Music in Bear River – the charmed life continues…

In a small town of 800 (I still really question that stat…it feels more like 400) any activities that people take part in have to be organized by some of them. There are no external organizations or entertainment groups in the background! Back in the city, (BC) I’d pick up a free copy of NOW magazine every Thursday and spend my subway ride home looking over the 100’s of possible events that would be taking place the following week. It really is/was mind boggling and I do wish that a few of those events could be shipped to Bear River because they would be well received here.

Still, in the city after working all week, it often felt like a giant hassle to get in the car, drive 1/2 hour across the city, pay $10 for parking, pay either a cover charge or for tickets, for any music type event that would start kind of late, end kind of late and then drive back across the city and get home really late. It was way easier to stay home and to sit in the back garden and fantasize about what our lives might be like when and if we ever got to Bear RIver.

Well here we are! The musical events here are fewer for sure, but each is such a beautiful pearl, and in such a wonderful setting, too. I’m refering to the monthly live concerts organized by the Bear River Music Society. These are held in the Oakdene Centre where our studio is.

Jakki Rogue sings.

It’s a 6 minute car ride for us and we live ‘out of town’ in Bear River East. The parking is free. The admission is $6. Fair trade coffee and home-made sweets are shared by donation. The music starts at 7;30 and goes until 10:30. OK, OK. So location and price point aren’t everything, you say. What about the music?

Jerry Thurber and friends

Well let me tell you. For the last 6 months, the volunteer committee who organizes the event cannot keep up with the requests from musicians as far away as Ontario to perform in the former schoolhouse.
What’s more, local musicians often join in and participate.

open mike at the Bear RIver coffee house

Live music is Alive. It is so powerful to watch the body language and the subtle voice and sound changes up close. Because the venue is small…..40-50 people at the most…the performers are able to talk to the audience and to hear the response.

Amy Melmock and Craig Wood

The other aspect of the concerts that I still find novel is that they are quite a social event too; a chance to visit with friends and acquaintances and to share good times together.

And if leaving at 10:30 is just too early for you, the Bear Rhythm Music Society is looking for volunteers to help put away chairs and to take home the extra date squares.

If you want to keep up-to-date about music nights in Bear Riviera, then check out the Bear River Arts and Action Blog that I maintain. Larry designs the music posters.