Rum Ragged
Purveyors of a Fine Newfoundland Tradition
By Kat Lyzun
On April 26, the Sleeping Giant Folk Music Society presents Juno-nominated Newfoundland folk band Rum Ragged for a show that promises to lift your spirits with a contemporary take on traditional East Coast music.
Founded by Mark Manning and Aaron Collis in 2016, Rum Ragged has been on a mission to share traditional Newfoundland music with the world. Having never been to this part of Canada, Manning says they are looking forward to connecting with a new audience (and fellow Newfoundlanders) as they wind their way here from the west coast.
“When it comes to the live show there’s definitely an energy there, and a lot of fun,” he says. “We are four great friends who get the opportunity to go out and work together all the time so we have a lot of fun doing what we do.” Featuring lively riffs on old tales with bouzouki, fiddle, bodhran, banjo, guitar, and button accordion, Manning says they “try to keep things light and fun while also talking about some of the more contemporary issues that are going on. The type of folk music that we do [contains] stories and lessons that are still relevant today.”
Collis grew up in central Newfoundland, and fiddler Colin Grant is from Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. Both Manning and bandmate Zack Nash grew up on the Cape Shore of Newfoundland; Manning in a small town of 230 people. He says traditional folk music was part of life for all of them, something folks did to entertain themselves when the fishing and farming work was done.
In 2021, Rum Ragged’s album The Thing About Fish was nominated for a Juno Award for Traditional Roots Album of the Year, and the band was nominated for a Canadian Folk Music Award as a new/emerging artist. Last April, they released their fifth studio album, Gone Jiggin’.
“I can’t say that we ever set down to make music for the idea of winning awards, but it’s very cool because as a musician you’re always questioning yourself as to whether you’re doing the right thing, if you’re doing what’s right for you,” says Manning “What it comes down to is that it allows even more opportunity to be able to share the music, and that’s the reason why we started the band, the reason why we’re still doing what we’re doing.”
In addition to playing at the Italian Cultural Centre at 8 pm on April 26, Rum Ragged will also be playing shows in Kenora, Red Lake, Fort Frances, Atikokan, and Geraldton.
Check out rumragged.com for the full schedule and follow them on Instagram and Facebook @rumragged.