Concert Nights at Home

When I was about eleven, my mother worked on Thursday evenings, and my dad and I had to fend for ourselves (which in those days meant that we ate the dinner mom had prepared before she left!).

After the dishes were done, dad and I would have a concert. We had a stereo - a novelty at the time - and could play either the old 78rpm records or the newer 33rpm ones (45s, too). My father had a largish collection of 78s with everything from Bach's Inventios to Spike Jones's craziness




Ah, we only had the sound when I was a kid. Spike Jones on video is a find, complete with zany sounds, lots of slapstick, even cross-dressers.

Of course at the age of eleven, I loved the Spike Jones best and could listen to it over and over, perhaps as only an eleven-year-old can. The Bach, Beethoven, and Chopin (my highbrow favourite at the time), Caruso, and Mario Lanza stuck as well, though. Since then, I have had a love of music, classical and otherwise, that I always attribute to my father.

When I was invited to an in-home concert in September, it brought back all those memories. And the concert didn't disappoint - I previously wrote a blog entry about the artist Charlie A'Court.

The idea of concerts in private homes is brilliant. For many smaller communities, it means seeing artists one would otherwise never even know about. The Home Routes method involves one host signing on for six concerts, spaced out over a few months. The tickets are very, very reasonable, and the in-home atmosphere is good, probably because it's all friends and friends of friends.

A quick Google search indicates that this is a popular method for promoting artists, and many organize such concerts for a profit.

Home Routes "is a not-for-profit organization made up of folks just like you and is dedicated to the love of music, to making music more accessible to a greater number of people and to supporting the artists that make the music."

I don't know this for sure, but believe the not-for-profit way surely has a much more down-to-earth and satisfying dynamic than a for-profit endeavour.

Then again, maybe I'm just spoiled from all the "Dad and Me" concerts that were all about love of music and sharing.

A'Court Concert

Years ago, my cousins and I would often gather with our families at my aunt and uncle's house.  My aunt Joyce Poley is a professional singer/songwriter, and it was always special whenever she could be coaxed to bring out her guitar and sing a few songs.

I was reminded of those impromptu concerts last evening at a home concert by Nova Scotia singer/songwriter Charlie A'Court. Charlie sang from his albums:

Bring on the Storm; Color Me Gone; Alone; and Live at the Marigold.

It was fun to sit in a friend's living room and listen to Charlie's tuneful, joyful songs. I love acoustic guitar and Charlie delivered. Charlie's music roams to folk and country places and briefly triggers many sound-sense memories for me - did I hear a John Hammond riff in there?

The concert happened because of the Home Routes organization which exists to bring home concerts with world-class musicians to as many Canadians as possible.

I liked the idea when I heard about it; now I can say that I very much liked the experience as well.

Charlie A'Court is nominated for best Blues Artist/Group Recording and Male Artist Recording at the 2009 Nova Scotia Music Awards for the Live at the Marigold recording, and also for Bell Aliant Entertainer of the Year.

When he wins these awards, I will shamelessly name drop and let everyone know that I was at a small, exclusive home concert with the artist!!!

I would like to invite Charlie A'Court to my soiree.