#ArtistAtHome is a series of portraits and profiles of local artists by Christopher Edmonstone. Read all about it and see the archive HERE.
Chances are that you likely have seen today's #ArtistAtHome appear in numerous television, film and commercial productions. This is Aaron Grain.
I was fortunate to get know him in the summer of 2012, when his band The Washboard Union opened up the Squamish Valley Music Festival. They had brought their Winnebago into the artists campground and were a part of the after show party jam with the guys in The Matinee and No Sinner that raged until the wee hours of the morning. Since then Aaron and his bandmates have been one of the most exciting and talked about bands on the Canadian Country Music scene and were recently nominated Roots Artists of the Year by the British Columbia Country Music Association.
Now, despite rising prominence in the country music scene, Aaron has traveled both literally and figuratively through many genres of music from being a touring rock musician to Reggae, Jazz Fusion, Acid Jazz and Electronica. Eventually, he decided that what he wanted most was to show up at a gig with his acoustic guitar, plug in and sing. Simple.
Aaron Grain with son Kailo at home.
Interestingly, Aaron got into acting through music, working as an extra making enough cash just to get back on the road playing music. In 1999, while on an casting call for film work, the director was looking for musician 'types' and thought he could actually play the Jim Morrison role they had already cast for. Aaron learned the lines, came back in a few hours, auditioned and got his first role on the production "The Linda McCartney Story". He has continued to act ever since.
While we were shooting, Aaron's young son Kailo awoke from a nap and asked his dad to read him a story. I continued to take photos while he was searching for a book and was fortunate to grab this image. It is the only photo of the series that features a father and son; I love the authenticity of the moment.
Many thanks to Kailo for letting me briefly interrupt story time with his dad.
Be sure to check out www.thewashboardunion.com for new new music and show dates.
