Sechile Sedare – Leela Gilday and Jay Gilday perform together

The Trail & District Arts Council presents contemporary roots duo Sechile Sedare, a perfect pairing of JUNO award-winning Leela Gilday and Jay Gilday, on Tuesday, January 28 at 7:30 pm. Part of the Performing Arts Trail series in The Bailey Theatre.

Sechile Sedare (seh-chee-leh’ ‘seh-dahr-eh’) means ‘my younger brother, my older sister’ in the Dene language. And these sibling songwriters hit notes of nostalgia, hope, and humour in songs about their family history, connection to the land and water, and the twists and turns of fate.

This musical collaboration sees Jay and Leela co-write and co-create new repertoire together, harnessing their talents as deeply insightful and genuine storytellers. Their voices blend in perfect harmony, in songs created during lockdown in 2021 and during a residency at the Banff Centre.

Jay Gilday is a vagabond turned mailman, who has searched for himself in the depths of Folk, blues, traditional, rock and most recently soul music. As a half Dene, half Canadian-Irish man who travelled the roads of Canada in his youth, he weaves work, family, and performance into song. Jay performs with a powerful voice and heavy hitting guitar, finger-style or flat-picked, your choice!

Leela Gilday was born and raised in the Northwest Territories, and she writes about the people and the land that created her. The power in her voice conveys the depth of her feelings of love and life in a rugged environment and vibrant culture, as if it comes straight from that earth. Leela’s family is from Délįne on the shore of Great Bear Lake and her rich vocals dance across the rhythmic beats of traditional Dene drumming and bass line.

Leela Gilday – Awards & Accolades
2021 JUNO Award ** Indigenous Artist of the Year
2021 Summer Solstice Indigenous Music Award ** Social Voice
2021 Canadian Folk Music Award Winner ** Indigenous Songwriter of the Year (North Star Calling)
Listen to some of Sechile Sedare’s music.
2 x 45 minute sets
Photos by Olya Shendrik

Single tickets are $30. Under 30 years is $10.

6-show pass $168 or Pick Your Own season by becoming a Patron Member for $25 and get 20% off Trail Arts Council presentations and other benefits. All tickets available online at tickets.trail-arts.com, by phone at 250-368-9669, and in person at the Bailey Box Office at 1501 Cedar Ave., Trail.

Reminder – please do not wear strong smelling perfumes or colognes to the Bailey Theatre as the building is a scent free zone. Thank you for your cooperation.