baikie (acoustic guitar and vocals) and Sim Asivak (bass).
The Flummies are heading to Corner Brook to attend the East Coast Music Awards – they are nominated for Aboriginal Recording of the Year for their album This is the Life for Me.
The NLAC touched base with band member Leander Baikie to talk about the nomination and the album:
NLAC: Leander, what does this nomination mean to you and the group?
Leander: In 2008 The Flummies celebrated 30 years together as a musical troupe. This nomination means we know we still have those folks out there who appreciate traditional music.
NLAC: Being based in Labrador, where travel is notoriously expensive, how important is it for the band to attend award shows such as the ECMAs and what are the challenges?
Leander: Attendance at any gathering of musicians is important for us, as we all must continue to build relationships in the industry. If it weren’t for the Labrador Cultural Travel Fund, a six man group such as The Flummies could never afford to travel to the ECMAs. Airfare has a funny way of eating into your food budget but we don’t mind being starving artists for a weekend of camaraderie. That’s a fair trade in our opinion.
NLAC: Tell us a bit about the category you’re nominated in – Aboriginal Recording of the Year.
Leander: The Flummies won this category in Halifax in 2003. What a feeling! We shook hands with folks everyday for six months after. Even if you don’t win, the exposure a band receives from the publicity surrounding the ECMA helps increase your profile. We have been invited to perform at the post gala awards party this trip. We are thankful for every opportunity. The Aboriginal category provides Inuit bands such as The Flummies with the prospect of actually gaining national popularity in one weekend.
NLAC: Tell us a bit about this album This is the Life for Me – what kind of music does it include? Would you say it has broad appeal?
Leander: Ask any born and bred outdoorsman who enjoys being on the water in summer and on the ice in the winter and they will tell you, “This is the life for me!” The music on this album includes original lyrical tunes, accordion jigs and reels, and we even threw in a dance song. Some called that unorthodox, but we call it progression. In live performances we have a lot of fun playing danceable tunes and we wanted to reflect that fact on this album.
NLAC: Where did the inspiration come from for some of the original songs?
Leander: For example, the song Me, Danny and Stanley is written about the best seal hunting trip we had ever been on. And that’s the general theme for our music…all based on life experiences, both good and bad but mostly good, ha!
NLAC: The Flummies have been together for a long time – what’s the secret of your success?
Leander: Keep it simple in love, life, and in music. We all simply enjoy playing music. If you record and release a single song that people enjoy and can sing along with…then you’ve achieved success. The awards are just icing on the cake. Seems we’ve been around so long that I think we have grown together…and I don’t mean spiritually, I mean like carrots in a garden.
NLAC: All the best to you and the band this weekend!
Leander: Thank you so much for this chance to chat about music of this province.
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