Coal Creek Boys

Late May, 1902, the south eastern British Columbia mining town of Coal Creek went through the worst mining disaster in Canadian history.  Nearly forgotten are the hard working ethic, old time traditions and honour required to make it in that life. Over a century later, just as the coal is still burning from the original mine explosion, that same fire still burns in the hearts of some.  Johnpaul Smith, Dino Scavo, Ali Stuart, and brothers Dustin and Devin Gergel have decided to keep that torch burning. Using telecasters instead of a hammer and wedge, their songs will strike as hard as any pick axe.

Coal Creek Boys is the amalgamation of Sleeping With Tuesday and The Necessities, two southern Alberta and B.C. powerhouse groups. Tired of the lackadaisical and lazy approach to country music that so many bands are taking these days, they are bringing that same hard work and traditional approach to it that the coal miners did and still do.  

This doesn’t mean that they don’t know how to have a good time, when they can’t be found making music, you will usually find them with a bottle of Old No. 7 in hand. They want nothing more than to have their crowds up on their feet dancing, boots stomping and singing along. With songs that won’t leave your head, you will be humming them days after the show.

Songwriter Johnpaul Smith was born and raised in the Elk Valley, which Coal Creek is right in the heart of, all his life has been ingrained in the coal mines.  Essentially growing up in a mining camp, he has a strong sense of pride in his home, the mines and all the people working them.  In honour of this, the music has a chivalrous truth about it. 

The music is also steeped in tradition and hard work. Taking inspiration from blue collar artists like Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Hank Williams (sr. and jr.), Steve Earle, The Band, Alabama, Jackson Browne, Bruce Springsteen, Zac Brown Band, Grateful Dead, and so on,  Coal Creek Boys are a band that are as tight as brothers (and a sister) and that relationship makes itself known through their performance. Set apart by their approach rooted in coal mining culture and a serious approach to traditional country, Coal Creek Boys, based out of Lethbridge Alberta’s Ghostwood studios, are blasting through cities all over the country and leaving impressions wherever they go.