When Jeffery Straker released his prairie-inspired album Great Big Sky, he wanted to find a unique way to bring the songs to life.
The Saskatchewan-based singer-songwriter and pianist drew inspiration from one track on the album about grain elevators, which sparked an unusual idea.
“I thought, ‘What if I did some shows in grain elevators?’” Straker said.
The idea wasn’t easy to pull off. Finding grain elevators that could safely host concerts, and the right people to contact, proved to be a logistical challenge. But the effort paid off.
The first year, Straker hosted nine grain elevator concerts across Saskatchewan, each accommodating about 70 audience members gathered inside the truck driveway of each elevator. Strings of Edison lights transformed the industrial space into an intimate concert venue.
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“People don’t just love hearing music live,” he said. “They love hearing music live in an unusual setting.”
That sense of community and unique atmosphere is something Straker says also makes festivals special.
He’ll bring the same creative spirit to Folk on the Rocks, where he will perform for audiences in Yellowknife, though this time on a more traditional stage.
Festivalgoers can catch Straker on Saturday, July 18 at the Go FM Aurora Stage from 3:30-4:15pm, and again on Sunday, July 19 at the Cabin Radio Lakefront Stage from 4:30-5:15pm.
Cabin Radio will air full, live coverage of Folk on the Rocks from July 17-19, 2026. Listen via the website or the Cabin Radio app. See you at the Cabin Radio Lakefront Stage!
