'I’m blown away': Saskatoon guitar player connects amateur musicians from across the globe for virtual band
Every morning, Dan Kiersted takes a seat in front of his computer and checks his Facebook, anxious to see the latest music videos posted to his group
“It’s great to open up Facebook at times and see there are 15-20 people waiting to have their videos put up for everybody to see,” Kiersted said from his home in Saskatoon.
“I looked this morning and we’re sitting at 1,100 (members) which is amazing to me.”
In 2018, Kiersted created the group Amateur Musicians to bring together local amateur musicians and provide a space to share music.
While the group began with close friends and online friends, Kiersted said since the pandemic hit, Amateur Musicians grew.
“I never imagined it would become a global thing,” he said. “But I now have members from anywhere from Afghanistan, Austria, Australia, Ireland, Scotland, India, USA, Czech Republic, New Zealand. It’s people that without this group I would have never known.”
Videos from across the world are posted and shared daily in the private group, Kiersted said.
In Perth, Australia, Paul Lucas joined the group when there were around 250 members. While he’s mostly shy when it comes to performing for others, the online audience through Amateur Musicians has helped him breakthrough his stagefright.
“To be brutally honest they are so much fun and once again it’s with people we’ve never set foot in a living room with,” he said. “You don’t have to be a Bruce Springsteen or a Madonna, or a Justin Bieber.”
Kiersted said a member pitched the idea of the group coming together to perform together as a band and recording music videos for the page.
The only thing left was what to call themselves -- Kiersted suggested Perfect Strangers and it stuck.
“It’s been an interesting experience having six to eight people in different countries, who have never met in person, be able to perform together,” Kiersted said.
“It’s amazing. I’m blown away by how it took off and what it has become in the short time it’s been going.”
After a day of posting and monitoring activity on the page, once Kiersted goes to sleep, Lucas takes over, and like Keasted, it’s the best way to start his morning.
“There’s never a dull moment and there’s always someone posting something and it’s always worthwhile to stop to have a cup of coffee and listen to the great music.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.