Black Walnut Folk Club

On Friday, February 21, 2014, we had a good turnout and plenty of Surprises, including another cake, some no-shows by some regulars, return of folks from a-ways back and a debut by Natalia Valencia, who is a very promising young performer.  We hope we get to see her again real soon.

We’ll be back on Friday March 21, 2014 with another all open stage program.  If you don’t come out, you’ll miss it.  On February 21st our Open Stage performers were:

Lawrence Cresswell,  Loretta Fullerton,  David Maranta,  Randy Ouillette, Jakki Annerino,  Natalia Valencia – NEW,  Scott Abrams,  Jacob and Greg,   Cam and Pat,  Wayne Cheater,  Jim Galway,  Greg and Jacob

Thanks to Jack Cooper for passing on some news about Maryanne. We lost touch several years ago except for rare reports of sightings from near and far. Here is the link to a fine article that appeared in Chatelaine magazine: http://www.chatelaine.com/living/real-life-stories/kindcyle-how-an-act-of-kindness-gave-maryanne-epp-something-to-sing-about/ AND here is another link to a site to help Maryanne raise funds to release copies of her CD: http://www.gofundme.com/MaryanneEpp

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

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.

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!

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.

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 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.

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!