Wolf Willow Bring Swagger, Strings, and the Soul of Slippery Butte on Trio of Sask Dates

by Scott Roos

photo courtesy of Wolf Willow

There’s no band in Western Canada quite like Wolf Willow. The twelve-piece Regina collective have carved out a sound all their own—somewhere between a honky-tonk dance band, a symphonic pop orchestra, and a 1960s country revue. Imagine if a surf-rock pioneer had joined a classic country outfit and made a wall-of-sound record inside the Grand Ole Opry—that’s Wolf Willow in a nutshell.

Their latest album, Soul of Slippery Butte, released in September 2024, is the long-awaited follow-up to 2021’s Old Guitars & Shooting Stars. While that earlier record leaned into tenderness and orchestral beauty, Slippery Butte trades in confidence and swagger. It’s packed with cinematic country arrangements, soaring harmonies, and the kind of storytelling that feels rooted in the heart of the prairies.

This November, Wolf Willow are taking that sound back on the road for a trio of Saskatchewan shows that showcase the band’s trademark variety and spirit of collaboration.

The run kicks off Friday, Nov. 7 at Rock Trout Café in Prince Albert, featuring opening act Corn and Boots, who’ll warm up the room with their signature fiddle-driven tunes. Next is Nov. 8 at Amigos Cantina in Saskatoon, where Wolf Willow will be joined by a powerhouse lineup of guests including Ellen Froese, Gil & Wil, Skinny Dyck, and Aladean Keroufi.

The band wraps up this leg of shows with a special hometown performance Nov. 14 at Darke Hall in Regina, presented in the classic Wolf Willow country variety show format. Expect appearances from Ellen Froese, Gil & Wil, and Clayton Linthicum (of Kacy & Clayton)—plus the sweeping instrumentation and rich harmonies that have become Wolf Willow’s calling card. This particular night will be filmed by Little Jack Films—the creative team behind The Musical Republic of Western Canada—for a forthcoming concert film inspired by The Last Waltz.

Over the past few years, Wolf Willow have quietly become one of Saskatchewan’s most original and accomplished acts. They’ve graced stages at festivals like Regina Folk Festival, Ness Creek, Sled Island, and Big Winter Classic, earned Saskatchewan Music Award nominations, and provided the soundtrack for Etthen Heldeli: Caribou Eaters.

With Soul of Slippery Butte, Wolf Willow aren’t just refining their sound—they’re redefining what modern prairie country can be: cinematic, heartfelt, and unapologetically their own. These up and coming shows will be a real treat. Wolf Willow is a must see.