• Victor Schukov

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Yet another type of West Island volunteer group

posted by Victor Schukov at 8h22

There are many ways to volunteer your time toward the development of our vibrant West Island.

For the past 15 years, five local residents have been working almost under the radar to bring aspiring local artists, their successful counterparts and West Island patrons together in a warm and supportive atmosphere.

Typically, by word of mouth, I was recently tipped off about the Adair Coffee House and Blues Hall adjoining Union Church of Ste. Anne de Bellevue, just across the street from Macdonald High School. Every last Friday of every month, almost like the momentary opening of a rare orchid, the doors open and you pay a mere $10 to enter an intimate room dotted with islands of tables covered with red checkered cloth and green and blue glowing glass candle pots. Strung across the ceiling, criss-crossing tiny white lights enhance an evening of lights and music. It is one of the West Island’s biggest, little secret success stories.

Ahead, a perfectly raised sound and light stage, enveloped in a high, purple curtain. The room fits a hundred people comfortably and every seat is a good view of the stage. The numbers stimulate a mix of joy and mellowness brought on by the musicians. It is an evening of listening enjoyment catered by Twigs Café of Ste. Anne’s serving fine pastries and fresh coffee.

Senneville resident Gordon Erskine, a retired chemistry professor from John Abbott, and his wife Rosemary, a classically trained pianist, are part of a team that brings in local folk and blues talent and blends it with established acts. The volunteers’ reasons for doing all this seem to go hand-in-hand.

“I do it to support local musicians,” Gordon said.

“And the music is great for the community,” Rosemary added.

Ste. Anne resident Thom Meredith, a professor of geography at McGill, says, “The concerts’ quality makes it all worthwhile. It brings people out of the community. The audience gives to the music as the music gives to the audience.”

The team has no shortage of West Island volunteers to help set up the tables and sound system.

“And we are very grateful that people are so good about volunteering.”

Thom does the bookings through agents and artists directly.

“It’s almost like a club,” he says. “We don’t even advertise. Now, agents contact us. We’re well known.”

Ian Gray of Vaudreuil is the sound man. He oversees the control console like some techno-maestro.

“Last show, we broadcast live stream onto the Internet, to a worldwide server, a very large chat room called Second Life, where people respond supportively to the music,” Gray said.

The group is rounded out by Ron Harris of Ile Perrot.

All ticket sales go to paying the performers and on-going improvements to the church hall’s sound and light system. Squeezing into a tight circle of hundreds of people on an email list, members of the Beaconsfield Yacht club always call ahead to reserve their special long table.

At the coffee house, many aspiring West Island performers have gone on to become successful main acts while opening for the likes of Jesse Winchester, Peggy Seager (Pete’s sister) and local blues master Jimmy James. It all started one night back in November 1993 as a one-shot part of the church’s outreach program. Ever since then, the event has been privately put together by the five volunteers musically skilled in their own right. They always sell out and always break even. Truly a project that comes from the love of it. And the intimacy even carries over into the 11 o’clock closing.

“It’s the only coffee house,” says a smiling Rosemary, “where we ask remaining patrons to help stack their own chairs.”

Gladly, there are no shortages of people who want to help. In our very own corner of the island, the coffee house is a rare oasis to watch and listen and enjoy the product of a unique West Island volunteer group.

The next show is Nov. 28; opening act Emily Nyman, a singer/song writer, and local blues band phenomena Blues Train Deluxe. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. 24 Maple Ave in Ste. Anne de Bellevue. Tickets only at the door. Be there on time. The coffee house always sells out. Website:www.geocities.com/coffeehouse_and_blues/