LENNIE GALLANT with Justine Vandergrift

Chinook Musical Society presents nine "Saturday Night Special" concerts every year, featuring a range of genres from folk and country, to blues, Celtic and folk rock. While we do present acts from all over North America, and some international, we are especially proud to showcase our Canadian and local Alberta artists.
The evening starts with one set from our opening artist, followed by two sets from our headliner.

On January 31^st, 2026 we will be joined by long-time club favourite Lennie Gallant and Justine Vandergrift!

Recipient of the Order of Canada, Lennie Gallant, from Rustico, PEI, has released 15 albums (11 in English and 4 in French) which have won him a host of awards and nominations from the JUNOs and Les Prix Éloizes to Canadian Folk Artist of The Year Award and 19 East Coast Music Awards, including the ECMA Entertainer of the Year several times over. His Maritime classic “Peter’s Dream” was voted one of the Top Ten East Coast Songs of all Time and was recently inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Lennie has performed all over Canada, the US and Europe, for the troops in Afghanistan, and at the Winter Olympics. He has shared the stage with artists like Lucinda Williams, Patti Griffin, Roger Hodgson, Ray Willie Hubbard, Jimmy Buffett and David Foster. One of his albums, “When We Get There”, went up to the International Space Station with Canadian Astronaut Julie Payette for the crew to enjoy. It orbited the planet 248 times, at long last putting Gallant’s music in high rotation worldwide! https://youtu.be/kU5VAggHZtw?si=-IdjDYNuzHs1eA2n    

Opening the evening for us will be Calgary’s Justine Vandergrift. Justine has an irresistible knack for melody and lyric. She is like the old hymns she grew up with – even if you can’t put your finger on what makes them authentic, they are undeniably so. Authentic writing, rich, evocative vocals, smart collaborations and sure-footed production values, Justine has evolved from craft to impressive artistry. Traces of Patsy Cline, Patty Griffin, Bonnie Raitt and other country influences inform her brand of rootsy Canadiana.

"Justine Vandergrift is an emerging artist with that most precious and rare gift - an original voice. It's hard to capture such things in words but hearing is believing. ". -Stephen Fearing

“Occasionally a new artist emerges that immediately demands respect and attention. Justine Vandergrift is one such artist. She will make a solid impact on anyone who has the privilege of hearing her songs.” -Bill Bourne
https://youtu.be/uCM6HrPUy5M?si=3BbIO7OpJpSOCSKC