Vegreville Pysanka Festival JULY 4-5-6, 2025
THE SPARKLING TONES
Band Showcase - Saturday
The Sparkling Tones are a dynamic and versatile dance band, perfect for any occasion. Specializing in weddings, anniversaries, birthday parties, social dances, and fundraisers, they bring high energy and exceptional entertainment wherever they perform.
Based in Edmonton, Alberta, the band has an extensive reach, performing across the province and beyond. Notably, they’ve headlined events such as Prince Albert’s annual Polka Fest in Saskatchewan and the CNUF in Dauphin, Manitoba, where they thrilled audiences with six performances over three days, including two grandstand shows and the nightly Polka Party Dance. Their enduring presence at New Year’s dances and Malanka celebrations speaks to their long-standing popularity and tradition—having never missed a single year of performing at these iconic events.
With 22 years of experience, The Sparkling Tones are recognized as one of the most popular and active old-time dance bands in the region. Having recorded four albums, they perform at 40 to 50 events annually, continually delighting their audiences with their wide-ranging repertoire. Their music spans traditional Western Ukrainian tunes, waltzes, polkas, foxtrots, old-time country, rock and roll, Latin American rhythms, and beloved pattern dances such as the Heel & Toe Polka, Schottish, Gay Gordon, Seven Step, Cotton-Eyed Joe, Spanish Waltz, Saskatchewan Barn Dance, Butterfly, Bird Dance, and the Oklahoma Mixer.
Renowned for their smooth, danceable sound and vibrant energy, the band is known for its ability to read and adapt to the crowd’s mood, making each performance unique and engaging. The Sparkling Tones enjoy a devoted following, with fans regularly filling the dance floors wherever they play.
The current lineup includes Marshall Pankiw, the 2023 recipient of CFCW's Ukrainian Canadian Music Hall of Honor, on fiddle; Mike Sydora on guitar and vocals; and Dwayne Pankiw, the band leader, on accordion and vocals. Occasionally, Dwayne’s wife, Irene Pankiw, the "Queen of the Ukrainian Dulcimer," joins the group on tsymbaly, along with their son, Steven Pankiw, on fiddle. If you've had the pleasure of hearing them perform, you’ll understand why they’re so highly regarded.
We are delighted to once again welcome and thank The Sparkling Tones for their upcoming performance at Vegreville's 52nd annual Pysanka Festival!