By Joanne Rodgers,
Bruce Peninsula Press
On 10 January, Harbourside Inside kicked-off the first of its six concerts at the Rotary Hall in Lion’s Head. Billed as an evening of music, food and community, the concerts will run monthly from January to June, each with a specific theme.
January’s theme was “British Invasion” and showcased music spanning the late 50s to current 2000s, songs from the Beatles, Elton John, Animals, Kinks, Adele, Oasis to original compositions.
The local acts consisted of partners Steve Woeller and Trace MacKay of Halfway North, sister act Makenzy and Olivia Williamson, father and daughter Dominik and Megan Franken, father and son Rob and Josh Ritchie, with Josh on electric guitar performing his original compositions, duo Rod Stuart (Rod Layman and Stuart Burgess) and other notable local artistes Philip Allen, Brian Taylor and Gerry Goldie.
Organizer Trace MacKay also acted as MC, smoothly managing the performances, with each act playing a pre-selected 3 or 4 songs. The performers shared personal stories or music history related to the songs chosen.
Trace was extremely pleased with the large turnout to this inaugural concert. Many concert goers considered the concert as good as or better than many of the concerts they had seen in well-known music venues.
Trace hopes that Harbourside Inside will encourage greater collaboration to create “new combinations of music styles, instruments and faces”. She says look for some new faces at each concert. (Interested musicians can email harboursideinside@gmail.com)
The audience and musicians expressed their pleasure at the improvements to the stage; all done by community volunteers who re-painted the stage, sewed new curtains, and rewired the sound and lighting systems. All free-will donations from the concerts will be used to upgrade the hall and stage and improve the sound and light equipment.
The next concert is on Valentine’s Day, February 14, the theme is Love Songs. Heidi Rose Neumann of Rosehip and Chai, will be back offering ethnic fusion cuisine and the Rotary Club will tend the cash bar. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., with music starting between 7 and 7:30 p.m.
