Mike Sadava

Whether I'm backing up someone else on guitar or mandolin or doing my own thing, I just love to play. I've been on about a dozen discs, I think, playing mandolin tracks for the likes of the Dana Wylie Band, Scott Cook, Tom Roschkov, Dennis Lakusta, the Chicken Snails Roadshow, Ken Brown and the Victoria surf band, Current Swell, and produced a couple of my own. I've never made a lot of money playing, and probably never will, but that hardly makes me unique. I've played with some wonderful people over the years, including some who were a lot more accomplished than I am, and look forward to playing with more great people. These days I'm playing with two bands: a bluegrass/folk/oldtime blend called the Proper Charlies with my old buddy Lennie from the Snails, and the Shadetree Mechanics, an acoustic blues trio with Dave Crawdad Cantera and Tom Roschkov. I grew up in Ottawa, but have lived in the chilly northern prairie big box city of Edmonton, which has been verrrry good to me. I've worked as a journalist for nearly 30 years, which has had a great influence on my songwriting, my outlook and my income. I won't say how great I am, but here's what some others have said:"If you like a bit of humour in your folk or a little gentle sarcasm in your country music, then Mike Sadava comes highly recommended. Good wholesome fun to be had by one and all." ---.Americana UK website."Sadava is a decent mandolin player and though he's no Elvis, he has a voice serviceable enough for live gigs.....This disc might not make number one with a bullet, but it serves as a workable showcase for Sadava's unique and off-centre talent." ---- Penguin Eggs magazine"It's true, both Gwendolyn and I realy enjoyed your cd. Nice writing, and I didn't realize you were such a powerful guitar man!" ---- John Reischman, mandolin master."I just wanted to say congratulaions on your new cd and good job! I think the songs are really good and the production sounds very pro."---- Craig Korth, banjo ace and host of Fire on the Mountain on CKUA. "It's not really bluegrass, but it's still real good acoustic roots music," Rob Baker, host of CJSR's Prairie Pickin'