Music for the People carries on legacy of Rod ‘Little Sky’ Bandura

Sep 9, 2024 | 6:45 PM

KAMLOOPS – On Sunday (Sept. 8), the third annual ‘Music for the People’ concert was held at the Tk’emlúps Te Secwépemc Powwow Arbour — different traditions of music coming together to bridge the gap between cultures.

This year’s event was a bit different — the first one without co-founder Rod ‘Little Sky’ Bandura, who passed away in January. His wife Margit deciding to carry on the event and teaming up with other musicians to honour her late husband.

“I wanted Rod’s songs to be heard, with or without him. We’ve all worked hard to make sure that we know them. Of course, I already knew them, but we’ve got some new people on stage and everybody on that stage shares the same morals and values as Rod, and that’s why they’re there,” she said.

One of those musicians who performed was Henry Small, a longtime best friend of Bandura’s. Performing on the fiddle, Small knew it would be difficult without his friend of 40 years beside him on stage, but knows how special music for the people is.

Notice of unclaimed ashes: Alf Michael James Steen

13h ago

TWO & OUT

PETERS: The world is telling you not to travel. Don't listen.

13h ago

Looped In

LOOPED IN WITH NIKKI OMEN: May 7, 2026

May 07, 2026

“To bring people together, especially community in the future is going to be so much more important, even more than it is today,” Small told CFJC Today. “If this is one facet that brings people together, I’m in.”

Even though the third annual Music for the People has wrapped up, 2025 is already being planned out by the group, as they bring the voices, music, and artistry of Indigenous and non-Indigenous people together in front of hundreds of people.

by Anthony Corea

Click here to report an error or typo in this article

Music for the People carries on legacy of Rod ‘Little Sky’ Bandura

Our Community