Arts


.


by Richard Amery Bridge feature For the past quarter century, The


Lethbridge Folk Club has been all about creating a community of people bonding over similar


musical tastes. The Folk Club, which has been operating


around Lethbridge since 1989, has an exciting 25th season booked this year which began in September at their new location — the Lethbridge College Cave. They had successful shows, Sept. 25 with


the Wardens and Nov. 15 with the Erin Ross trio featuring Ryland Moranz opening. Lethbridge Folk Club president Morris


Soenen said this year's season has started slowly at MJ's Cycle ( 1502 -2nd Avenue South) and open mics on the second and fourth Fridays. The bluegrass jams on the first and third Fridays have been discontinued due to lack of interest. “It’s started off pretty slow. But hopefully


people who don’t know about it will find out about it and start coming,” Soenen said. The Lethbridge Folk Club has been operating since 1989. Due to liquor licence restrictions, only Folk


Club members and invited guests can attend the open mics as the room has been redefined as a private club. Memberships cost five dollars for the season. Admission to each individual show is $20 for members and invited guests. The Folk Club has approximately 50


members this year. “Of course we’d love to have quite a few


more,” he continued. “I remember some of the first volunteers.


Ryland Moranz’s mother Maureen Chambers was involved,” recalled long time volunteer and performer Bryan Bradfield. “It is and always has been a centre for


roots music. Because at the time there weren’t any other venues doing anything like it,” he said. “It wasn’t replicated anywhere,” he said. The Folk Club is and always has been a


place where people can come and listen to talented songwriters,” he continued, adding the listeners also become the dedicated volunteer corps who keep things running doing everything from making posters, to putting up the stage, to manning the bar and popping popcorn for Folk Club patrons. Bradfield has also performed at the Folk


Club. “I’ve been part of a headlining group


three times and about a half dozen times as an opening act,” he said. “The band I’m in now, Common Ground,


formed because of the Folk Club,” he said. “You’ll see the same glint in somebody


else’s eyes, who has the same musical interests as you do at a show and all of the sudden you’re meeting in somebody‘s basement,” he added. Erin Ross, who regularly performs at the


Owl Acoustic Lounge as well as at the Mocha Cabana enjoys playing folk club shows. “I play them a few times a year. It’s a


great way to appeal to a different type of audience. They are more attentive,” she said. “For me I play just the right number of


folk club shows. They’re also a great way to open for other talented artists,” she said pinpointing her last Lethbridge Folk Club show opening for Pharis and Jason Romero as one highlight. Their first show of the season was Oct. 25


with The Wardens. As usual the Lethbridge Folk Club has a


lot of variety this season. They don’t do anything over December as


people are preoccupied with Christmas related activities, but they will be back on Jan. 10 with the Sadlier-Brown band featuring Polyjesters bassist Jason Valleau. They will be performing with New


Brunswick's The Married Men. The folk club goes bluegrass in February


with Calgary based bluegrass band Rotary Park playing the Cave, Feb. 21. In March they are bringing back the Ben


Morris Soenen and Bryan Bradfield are excited abut the Lethbridge Folk Club's new season.


Sures Trio who was supposed to close their last season, but whose show had to be cancelled. They will be playing March 28 with special guests Steve Cormier and Peter Van Kampen. The Lethbridge Folk Club wind up their


season on Thursday April 23 with bluesman Guy Davis. “I wanted to do something like this in the


community, though it is getting harder to find poster space in the community,” Soenen said, adding the club is considering having special shows apart from the season on their Friday nights. “I’ll do what I can to keep the place open in the winter time,” Soenen said.B


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Richard Amery follows the arts and entertainment scene in the city, and writes weekly music reviews for The Lethbridge Sun Times. His column appears in each Bridge.


....................................................................... Bridge – lethbridge’s lifestyle magazine 9


Photo by Richard Amery


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