Banjo, guitar, mandolin, fiddle and other acoustic instrumentalists are invited to join the circle for some of the most inspiring bluegrass and country jam sessions in the county.
The BlueSky Country Bluegrass Club, headed up by Terry Calvert, has been growing strong since its formation in 2004. In fact, it has become so popular that an additional group formed in Cookstown, and recent performance/open mike Sundays, have also been drawing a crowd in Barrie.
Calvert added an open mike component when the Royal Canadian Legion in Barrie was booked for the club’s regular third Sunday of the month. The Move N Take Restaurant on Barrie View Drive in the city’s south end hosted the afternoon of lively music in February.
Seeing as how the stormy weather didn’t prevent eager performers from coming out, additional opportunities in the same venue will also be coming up.
The idea for a Barrie performance afternoon came after a highly successful one in Cookstown in December.
“It was really well-attended. It was all the people we get out to the Legion and Cookstown jams. It was a full-blown performance because everybody was on at a particular time and they had their songs ready. It was very popular,” noted Calvert.
While the Legion hosts a monthly jam session, it just wasn’t enough. Calvert felt sure he could get an additional group started, so he ventured out to Cookstown. He soon learned that Thursday evenings at the Gandy Dancer Saloon would be a good fit.
“I started getting guys out from Tottenham. There’s a real core of bluegrass players from that area,” Calvert said, adding that in the beginning he was the only player.
“One of the guys from Tottenham said, ‘if you build it they will come.’ I kept remembering that. I would go out there with my guitar and people liked it. Then people who came out to dine started coming back on Thursday nights.”
The group has since grown so strong that some new measures were put in place. Two to three songs were allowed per player. Now, turns are taken after each song to ensure everyone gets a chance to play a couple of tunes.
The Cookstown venue at Hwy 89 and Hwy 27 continues to attract more traditional bluegrass musicians from the South Simcoe area (Thursdays 7:30 pm to midnight). The Legion (410 St. Vincent St.) is currently drawing players with a bluegrass and country flair to Barrie for jam sessions (March 16 and every third Sunday, 1:30- 4:30 pm).
The restaurant venue is the place to perform with future dates to be announced. All levels of acoustic players are welcome at any location, and there is no fee to participate or simply come out to enjoy the music.
“It’s basically the old-time melodies that people like. Bluegrass is really all about the harmonies and the acoustic music,’ Calvert said, adding that only solid-body electric guitars are not permitted, but bass guitars and hollow body electric are fine.
For more information, contact Terry Calvert 790-0391.
