On October 18, 2024 we’ll be back at the Mill Courtland Community Centre. There is 1) a small change for performers; 2) a reduced schedule due to Community Center availability; 3) a sad note about the passing of a dear friend, Jeremiah Budnark; 4) the usual invitation.
1. Change for performers: Use of mic covers, (pop filters) to protect the club mics is no longer required, but please continue to use them for your own well-being;
2. Reduced Schedule: The schedule for 2024-25 season is reduced to 8 events and due to extensive plans for construction to extend the existing building we do not have a confirmed plan for the following year. Our dates for this season are Sept 20, Oct 18, Nov 15 and in 2025 they are Jan 17, Feb 21, Mar 21, Apr 18 and May 16;
3. Jeremiah Budnark: was a welcome and valued contributor to our life in the SW Ontario live music community, for a time a fairly frequent player at Black Walnut folk events and for what seems like forever the voice for the Brantford Open Stage. On September 26th, Dave Jenson posted, “Once again my Heart is heavy with sad news. Our dear friend and supporter of BOS, Mr Jeremiah Budnark has passed away at The Brantford General. Jeremiah has been battling some health issues and sadly has succumbed to the severity of the situation. Our condolences to Lynn and Michaela who were with him as much as the hospital permitted.
Jeremiah will be truly missed and I’m sure if there’s a gathering of musicians in the great beyond, he’ll be there.
Rest in peace Mr. Budnark.
Additional Information to follow.”
4) Invitation: The 2024/25 season opener Black Walnut Acoustic Open Stage will be at the Mill Courtland Community Centre, 216 Mill Street in Kitchener on Friday, October 18, 2024 at 7:30-10:00 pm. Doors open and performers’ sign-up starting at 7:15pm. We will aim to finish at about 10:00 pm. As a rule, if we have more than 3 performers left at 9:30 we may limit the last performers to one song and no more than 5 min. We find that this is necessary when more than 14 performers are signed up or if there are unusual delays. (If you miss this date, our next open stage date will be November 15, 2024. A few other things that we are expecting are:
1 Strong reminder for performers: Don’t forget this is for music, not for stories, spoken word, magic tricks, etc… AND don’t play along when someone else has the stage, unless they ask you to share the stage with them;
2 We strongly discourage use of your own mics other than SM57 or SM58 and do not bring any add-on processor/pedals/effects, amps or other sound gear. We do not have enough time to get any benefit from the stuff that performers have been bringing. Sorry, but 10 minutes is not a very long time and our own mics work very well. If you need a keyboard please bring it in at doors-open so that we can set it up in advance;
3 Performers may use removable foam pop filters (windscreens) which they will obtain, install, remove and keep for the next time. We hope all performers will bring their windscreens that we gave out previously. Now is probably a good time to hand wash the foam windscreens (separately so the dye wont stain any other stuff). They wash and air dry nicely. We will keep a small supply of these available which we will sell for $1 each to cover our costs;
4 Masks will not be mandatory but they will be welcomed, AND
5 Anyone who has been recently exposed to or has symptoms of COVID, Flu, RSV or other contagious illness is directed to stay away.
Bring your guitars, accordions, voices, acoustic instruments of all sorts or just your eyes and ears and make yourself feel at home. Do not feel shy because you have not played for us before.
The doors will open and sign-up for the open stage will start at 7:15 pm. Remember when you sign up you get to play/sing two songs in a set of 10 minutes or less and you need to be ready to start playing when your turn starts so you won’t lose any of your 10 minutes.
The entrance and free parking are at the back of the Mill-Courtland Community Centre and admission is still $3 at the door. The facility is wheelchair accessible, alcohol, smoke and peanut free and every show is different. If you don’t come, you’ll miss it.
If you are having any difficulty with viewing any content, please post a comment or send a private email to: wayne@blackwalnutfolkclub.com We have posted our “Code of Conduct” and other details on this website.
No-Smoking Reminder: The entire Community Centre property is included in the City of Kitchener policy of a total ban on smoking on the property. That includes tobacco, marijuana and other smoking and includes both inside and outside the Community Centre.
At 8 pm we will lock the outside door and put a notice there to say, “The building is closed to all those who are not participating in the Black Walnut Open Stage Event from 7:30 pm – 10 pm. Please knock at the rear doors so that you may be admitted to that event.”