The Living Room Sessions
You know, for all the folks in good old Edmonton I know who bemoan the lack of good local music venues, I’m sure there aren’t many who’d be like, “You know what?! Why don’t you guys play in my living room?”
But most people aren’t Tad Hargrave. In an epic feat of putting his money where his mouth is, Tad is opening his home to local musicians (who will have the chance to perform acoustically) and, more importantly, to you jackals, who can buy a ticket into Tad’s Garneau-area home for a suggested donation of just $15.
“Part of it was wanting to create something really special,” Tad tells me in a phone call. “I felt like it was a very easy thing to do to support my friends.”
Tad’s a musician himself, though he’s quick to say that he won’t be performing a living room session anytime soon. He’s really just interested in getting some of the city’s best unknown talent an audience.
“For me, it’s just like, you get to see these hidden gems in Edmonton. You get to have this very personal, intimate concert.”
Tad says the idea for these sessions came from two notions:
“Notion #1: Some music is best enjoyed in intimate, acoustic settings.
Notion #2: Edmonton is full of musical gems that many people, sadly, never discover.
“So this is a venue to introduce people to amazing new music found in their own backyard.”
Speaking of backyard, Tad came up with the idea at a backyard party he attended that featured local artists.
“I’ve been getting all these calls from other musicians I don’t know saying ‘Hey, can I play one of your living room sessions?’”
“The whole process has been teaching me how little musicians get paid,” he says.
100% of the donated “ticket” prices go to the artist.
Tad’s mom liked the idea so much, she even chipped $20 a show for the performer.
It’s 30 people max, first come first serve. For more info visit the Facebook group. (Get on it, there’s a show TONIGHT!)
This is Edmonton's new concert hall.
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THE LIVING ROOM SESSIONS #3
An Evening with Scott Cook
DESCRIPTION: it will be a 45 minute, candlelit evening of musical performance with a fireplace in a backdrop and 30 marvelous people sitting on couches, cushions, chairs and mattresses.
COST: suggested donation of $15 (100% of profits go to the artist)
ABOUT THE ARTIST:
If you listen well, lifelong traveler and musical hobo Scott Cook’s new album may remind you just how rare a commodity honesty is in today’s music scene. There’s an awful lot of talk about it, but very few songwriters really wear their hearts on their sleeve, and even fewer do it with such lyrical craftsmanship and raw feeling as you’ll hear on this record.
It has been two years and a lot of roads traveled since Scott Cook traded in his job teaching kindergarten in Taiwan for a full-time living as a musician on the road in North America, and while he’s certainly experienced his share of hardships and struggle along the way, he isn’t thinking of quitting. His self-published 2007 debut, Long Way to Wander, made the national folk top ten on college and community radio, and kept him on the road for the better part of two years, living in his van, playing constantly, picking up stories and passing them on. His newest “love letter to the world” is a fitting follow-up, and his best work to date. Entitled This One’s on the House, it’s a collection of road stories, existential ramblings, and musings on love, loss, and the courage to love again.
A wearer of many hats, Cook also builds websites, writes poetry, fiction and non-fiction, and co-organizes Taiwan’s Peace Festival, a non-profit music and arts festival that raises money for peace work and charitable work on Taiwan and worldwide.
(album notes via cdbaby)
Um, remind me why we’re not all hanging out at Brixx…?
I know what you guys are thinking. “Sally, what’s the deal with you and the Starlite Room? Lately it’s all you ever talk about. Do you secretly love the Starlite Room?”
And I’m all evasive about it. I’m like “Nah, whatever. They’re just cool is all. I think they’ve got a lot going on.” And you guys are all “Whatever. The Starlite Room is totally your boyfriend.”
So fine, let’s just put that on the table. The Starlite Room’s totally my boyfriend. Happy? Good. Your happiness is my business.
Anyway, the latest news from the Starlite is actually technically from Brixx Bar and Grill (10030 – 102 Street).
On Tuesday nights, starting at 9 p.m.. they host an acoustic music showcase. Basically, you can just head downstairs, get yourself some tacos (that’s right, gang – pint & taco Tuesdays) and enjoy some acoustic jamz.
Also worth mentioning (because I had no idea until talking to talent buyer Art Szabo) is that Brixx, which was only rebranded a few months ago, has a pretty impressive menu. The restaurant itself actually opens at 4:30 p.m. for Happy Hour, Tuesday through Friday.
So the next time you crazy kids are looking for some place to have dinner and/or drinks and/or tacos after work, you know where to go.
