Lachlan Neville is a relative newcomer to the Saskatchewan music scene, but the young songwriter and performer from Rocanville, SK has made a name for himself with his original roots and folk infused tunes and a performing style that belies his youth. Neville will be making a stop at one of the area’s favourite musical haunts, the Watson and District Heritage Museum. 

It’s interesting to talk to Neville about his musical influences, an impressive parade of well-known folk and roots performers with decades-long pedigrees. He doesn’t look at songwriting as trying to emulate those heroes or achieve any kind of nostalgia. To Lachlan, it’s just about crafting quality songs.  

“I’m just trying to write the best songs I possibly can,” he reflects. “I don’t consider myself a ‘throwback’ or anything. I just consider myself a songwriter – if I can get within the vicinity of ‘Pancho and Lefty’ by the time I’m seventy-years-old, I could be content.” 

Referring to Townes Van Zandt’s classic song, popularized by Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard, it just gives you a sense of the people Neville has listened to and adopted as his musical “spirit guides.” Throughout his life, it’s been his family’s musical icons as opposed to today’s contemporary mainstays that provided the soundtrack. However, it wasn’t until his later teen years that the music bug truly bit. 

“I grew up in a musical family, and I’ve always had people around me who’ve loved music. I did piano lessons when I was five and picked up the guitar when I was eight. I wrote songs when I was little because I thought it was cool, but I didn’t really care about music. I wanted to make movies.” 

When he first heard Bob Dylan’s pre-electric work, Neville’s ears drew him back to the spirit of song writing – of the potential of lyrical complexity and the music’s ability to move and challenge thought. 

“I really listened to it for the first time. It was his song “With God on our Side,” a tune where he offers a kind of portrait of American military history. It was such a profound statement coming from this guy – who sounded the way he did without a band. It blew my mind when I was 14 or 15.” 

Dylan served as the entrance to the folk music rabbit hole. Along the way, Lachlan encountered Van Zandt, Tom Waits, John Prine, Jason Isbell and others. Washed in the work of the masters for a few years, Neville approached his own songwriting with new vigour. He’s produced a set list that’s allowed him to open for established artists like Saskatchewan troubadour JJ Voss. Now, he’s heading out on the road to connect with festival audiences and headline shows himself, like the upcoming gig in Watson. While he’s proud of his earlier pieces, he’s constantly striving to improve as a songwriter and storyteller. 

“If you come out to the show, I think the new songs are much better.” 

There’s a self-title album in the works that Neville says parks “somewhere between Ian Tyson and the Tragically Hip.” He’ll be showcasing some of those songs along with some favourite covers at the concert slated for the Watson Heritage Museum on Saturday, April 13 at 7:30 pm. For tickets, call or text (306) 287-7130.