When we first invited young musicians to play at a benefit for a mission trip to Honduras I had pictured a small coffee house style evening with local youth providing entertainment. The immediate and enthusiastic response – along with requests from several bands to play – we realized we would need more time and a larger venue. This event was not the kind of open stage where you sign up when you arrive. We put a call out for performers ahead of time and gave everyone who wanted to play a spot in the line-up.
The result? Seven hours of youth talent at the Elora Centre for the Arts including full bands and solo acts, original compositions along with cover tunes. The response made me realize what an appetite there is to play music in this community. The musicians gave their time and made the event a success – and yet they kept thanking us for the opportunity to play!
While some of them have created opportunities for themselves to play (The Boo Radley Project , Don’t Doubt Courage , many are looking for places to play and collaborate and grow as performers. I heard performers I expect to hear about again (Emma Phillips, Kayla McTaggart) and many who have obviously dedicated themselves to their music.
Congratulations to Liam Grier for his role as organizer and MC.
Thanks to the following stellar line-up for making the event so memorable:
Calhoun Breit (aka Kid Wonka)
Chloe Smith & Amy Soucie
Anders Gatten
17 Excuses
Emma Phillips
Kayla McTaggart
David Pile
Lisa Arnold
Don’t Doubt Courage
Arlin Otto
Chronicle
The Boo Radley Project
Diamonds to Dust
[Music for Honduras, April 28, 2012, Elora Centre for the Arts - photos: Timothy Grier]
Popularity: 2% [?]
What is the secret to longevity in an open stage? I thought a visit to the Hamilton Folk Club - in operation since 1982 – might shed some light of this. Every other Tuesday night, musicians bring their instruments and voices to the Pheasant Plucker, just off James Street South in Hamilton. Host (and founder) Al Lindsay makes everyone feel at home and keeps the evening moving smoothly.
Pete & I were slated to do the feature set following the open stage. The big advantage of this order of events is that we were able to hear a fine fiddle player who we then asked to join us on a few songs – thank you, Steve!
As we sang and I looked around the room I didn’t see anything extraordinary that explained how they celebrated their 30 year anniversary in February. I saw friendly people, good quality sound, a comfortable room, very much in keeping with many of the clubs we have visited. Then Pete sang his song “Tuesday Night at the Copper Kettle”, a tribute to the jam where we are now regulars. When he got to the chorus: “Come on down, there’s always room for more, just park the world outside the door. Friendship’s on the house and the music’s free” I saw faces light up. The words paint a place where people come to share music, make lasting friendships, encourage, support and inspire each other. The song is about another place, a different group of people, but I could see that the lyrics resonated with them, that they told a story of self-expression and community that was very familiar.
So – our thanks to Al and the Hamilton Folk Club organizing committee for creating and sustaining a place where people can gather to share music and so much more.
[Hamilton Folk Club, The Pheasant Plucker, 20 Augusta Street, Hamilton; every other Tuesday starting at 8 pm; $3 cover, performers free]
Popularity: 4% [?]
While some open stages welcome anyone who wants to play, there are some that are by invitation, often as a spin-off of an open stage venue. When Callisto was invited to a “Best of the Open Stage” night at the Free Times Café we were looking forward to returning to the great food and ambiance but also anticipating some great music and new music connections.
On arrival, we were somewhat deflated to find the two other acts for the evening had canceled. Having traveled an hour and a half to get there (and our food already ordered), we weren’t about to go home. We looked at the evening that stretched out ahead of us and decided it would be more fun with some company. Using the various electronic gizmos at our disposal, by the time we had finished eating we had arranged some fine company, indeed. Rachael Cardiello , James Burrow and Andy Cragg (aka Runaway Brides) decided to forego a band rehearsal and join us. They invited friends Kate (accordion) and Rich (clarinet) to add their sound and Victoria Dobbs rounded it out with her original (and cover) tunes on ukulele. Add a few friends and family who answered the last minute call and we went from deflated to delighted. Thanks to the spontaneity and support of everyone who came for a fantastic night! [Photos courtesy of Tricia Brubacher]
Popularity: 2% [?]
After my first experience of Wordfest at the Elora Centre for the Arts I couldn’t wait for it to come around again. Combining poetry, story-telling and performance art, this event, hosted by Donna McCaw, celebrates the spoken word. Personal and poignant to rib tickling cleverness, each performer brought their own voice, their own style to the room.
Like any open mic, one of the fun aspects of Wordfest is that you don’t know whom you’ll be listening to until you are seated in the the old classroom waiting for the words – an adventure I highly recommend. With poetry and other writing for sale, you can take some of the evening home with you to revisit at your leisure.
[Wordfest, Elora Centre for the Arts, 75 Melville Street, Elora, twice/year, $6 cover, doors open @ 7 pm]
Popularity: 3% [?]
If you’ve been to a few jams or open mics you have experienced this: the person – usually unwittingly and often well primed with the establishment’s beverages – who sabotages the song. The person in question sings louder than the song leader, often changing the tempo, the lyrics, sometimes out of tune. Although it is usually non-malicious enthusiasm or the effects of too much “liquid courage” that leads to this behaviour it doesn’t change the fact that it is distracting and – frankly – rude.
How to manage this situation? The performer can gamely try to wrestle the song back into their own control by singing louder. A real pro somehow works a good natured comment into their banter like a stand up comic turning the joke around on a heckler. It takes a bold open stager to stop and ask to do the song without the added accompaniment, but this can put a real damper on the ambiance of the room and risk the label of “diva” being applied to the beleaguered performer.
Have you used or witnessed any elegant (or not-so-elegant) solutions to this situation? Please share your stories!
Popularity: 60% [?]
This week’s musical quest had a double purpose: to visit one of the longest running open stages in Ontario and to scout out the venue for an upcoming gig. The Free Times Café – a venue known for its live music and great food – boasts an open stage now in its 28th year. At 7:00, the host asks musicians to sign up in the order that they arrived – somewhat of an honour system, and a little confusing if you don’t know the system and didn’t happen to make a mental note of who was in the room when you arrived. Each performer plays two or three songs depending on the size of the list.
Host Jessica Speziale (photo Tricia Brubacher)
We settled into a cozy alcove by the stage where the walls are papered with posters of Free Times performers from over the years. The lovely and talented Jessica Speziale, one of a rotating roster of hosts, provided the welcome and kept everything running smoothly. There is excellent comfort food (we went with the latkes, blintzes and and deluxe snack platter) and libations to go with it (the Amsterdam dark was good).
The music was, for the most part, a real treat. Original compositions alongside creatively interpreted covers made for a fun evening and a who-knows-what-will-come-next atmosphere.
Hats off to owner, Judy Perly, for supporting a longstanding tradition of live music in Toronto. Our trio (Callisto) is looking forward to returning on April 26th to share a few more of our songs.
[Free Times Café, 320 College Street, Toronto; every Monday @7:30 pm (sign up @ 7:00)]
Popularity: 6% [?]
I think 2011 must have been a banner year for new open stages because here is yet another. The current incarnation of the Open Mic & Jam at the Ivy Arms was launched in December 2011 and is hosted by Paul Crawford and Ryan Hill. The music gets started between 8:30 and 9:00 pm with a sound system to plug into or a house guitar for performers to use. No formal sign-up procedure – just let it be known that you want to play and they’ll work you into the line-up. Paul is working hard to promote the event and he repeated his invitation to come up to the mic every couple of songs. He has also created a FB page to update folks on the jam: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Open-Mic-Jam-Night-at-Ivy-Arms/266702010043809
I complained about the TV being on at the last venue I visited – I wouldn’t describe myself as a Luddite but there are times I relish the the SCTV opening scene: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvfnqr6qOps&feature=related I am partial to the music being the focus. This pub had five TVs of various sizes so I could choose between NHL highlights and Ultimate Fight Club to entertain me while I sang. Luckily, the sound system easily trumped the TVs so the distraction was only visual.
It was great to hear some originals amongst the covers. Members of local bands (4Play & The Lucky Ones) took the stage. Thanks to Paul & Ryan for inviting me up to do some harmony vocals – that was fun.
[Open Mic & Jam @ The Ivy Arms, 201 Main St E, Milton, every Sunday 9 pm - 1 am, no cover, licensed]
Popularity: 6% [?]
Since October, Guelph has yet another venue to satisfy the appetite for sharing music. The Two Rivers Song Gathering meets twice a month at the Army, Navy & Air Force (ANAF) Club 344, hosted by Jack Cooper and Debby Moon.
I visited for the first time this month and enjoyed the songs everyone brought – lots of originals seasoned with a few folk songs people could join in on. However, it took some dedicated powers of concentration to tune out the TV just behind me that was broadcasting a soccer game – too bad considering how great the music was. I imagine that once the song gathering becomes a longer running tradition that there might be less competition for the soundspace. Check out the FB page for the next gathering:
https://www.facebook.com/events/265085236904668/
[Two Rivers Song Gathering, ANAF Club 344,32 Gordon Street, Guelph, twice/month on Thursday 7:30-10:30 pm, no cover, licensed]
Popularity: 6% [?]
Nothing like a campfire singalong to chase away the winter blahs. This particular campfire consists of a tray full of candles in the middle of a café in
downtown Guelph. As the name suggests, the songs are mostly of the 2 & 3 chord variety, well known lyrics or a chorus that everyone can join in on – and plenty of CanCon (Neil Young & Stan Rogers alongside Dan Mangan & Rheostatics) This event seems to attract more than your average musicians and boasts a good range of instruments – banjo, mandolin, ukulele, trumpet all joined the ever present guitar choir.
This is the 6th year of the Campfire Sessions. Hosts Greg and Mark set the relaxed, friendly tone. Players included visitors from Nova Scotia and a lovely cameo from two of the café’s staff. This appears to be a well loved local event – the place was packed and everyone was there for the music.
Not a sleepy summer campfire, this is a high energy acoustic jam. Be prepared to really belt it out to be heard over the enthusiastic accompaniment – or sing a song the guitar players don’t know : )
[Campfire Sessions, Cornerstone Café, 1 Wyndham St N, Guelph; 3rd Sunday Nov - April; 9 pm - 1 am]
Popularity: 7% [?]
Here is a post from songwriter and music publisher Jack Cooper from a songwriting social media group:
“Hey, here’s a songwriterly question I though I might throw out here. What do you go looking for when you visit song circles/open stages? When I first started going out to open stages regularly ’bout twenty years ago, it was mostly for the performing experience- how to perform under a ton of different conditions and before both supportive and non-supportive audiences.
This evolved over the years to where the main benefit I derive from doing originals at circles and open stages is for editing. You know those twinges you get when you sing something that doesn’t feel quite right? I would note those and revise parts of the lyrics/music that makes me flinch.”
So – where are you on the spectrum of reasons to come out and play? What’s your motivation? What do you take away with you?
Popularity: 7% [?]
Congratulations to Liam Grier for his role as organizer and MC.
