Sarah Kowalevsky

Sarah was born and raised in Winnipeg, MB and grew up playing piano and sax. Singing wasn’t an important part of her life until her Junior High years when she joined choirs and began singing in church. Once she completed high school she enrolled at Brandon University’s Music School to become a music teacher. It soon became very clear teaching was not Sarah’s calling. In 1999 Sarah and Justin (her husband and the drummer in the band) moved to Edmonton and began to study voice at Grant MacEwan Community College.

After graduation in the spring of 2001, Sarah, Justin, Derek and Josh began to tour the world on cruise ships performing as the group Blue Fondue. Sarah’s entertained the cruise ship crowds with a variety of jazz and ballroom dance standards. In 2004 Blue Fondue retired from the seas to pursue a land life. Sarah and Justin established roots in Edmonton, AB where she currently is employed with the University of Alberta Executive Education as a Program Advisor. Working full time learning to play the acoustic guitar and gigging with 5 on the Side most weekends keeps her very active and out of trouble. Sarah’s favorite things are singing, organizing and generally “getting ‘er done”!

Dawson Walker

Dawson hails from the home of the Manning Moose! He also has a piano background, but hit the guitar strings in junior high and just couldn’t put it down. Dawson met the rest of 5 on the Side during his three year stay at Grant MacEwan fine tuning his skills.

Prior to joining the band, Dawson played in various bands as a freelance artist . He joined 5 on the Side as lead guitar and baritone vocal and now resides in Edmonton, AB with his wife and owns the Extra Foods Gas Bar in Devon, AB.

Josh Mellott

Josh is the only band member that is a true home grown Edmontonian! He has been playing piano all of his life and enjoys all styles including classical and country. Josh also is a fellow graduate of the Grant Macewan College music program, but is the baby of the bunch not earning his tassel until 2003.

After graduation he joined the other members of Blue Fondue for two contracts on the high seas and continued on for another year when three of the band members returned to land. By fronting his own trio, Josh has earned his stripes in singing which adds to the vocals of 5 on the Side. Josh has a down to earth, charismatic personality and it serves him well in the variety if jobs he has held. Most positions have been in the service industry or with the Alberta Opera working with children, but recently his attentions have been focused on delving into real estate. His true passion other than playing with 5 on the Side is helping people and making a difference in their lives. Oh and by the way, he has amazing hair!

Derek Vokins

Derek joined Blue Fondue in 2002 and travelled the high seas until the band retired to land in 2004. He is originally from the border city of Lloydminster, AB and is another hometown superstar. Derek plays not only bass, but also trombone, guitar and piano. Derek was also a part of the Grant MacEwan music program and focused his study on the Bass. He has played with the worship team at his church and will soon join the married masses tying the knot in June of 2009 to his beloved.

Derek enjoys working at Atco Gas as a Junior Distribution Operator but music is his first love and plays steadily with 5 on the Side.

Justin Kowalevsky

Justin, a budding drummer from the age of 13 comes all the way from a small town named Swan River, MB. He has an extensive background in drumming and piano and started an early career in teaching both instruments while still in high school. He was in demand because of his dual talent and supplemented his teaching by performing and touring with bands all over Northern Manitoba playing a bit of everything from polkas to jazz.

Justin knew that he wanted music to be a big part of his life so he enrolled in Brandon University’s Music School. He quickly realized that the program was not quite the direction he wanted to take. 1999 was a year of change and the big move to Edmonton to attend Grant MacEwan’s music program and focus his study in the drum department. Once he graduated he and Sarah started their cruise ship adventures with Blue Fondue lasting from 2001 to 2004. Now a land lover, Justin lives with his gorgeous wife Sarah in Edmonton, AB. Justin is the band leader for 5 on the Side and by day works as an electrician for Territorial Electric. Justin also has a passion for carpentry, recording music and long walks on the beach.

Dave Palmer

While growing up in Swift Current, SK Dave started playing with knobs at the early age of six. He started out as a glorified cable wrapper at his local church looking forward to every Sunday waiting anxiously till he could sit next to the sound engineer at the big mixing console and watch him in action. Being from Swift Current, naturally David’s first love was hockey, he played all day every day until a knee injury ended his dream of a career in the NHL.

David didn’t waste any time, while still on crutches he bought his first guitar and started recording and mixing, bringing back his child hood passion for sound. Since then David’s sound work has taken him all over the country working with the “who’s who” of the Canadian music scene touring with all kinds of festivals and performers. Dave has settled down in Edmonton and is enjoying his time with 5 on the Side and working in his home recording studio.