Common Ground is a band rooted in the pure joy of bluegrass music. Located in the Annapolis Valley of Nova Scotia, the band’s four members – David Doyle, Waylon Robicheau, Ryan Dillman, and Jeff McRae – are all dads, all have full-time jobs, and they’re also all very, very good at their musical craft.
“We all have kids, we’re all working, so there’s definitely that camaraderie aspect,” says McRae, the group’s bass player. “I think that was the foundation of the band, we said right from the beginning if it’s not fun, then what are we doing?”
Between the four of them, they farm, operate heavy equipment, manage a car dealership service department, drive professionally, and serve in search and rescue with the Canadian Air Force.
Between the four of them, they’ve also got decade upon decade of bluegrass music experience, most of them having started playing their instruments as kids. The band, which launched in 2024, may be new, but they’ve been in the music world for years.
“We’ve all been friends for 10, 15 years, and just share a passion for bluegrass,” McRae says.
If he had to sum up their style, he’d say they’ve got a contemporary sound with traditional roots.
“We don’t try to tie ourselves to any one thing. Bluegrass has a long spectrum from the very traditional songs from the 40s and early 50s, all the way to today’s modern sounds. We don’t try to keep ourselves in one spot.”
Their shared love of the music unites them, he says.
“We have a pretty wide variety of tastes, from the contemporary through the traditional,” he says. “We’re always sending each other songs, saying ‘man, what a great song, can you believe they cut this back in ’62?’ and we’re not necessarily going to go play them, it’s just the appreciation for the music.”
They take their music seriously, endlessly hashing out perfect harmonies and reworking setlists. But still, friendship comes first, he says.
“The camaraderie and passion for the music are the two things that pin Common Ground together,” he says.
The group is heading to Edmonton to play the city’s second annual RiverCity Bluegrass Festival, performing January 16 and 17.
“We’re very much looking forward to coming out to Edmonton and seeing and hearing what sounds are happening in that part of Canada,” says McRae.
“We also want to say thanks to the Northern Bluegrass Circle Music Society for all their hard work in presenting RiverCity Bluegrass Festival,” he says, “and thanks to all the sponsors and fans who support it. We love to play for an audience, and they make that happen!”
The RiverCity Music Festival takes place in Edmonton, January 16-18. More details on the festival here and about the band here.
