Kubasonics

The Kubasonics are a Canadian band from Edmonton honoured in Alberta’s Ukrainian Canadian community for recreating traditional Ukrainian melodies, with a twist. Humorous or surprising alterations to time-honored songs create a sound that is often described as a “folk fusion.” To create their folksy Ukrainian sound, the Kubasonics rely on a large variety of instruments including the tsymbaly, the drymba, violin, and bass.

The Kubasonics première performance was at Edmonton’s Hopak in the Park in June 1996. Leading member Brian Cherwick had met many of his soon-to-be band mates as he studied at the University of Alberta earning a PhD ("Polkas on the Prairies: Ukrainian Music and the Construction of Identity") from the Centre for Ukrainian Canadian Studies.

The founding members of the Kubasonics were Brian, Brian’s brother - Paul Cherwick (drums), Brian’s late wife - Beth Cherwick (violin), Jay Lind (guitar) and Bill Yacey (bass).Brian, Paul, Jay, and Bill all contributed to the band’s 2005 album titled “Big Beet Music.” Additionally, Thom Bennet (drums), Rod Olstad (vocals and violin), Taras Zakordonski (bass), and Maria Cherwick (violin) worked on “Big Beet Music.”Of the band members who contributed to "Big Beet Music", only Brian Cherwick, Paul Cherwick, Maria Cherwick, Bill Yacey, and Taras Zakordonski are of Ukrainian origin.

Individually, the band members have had a wide range of musical influences. In particular, D-Drifters5, known for playing traditional Ukrainian polka music, were an inspiration for Brian who started playing piano at a young age and percussion in university. The Kubasonics have played renditions of some songs by the D-Drifters5. Over the years, they added more of Brian’s writing and contemporary pieces to the folk music of their performance repertoire. The track “Giants of the Prairies” from their album of the same title exemplifies one of their sillier songs. They sing about landmarks like Vegreville, Alberta’s enormous Easter egg, Glendon, Alberta's giant perogy, and Vilna, Alberta’s massive mushroom. This track was even played on a CBC program about gigantic landmarks. "Giants of the Prairies" was not the only Kubasonics song to be played on national television. Another song off "Giants of the Prairies", "Billy Mosienko", was played on Hockey Night in Canada as a tribute for the 50th anniversary of Mosienko's 21-second hat-trick. Despite some silly songs, the Kubasonics retain a sense of traditionalism on their albums. Songs like "Early Bird Of Spring," from their “Giants of the Prairies” album appeal to some of their more conservative listeners.

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