Black Walnut Folk Club

Author: Wayne

  • Friday February 21st is the Next Open Stage Night

    On Friday, February 21st we will be back at the Mill-Courtland Community Centre in Kitchener, with our Acoustic Open Stage from 8 pm until about 11 pm. Since there is no featured performance this month there will be even more time for the Open Stage.

    We will open the doors for sign-up for the open stage at 7:30 p.m, right after we finish the sound-check. The Details of how our Open Stage works can be found on our “About” page. The event is alcohol and nut -free and every show is different. This is our twentieth year for the Open Stage and we are making plans for some celebrations as the season moves along. More news to come!  There’s always some live acoustic music happening in the Region. Find out more at www.grandriverfolk.org

  • 20th Season Celebration Was With The Ever-lovin’ Jug Band January 17th

    We had a great party to help celebrate our 20th season on Friday January 17, 2014.  It all started out with a fine set by the Ever-lovin’ Jug Band www.everlovinjugband.com . We saw these folks several times, including at the Mill Race Festival in Cambridge last August and apart from lowering the average age of our attendance they brought some terrific new/old sounds and ATTITUDE!  This was in place of our Acoustic Open Stage from 8 pm until about 11 pm.  As you can see from our photo on our Performer’s Pictures page that was taken at the club, they looked just like their poster: Everlovin poster001 

    We took a break for some cake and then finished off with another set by the Ever-lovin Jug Band.  Next month we’ll be back with our regular Open Stage night on Friday February 21, 2014.

  • December 20th Black Walnut Was Different

    The Black Walnut Acoustic Open Stage on December 20, 2013 was different. We had a smaller turnout than most months, which is not unusual for our December Club date. After all of the Open stage performers did two songs each, we had our Christmas prize draw and the we had a song circle where everybody got close to the center of the hall and we went around the circle in a random manner a few times with anybody who had a good song to contribute taking turns.

    Next month on January 17th we will have a very different program with a concert by the Ever Lovin’ Jug Band who will do two sets for us. We will have a break from the Open Stage in January. This is not a sign of things to come but rather a special celebration of our 20th season of the Black Walnut Club. You can check out the Ever Lovin’ Jug Band and their “Tri-City Stomp Album” at www.everlovinjugband.caOn December 20th the open stage perfromers were:
    Jack Guest, Dan Hergott, Jakki Annerino, Randy Ouillette,
    Wayne Cheater, Scott Abrams, and David Maranta.

  • Ho, Ho, Ho. We’ll Be Back At the Open Stage Friday, December 20th

    On Friday, December 20th we will be back at the Mill-Courtland Community Centre in Kitchener, with our Acoustic Open Stage from 8 pm until about 11 pm. Yes, Seasonal songs are encouraged. AND: there will be Christmas treats and prizes. Since there is no featured performance this month there will be even more time for the Open Stage.

    We will open the doors for sign-up for the open stage at 7:30 p.m, right after we finish the sound-check. The Details of how our Open Stage works can be found on our “About” page. The event is alcohol and nut -free and every show is different. This is our twentieth year for the Open Stage and we are making plans for some celebrations as the season moves along. More news to come!

  • November 15th Open Stage Was a Bonus

    The Bonus was that everybody on the Open Stage did 3 songs if they wanted to. The other bonus is that once again we were treated to a visit from one of our year one performers.  This time it was Jack Cole who was there in the first season.  Jack is all over the folk music scene in the Region with his Old chestnuts song circle and Folk Night at the Registry and on top of that he maintains the Grand River Folk Community website at www.grandriverfolk.org where we can always find out about nearly everything that is happening in the live folk and acoustic music scene in the Region.

    We’ll be back at the Community Centre on December 20th for our next open stage which is bound to have some seasonal treats. prizes and songs for us to enjoy.  On November 15, 2013 the open stage performers were:

    Dan Hergott, Randy Ouillette, Jack Cole, Jack Guest & David M.,

    Dan Kearney, Scott Abrams, Lynn Kirby, Josh Peidl,

    Wayne Cheater, David Maranta, then Dan Hergott and Randy Ouillette each did an encore song to conclude the festivities.

  • Friday, October 18th Was All Open stage

    On October 18 there was no Octoberfest food or drink and no polkas but there was lots of Great music and friends old and new. We had visits from some of our earliest performers from our first years as the Black Walnut Folk Club and another first time Black Walnut player. Next month we’ll back with the Open Stage on Friday November 15th.

    On October 18th the Open Stage performers were:
    Ed Barrington, Jack Cooper, Randy Ouillette, Jakki Annerino,
    Lynn Kirby, Debby Moon, David Maranta
    After a short break we heard:
    Scott Abrams, Wayne Cheater, Cam Kemp,
    Henry Davidson – NEW, Jim Galway and then Ed Barrington closed out the evening with a brief encore.

  • On September 20th Josh Peidl Started Our 20th Season

    On Friday, September 20th Josh Peidl Started our 20th Season in fine style. Josh is an upcoming 16 year old singer-songwriter, who already can hold his own with performers who have been on-stage since before he was born. We have heard great things from Josh already and noted a great improvement between his two appearances at the Black Walnut. On September 20th Josh treated us to a mix of his original songs and some folk/country/rock standards that he sings just the ay they should be sung.

    There’s a photo of Josh on our “Performer’s pictures” page. Check out his Facebook timeline at https://www.facebook.com/josh.peidl . You can hear Josh at http://www.reverbnation.com/playlist/view_playlist/-4?page_object=artist_1860090

    After Josh we heard songs from: the Open Stage performers: Jack Guest, Greg and Jacob, Scott Abrams, Dave Maranta, Lynn Kirby, Randy Ouillette, Jakki Annerino, Ken Robinson, Jacob and Greg, Cam and Pat, Dan Kearney, Wayne Cheater, and then Josh gave us one more song to send us home.

  • Break for Summer and Music Festivals

    Well we have been busy this summer so the contacts have become all disorganized. We did manage to make make contact with Josh Peidl through Facebook. He will do a feature performance for us in September.  Watch for more details on that.

    Other stuff is happening. Jack Cole has recently updated the Grand River Folk Community page so check that out at www.grandriverfolk.org for an up-to date calendar.

    The next big local festival is the Millrace Festival in Cambridge. Check out http://www.millracefolksociety.com for the details. It takes place August 2nd to 4th and it is FREE!

  • “Fiddle and Swing” Was Featured June 21st at the Black Walnut

    On Friday, June 21st, Fiddle and Swing: started off the evening with1/2 hour of their lively brand of fiddle, guitar, mandolin and singing. We had our largest total attendance of the year (not a coincidence). Fiddle and Swing are a family ensemble from Downtown Kitchener, drawing musical inspiration from artists as diverse as Stan Rogers, Natalie MacMaster, Duke Ellington and the Grateful Dead. Anna, Greg and Jacob deGroot-Maggetti play in a wide variety of genres, including folk, fiddle, jazz, bluegrass and classical. We have seen Jacob and Greg at the club before. Anna has been on Rotary Exchange in Brazil since July 2012, and returned to Canada just in time for the Black Walnut evening)

    On June 21 st the open stage performers were:
    Nathan Few, Jim and Ben – NEW – Skura, Dan Hergott, Ryan van Dyk – NEW,
    Lynn Kirby, Randy Ouillette, Jakki Annerino, Jack Guest,
    After the break: Dan Kearney, Joe Wall – NEW and Joe Morton – NEW, Scott Abrams,
    Cam and Pat, Jim Galway, Wayne Cheater

    On Saturday July 6th at 7pm is the 13th annual Summer Campfire at Jim’s place:in St Clements, Ont. for more info or directions call Jim at 519-699-4520. Time: Gathering at 7 pm, music usually starts about 8 pm  AND remember no more Black Walnut at the Community Center Until September.  Updates will follow soon.

  • The Report on “The Black Walnut Club” May 17, 2013

    We had a fine evening of Open Stage performances on Friday May 17, 2013. Everything worked well. Two new easily adjustable mike stands were a big improvement. The sound was great and we even heard the world premier of the “Black Walnut Club” song by Jim Skura. A fine song that is already a big hit.

    Plan for June 21st when we will feature Fiddle & Swing. They are a family ensemble from Downtown Kitchener, drawing musical inspiration from artists as diverse as Stan Rogers, Natalie MacMaster, Duke Ellington and the Grateful Dead. Anna, Greg and Jacob deGroot-Maggetti play in a wide variety of genres, including folk, fiddle, jazz, bluegrass and classical. We have seen Jacob and Greg at the club before. Anna has been on Rotary Exchange in Brazil since July 2012, and is returning to Canada in mid-June (just in time for the Black Walnut Folk Evening) – Fiddle & Swing looks forward to adding Brazilian pieces and styles to their repertoire.

    On May 17, 2013 the performers on the Open Stage were:
    1) Dan Kearney, 2) Jack Guest, 3) Dan Hergott, 4) Jim Skura,
    5) Lawrence Cresswell, 6) Terry Krentzkamp, 7) Randy Ouillette,
    8) Jakki Annerino, 9) Peter Vander Maas, 10) Scott Abrams,
    11) David Maranta, 12) Cam and Pat, 13) Wayne Cheater,
    14) Brian Harvey, 15) Jacob and Greg, 16) Ken Robinson – NEW