Cooper Park Concert Series

Tue, 26 Apr 2011 16:56:38 +0100

The time has come again to get the ball rolling on the Cooper Park Concert Series during Moosefest. We are looking for entertainers of all styles and genres to perform during the week of June 27th-July1, Monday through Thursday will run during the evening from 7-9pm. Friday, July 1st will run from 1-9pm.

We welcome all styles, genres and age groups and would love a variety of acts. If you are interested in participating please getin touch with Kara Bange at 937-6613 or Guy Gallaway at 937-4997.

Jam Fest at the Dryden Truck Show!

Wed, 06 Apr 2011 18:36:43 +0100

We are happy to announce that we are in the Dryden Truck Show!! Join us for a free open jam session on Friday and enter to join our JamFest on Saturday, June 25 2011.

For more information, check out SCHMA JamFest page on this site or visit the Dryden Truck Show @ www.drydentruckshow.ca, or contact myself, (Mervin) (807)-216.8319.

Neil Moody's Jamboree

Wed, 06 Apr 2011 18:23:22 +0100

The date for the annual jamboree at Moody's Farm is set for Saturday July 23 and Sunday July 24. 2011. Mark this date on your calendar and see you there!

The Dryden Observer-Posted on 23 February 2011

Tue, 05 Apr 2011 01:08:42 +0100

New music association hopes to spark open jam sessions

Resident Mervin Brownlee is hoping to forge greater ties in the local music community around ‘old tyme’ music.

The newly formed Sunset Country Heritage Music Association is aiming to create more open ‘jamming’ in a friendly atmosphere, host dances with friends and neighbours, host concerts and open mic’ nights with old-tyme themes and take jam sessions out into local parks and outdoor settings.

A somewhat recent arrival to Dryden, from Vancouver, Brownlee is an amateur musician himself who says he misses the abundant opportunities to learn from other players in a fun group setting. He’s hoping to recreate an interesting and interactive performance format in Dryden.

“I’m bored sitting around the house listening to music by myself,” he said. “We used to have a jam session every Monday night, from 7 p.m. to whenever they kicked us out. You get in circle and everybody gets a turn. You announce the song you’re playing and the key it’s in. If you know the song, you play along; if you don’t know the song you try to learn it by ear.”

Using the Nashville system (an informal method of transcribing music) players with rudimentary musical knowledge can easily describe the chord changes of a song to others with a series of numbers.

Brownlee says he’s hoping to host a few upcoming jam sessions at the Ukrainian Hall — bluegrass, and old-tyme country lending itself the best to an acoustic format. In the summertime he wants to move the sessions outdoors into local parks.

“It’s all about having a good time,” he said. “Hopefully, there can be a sense of ‘family time’. I would like to get the kids involved in this kind of stuff. I’m working with Will Durant (DHS senior). I’ve asked him to think about what kids might be interested in doing along these lines.

One of the ideas was more ‘coffeehouse’ type opportunities for the kids to showcase their talent outside of the school. Another thing he said to me is that kids don’t have a place to rehearse.”

In the near future, Brownlee says the Sunset Country Heritage Music Association will embark on a membership blitz, offering individual, family and corporate memberships that will help the group rent spaces for their events.

For more information on the Sunset Country Heritage Music Association, call Mervin Brownlee at 216-8319.

By Chris Marchand

news

Cooper Park Concert Series

Jam Fest at the Dryden Truck Show!

Neil Moody's Jamboree

The Dryden Observer-Posted on 23 February 2011

New music association hopes to spark open jam sessions