Horsefly, BC, a small town about an hour drive North East of Williams Lake, is home to Pharis and Jason Romero, a Folk musical group. Their most recent album, Bet on Love, released in May 2020, won three Canadian Folk Music Awards (CFMA) while being nominated for six awards last month during the CFMA virtual awards ceremony on April 10th and 11th, 2021.

The awards they won were Ensemble of the Year, Vocal Group of the Year and Pharis won Traditional Singer of the Year. Not bad for a small-town Folk group. The Ensemble of the Year award included everyone involved with the group, like the producer Marc Jenkins, engineer John Raham, and guest musicians Patrick Metzger and John Reischman. Not only did they win three CFMAs, but they also got nominated for the Junos’ Traditional Roots Album of the Year, which is on Sunday, June 6th. They’ve previously had some success with the Junos winning Traditional Roots Album of the Year back in 2019 with their album Sweet Old Religion.

Of course, the award show was virtual due to COVID-19. Still, interestingly, the group had to record an acceptance speech in the case that they won before the show and submit it so that the show could run smoothly. But for now, the group is back home in Horsefly in springtime/summertime project mode by planning on transforming a barn into a recording and performance venue. Of course, when live in-person performances are allowed again.

You can find their album (CD or vinyl) on their website pharisandjason.com; you can also buy a banjo (yes, they make banjos!) if you want to make your own Folk tune. Also, on their website, you can find show dates (when those are allowed), their previous albums, music videos and sound sessions, and Pharis’ jewellery she makes. Congratulations to Pharis and Jason, and best of luck with the Junos!