From Peebles to Summerfolk: Close Encounters From The Past - Meeting Jackie

Photo Credit: Anne Connor - Kelso Beach, Owen Sound, Ontario, Canada.

Introduction by Megan Routledge

In The Long Road to Flin Flon, Stevie Connor traces a life shaped by music, travel, and the friendships that span continents. In this exclusive excerpt from Stevie's memoir for The Sound Cafe, he recounts a remarkable encounter at the Summerfolk Music and Crafts Festival — a chance meeting in a food line that blossomed into a lifelong bond with Jackie and Tammy, linking his Scottish roots in Peebles to the heart of Ontario’s festival scene.

This chapter, captures the magic of connection, the joy of shared stories, and the enduring power of music to bring people together — a reminder that some friendships are written into the journey of a life, long before we even know it.

Jackie and Stevie, Summerfolk 2019.

Some moments in life feel like chance, others like fate. One such story began at the Summerfolk Music and Crafts Festival in Owen Sound, Ontario, and it’s still unfolding today.

Owen Sound sits at the confluence of the Pigeon, Sydenham, and Georgian Bay watersheds, a natural harbour that shaped its early growth. Founded in the early 19th century, it became a bustling shipping and timber town, sometimes nicknamed the “Chicago of the North” for its energetic trade and lively character. Walking along the waterfront, the rhythm of the waves against the piers echoes the town’s history of ships and industry, while the surrounding hills and trails invite quiet reflection.

Today, Owen Sound is celebrated for its arts, heritage, and its connection to the waterways of southern Ontario — the perfect setting for a festival like Summerfolk.

The Summerfolk Music and Crafts Festival began 50 years ago, created by a group of music enthusiasts who believed Owen Sound could host a world-class folk event. Over the decades, it has grown into one of Canada’s most respected folk festivals, celebrated for its mix of international performers, homegrown talent, and family-friendly atmosphere.

Summerfolk isn’t just about music; it’s a place for artisans, storytellers, and friends to gather, forming memories that last far beyond the festival weekend. Walking among the tents, the smells of woodsmoke, roasted nuts, and baked goods mingle with the strumming of guitars, laughter, and the soft hum of conversation. Every corner of the festival feels alive with energy, yet somehow intimate — a place where friendships are born, stories are shared, and the music becomes the backdrop to life itself.

The connection to home made meeting Jackie all the more extraordinary.

Peebles, a historic market town in the Scottish Borders, lies roughly 23 miles south of Edinburgh. Its history stretches back to the 12th century, when it was established as a Royal Burgh under King David I. Over the centuries, Peebles became a centre of trade, weaving, and local culture, and today it thrives as a town known for its arts, festivals, and scenic surroundings.

Just outside Peebles stands Neidpath Castle, a medieval stronghold dating back to the late 14th century. I had the privilege of serving as resident Piper there for a couple of years, playing for the Earl of Wemyss and March. That role carries its own memories, including one particularly striking encounter: the Earl once brought me a bottle of port in the kitchen of The Royal Company of Archers, the Queen’s official bodyguard in Scotland, as thanks for performing at a dinner for them. But that, of course, is a story for another chapter entirely.

Neidpath Castle, Scottish Borders.

Filling those ancient walls with music and connecting to centuries of Scottish history through the pipes. The echo of the bagpipes through the stone corridors, the scent of ancient wood and hearth, and the quiet hum of the surrounding river valleys are memories I still carry with me.

It was 2016 at Summerfolk. I was in the queue for fries — “chips,” as I’ll always call them — when the man in front of me placed his order. As soon as I heard him speak, the accent caught my ear: Scottish.

And that’s how I met Jackie.

Knowing that Jackie hailed from near Peebles made our meeting at Summerfolk feel almost fated — as if the threads of Scotland had followed me across the Atlantic, weaving past and present together in a single, improbable moment. From the rolling hills of the Borders to the shores of Georgian Bay, our shared connection to that small Scottish town set the stage for a friendship that would grow with each passing year, rooted in history, music, and the kind of chance encounters that only life itself can arrange.

I said hello and asked where he was from. He answered, “Edinburgh.” Something about the way he spoke told me otherwise.

“I don’t think so; you have a Borders accent,” I said.

He admitted he often defaulted to Edinburgh because few outside Scotland recognized the area around Peebles. I knew it well — my parents lived there. So I asked if he knew Big Eb’s chip shop off the High Street in Northgate.

To my surprise, he did more than know it. He told me Big Eb was his uncle. You could have floored me, what were the chances.

Jackie worked in Northern Ontario and lived 100 miles north of North Bay in the Canadian bush. Once a year, he made the journey south — for Summerfolk. The odds of crossing paths in that food line felt astronomical, yet there we were: two people bound by a small Scottish town and a shared love of music, meeting by chance on Georgian Bay.

That chance encounter became an annual tradition. Before the pandemic, Jackie and his wife Tammy would meet Anne and I at the festival bar. We’d raise a pint, exchange greetings, and then drift back into the music that rolled out from Summerfolk’s stages.

Peebles, HP sauce, fish suppers from Big Eb’s — the memories threaded themselves into our festival routine.

Big Eb's Chippy, Peebles, Scotland.

There’s something magical about sharing those moments with people who understand your history. Watching Jackie and Tammy laugh as a familiar tune played, seeing Anne smile as she shared a story, made me realize that these simple gatherings, repeated year after year, become a tapestry of friendship that’s richer than any single performance.

This year, 2025, we met up again. Anne and I found Jackie and Tammy on the grounds and settled in for a rare old blether while the music played in the background. I introduced them to our grandson, Nolan, and his partner Alexis. We swapped stories, as the festival’s soundtrack carried on around us.

Tammy, Jackie, Stevie and Anne 2023.

When it came time to part, we hugged and said what we always say: “Until next year.”

Jackie held me close and said, “I love you, brother.”

That’s lasting friendship — the kind that doesn’t need explanation, only time and a place to meet.

Jackie ventures out from the bush once a year, and it’s for Summerfolk. That tells you everything about this festival. Yes, it’s the music, the artisan village, the food, and the beauty of Georgian Bay. But above all, it’s connection — the people you meet, the bonds that form in the most ordinary moments, the stories that carry on long after the final song.

For me, Summerfolk will always be tied to that day in 2016, when a Borders voice in a food line brought Peebles rushing back into focus. And it will always include the reunions since — proof that some friendships are built on simple rituals, repeated year after year, until they feel like family.

Looking back, this story of Summerfolk and Jackie is just one chapter among many in The Long Road to Flin Flon. Along the way, I’ve discovered that some friendships arrive like quiet gifts — unexpected, improbable, yet enduring. Whether forged in the streets of Edinburgh, the small towns of Scotland, or on the festival grounds of Ontario, these connections have shaped my journey more than I ever could have imagined. They remind me that life is not just measured in miles travelled or stages performed, but in the people we meet, the stories we share, and the bonds we carry with us, long after the music fades.

It also reminds me of another chapter in my life, many years earlier, when I was reunited with a boyhood friend and football team mate, Micky Donnelly, on a rain-soaked street in Edinburgh — another improbable encounter that felt impossible and yet perfectly true, reinforcing the idea that some friendships are meant to endure, no matter the distance or the years.

With James Keelaghan, Summerfolk 2025.

Endnote 1: 

This story of meeting Jackie would never have happened without an earlier festival in New Brunswick, where Anne and I met the legendary Canadian singer-songwriter James Keelaghan, who was — and still is — the Artistic Director of Summerfolk. At that event, James suggested we visit Summerfolk and do some media coverage. Without that invitation, the chance encounter in that food line — and the enduring friendship with Jackie and Tammy — would never have occurred.

Sometimes, it’s the unseen hands of others that open the doors to moments you could never have imagined.

My Wife Anne, at Summerfolk.

Endnote 2: 

Without my wife Anne, whom I met all those years ago in the Borders of Scotland, I would never have met James Keelaghan, who opened the door to Summerfolk — and ultimately to the chance meeting with Jackie.

You just can’t make that up.

Tammy, Jackie, Stevie and Anne, 2025.

Stevie Connor, a Scottish-born polymath of the music scene, is renowned for his versatility across various domains within the industry. Initially destined for football, Stevie's heart found its true calling in music. His multifaceted journey has seen him excel as a musician, composer, recording artist, journalist, and internet radio pioneer.

In 2012, Stevie laid the foundation for Blues and Roots Radio, an online platform that quickly became a global stage for blues, roots, folk, Americana, and Celtic music. His visionary leadership propelled the platform to international acclaim. Not content with just one venture, Stevie expanded his influence in 2020 by founding The Sound Cafe Magazine, a multilingual platform dedicated to artist interviews, album reviews, and music news.

Stevie's impact extends beyond these platforms. His discerning ear and industry acumen have presented opportunities to be selected as a juror for national awards such as the JUNO Awards, the Canadian Folk Music Awards, and the Maple Blues Awards. Through his tireless efforts, he has earned a solid reputation within the music community, garnering respect from peers and artists alike.

Despite his extensive responsibilities, Stevie remains deeply connected to his roots, both musically and geographically. He continues to contribute to the vibrant tapestry of the music world, ensuring his influence resonates far beyond any single platform. Stevie's enduring passion and commitment to music make him a true luminary in the industry.

Stevie is a verified journalist on the global PR platform, Muck Rack.

muckrack.com/stevie-connor

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