Yet another way to take music into public spaces: Busking! I have no first hand experience to share but here is a great blog post about busking in Lyon, France: http://www.weareallonfire.com/?p=290
Do you have a busking story to tell? Or maybe you have a prime busking spot you’d like to share the location of? If you have a street musician gig coming up post it here.
The Elora Acoustic Café will carry on presenting an open stage and feature performer throughout the summer. The open stage sign up sheet has been filling up quickly so come early if you want time to play. This week Adrian Jones – a man of many pedals – provided the feature set.
Into its second year, the EAC is still attracting new talent. This week we were treated to some great youth talent. I’ll echo the sentiments of host, Steve Royall, in hoping they come back again sometime.
After one year of Open Stage Adventuring I have visited 23 musical events (some of them multiple times) in 16 cities/towns/hamlets. While some of those expeditions were solo ventures I also had musical/moral support at different times from: Peter Balka, Trish Brubacher and Genny Grier.
As part of my one year anniversary celebration I’d like to showcase some shining stars in the vast sky of open musical spaces. Some pride themselves on attracting high calibre music, while others have created space for musical collaboration and expression that otherwise would not have happened. Here are a few events that stand out. (Click on Stages, Circles & Jams and go to the city of the event to find the original post.)
Corktown Ukulele Jam, Toronto – For the most ukuleles I’ve ever seen together in one room and for providing multiple ways to participate.
In addition to the large group workshop to brush up on your uke skills and build some repertoire and the full house uke jam, uke players can sign up on-line to perform or lead a song. Beyond the weekly uke jam, host Steve McNie also offers workshops (ukulele high school 101) and promotes all manner of ukulele focussed happenings.
Groundswell, Alliston – For the impressive array of youth talent
(and the great snacks and micro-brews available)
A predominantly young crowd showcased an array of musical styles and instruments
Free F’all Sundays, Toronto – For the greatest number of musicians
Considering this event at the Supermarket is relatively new, the turn out is astounding: 50-70 performers each week keep the music going from 8 pm until the wee hours of the morning.
The Black Walnut Folk Club, Kitchener – For the longest track record (1994)
This monthly club has a loyal following and has been going for 16 seasons.
The Elora Acoustic Café, Elora – For the high calibre of music at both the open stage and feature performance
June 2010, the first full month of theopenstageadventure.ca welcomed 152 visitors. This has climbed to 842 in the past month and some of those visitors have given me tips for new venues to explore and featured musicians that are not to be missed. I am looking forward to visiting some old favourites and discovering new gems in the year to come.
This week, Peter (fellow intrepid music explorer) and I traveled to the town of Alliston to visit the Thursday night open mic 
at the Groundswell Coffeehouse. This is the first open mic I’ve been to that has been overwhelmingly youth oriented. Performers and listeners were largely from the under-25 demographic (although there were a few of us representing other generations). Owner, Janette VanderZaag, says that this has varied from year to year since they started the open stage in 2005. And this youth has talent: phenomenal piano and guitar; jazz, folk, pop, original compositions. The music was fun and soulful and definitely had a sense of humour. I wonder where else you might hear Michael Jackson and Metallica blended seamlessly in one song. Dave Head was the congenial host of the evening, calling performers up from the sign up list. Some of the highlights for me: Taylor Whittaker, “3/4 of the band Pistachio”, Tom Somerville, and Grant Boyer.
And I really should mention the snacks: delicious coffee, desserts from Dufflet Bakery and a great local beer from Flying Monkeys Craft Brewery.
Thanks to Janette & Dave for providing the venue for these musicians to shine. And thanks to everyone who shared their music.
[Groundswell Coffeehouse, 96 Victoria St. W, Alliston; every Thursday 8 pm – sign up starts at 7]
My Mission:
The goal of this website is:
1) to explore open musical spaces (jams, open stages, song circles) and what draws us to them; and
2) to promote and celebrate these events and venues where people come together to share music.
I would like to forge and strengthen connections between the various musical communities and promote grassroots folk music.
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