Category: Kitchener

  • 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!

  • 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

  • The Black Walnut on April 19th Featured Peter F. Light

    On Friday, April 19th the Black Walnut Acoustic Open Stage at the Mill-Courtland Community Centre in Kitchener, opened in fine style with a feature set by Peter F. Light http://peterlightmusic.com/fr_home.cfm . Peter was accompanied by Gwen Potter on fiddle, vocals and percussion. We had a fine audience turnout of listeners and performers.

    Next month on Friday May 17th we will be back with a full evening of open stage. The open stage performers on April 19th were:

    1) Mr. Jack, 2) Russ Bishop, 3) Dan Hergott,

    4) Peter van der Maas, 5) Jakki Annerino, 6) Randy Ouillette,

    7) Lynn Kirby, 8) Dave Maranta, 9) Dan Kearney,

    10) Bob MacLean, 11) Scott Abrams, 12) G. Bruce Williams,

    13) Wayne Cheater, 14) Adam Lang, 15) Cam and Pat

  • The March 15th “All Open Stage” Was Full to Burstin’

    The March 15th “All Open Stage” night was full to burstin’ with great performances by regulars and newcomers. A couple of very young performers stood out and as a result two more feature acts have now been recruited, one for June and one for September. There will be more details to follow soon.

    Next month, on Friday, April 19th,  we will start the evening with a feature set by Peter F. Light. Peter is a singer/songwriter who we have heard before and want to hear again. Peter will be accompanied by Gwen Potter on fiddle.  You can see/hear them at  http://peterlightmusic.com/fr_home.cfm .

    On Friday, March 15th our full slate of Open Stage performers was:

    First Half: 1. Nathan Few, 2. Laurence Cresswell – (NEW), 3. Dan Hergott, 4. Scott Abrams, 5. Jack Guest, 6, Jakki Annerino, 7. Randy Ouillette, 8. Sarah McGaughey, 9. Cam and Pat, and
    After the 14 minute break, 10. Wayne Cheater, 11. Jacob and Greg (NEW), 12. Sean McGaughey, 13. Josh Peidl, 14. Paul Rempel, 15. Terry Golletz, and 16.David Maranta

  • Dan Kearney Was Featured at Black Walnut. February 15th

    On Friday, February 15, 2013 Dan Kearney started the program in style with a feature set of 6 original songs to acquaint us with his brand new CD – “Something to Say”   http://www.unstoppablefrankiepicasso.com/something-to-say .  Check out Dan’s photo on our “Performers Picture” page.  It was a fine performance and the rest of the evening kept up the standard. We had  one of our  better turnouts of listeners and performers including at least two first-time Black Walnut performances.

    We’ll be back with our next Acoustic Open Stage On Friday March 15, 2013 at 8 pm. On February 15, 2013 the Open Stage performers were:
    Wally, Dan Hergott (with Randy), Jakki Annerino (with Wayne),
    Michael Brisson – NEW (with Wayne), Jack Guest, Randy Ouillette (With Dan), Roger Schmidt followed by a short break and then we heard:
    Dave Maranta, David Chapman, Cam and Pat, Joshua Peidl – NEW
    Kim Ellis, and Wayne Cheater (with Dave)