newsletter September 2011

First of all thank you to everyone for your outpouring of support in response to last month’s story. It has been humbling and moving and, yes, even fun to watch how much the dynamic of our business has shifted in just 30 days. We love people or else we wouldn’t be in this industry, and your words and actions of support have served as an important reminder of why we love you all so much. It is hard to speak my mind on this, like most people in my shoes, if they are honest, I am swinging back and forth between embarrassment and gratitude and can’t seem to settle on how to actually describe how much your support has meant to us. So I’ll just keep it simple: it means a lot. Possibly everything. And thank you. That said, don’t forget us… we still have a hard road ahead and though it certainly feels like we have turned a corner--we still need your support to continue to push forward. So thank you, and as always, we hope to see you soon!

OK, let’s move on to the news--

September has already been up and running for a few days, so it’s past time to get the word out about everything that is going to be happening—for instance, after an eleventh hour Simon Beach cancellation, branch alumni Bill Dagg, Tom MacGahey, Stevie Morotti and honourary alumnus, Connor MacFadden stepped into the breach as ‘Kansas City Shuffle’ to play a set of their original, fun and raucous brand of country, cow-punk and indie style rock—I missed the show, but heard that a good time was had by all—Thanks Bill and the gang! Last night (Wednesday, September 6) The North Grenville Photo Club had a vernissage for their photo show which will be on display this month (See the information below). Thanks to everyone who came out for that.

Preserving the Harvest:

Monday, September 12, come out and join Chef Bruce from the branch restaurant and the members of Sustainable North Grenville for a canning demonstration as well as tips on freezing, drying, pickling, and preserving the harvest. The event will be a casual discussion with questions and answers throughout. People with knowledge of preserving and recipes to pass along are especially welcome; our hope is to begin a dialogue on how to make local food preservation a viable project for folks in our busy modern lives by demystifying the techniques and offering practical methods for everyone to enjoy the fruits of our local harvest all year round. Everyone is welcome, a light, local foods buffet will be available by donation and the bar will be open before and after the talk.
From the Sustainable North Grenville website: ‘Sustainable North Grenville is a group of citizens interested in helping to make North Grenville a more sustainable community. Our mission is to foster a resilient community that meets the social, cultural, and economic needs of its residents now and for the future, while preserving the environment’s ability to support it.’

September Art:

North Grenville Photography Club presents
Snapshots: a photo essay
We all remember our elementary school days when writing an essay was one of the first assignments we got upon returning to school. You know, "What I Did on My Summer Vacation." It was an assignment most of us probably looked forward to preparing and presenting. A chance to share adventures and reminisce about the carefree days of summer.
The members of the North Grenville Photo Club have done their homework and captured the sights, colours and images that spell S-U-M-M-E-R (and maybe other seasons too!). As the kids head back to school the first week of September, the North Grenville Photo Club (NGPC) will be revealing its third exhibit at the branch restaurant in Kemptville. Snapshots: a photo essay, on display at the branch restaurant from September 7 until the end of September. Guaranteed to bring back fond memories of your great summer of 2011.
The NGPC was established in April, 2009 for photo enthusiasts from the North Grenville and surrounding area. More information about the NGPC can be obtained at: www.ngphotoclub.ca

September Music:

Fridays this month will, as has become the custom, feature those lovebirds of a feather, flocking around and making sweet music with your mind—Frank Western and Birdie Whyte are the old time radio couple that could have happened anywhen and finally did. Here. And now. On Fridays. (Fridays 2,9,16,23 & 30.) Saturday, September 10 marks a homecoming of sorts—those of us who have been around since the old good days of Amanda’s Slip cannot but help to remember the house band of all the best ‘Slip’ parties: Ric Denis and his gang were the go-to ‘get the party started’ blues-jazz-rock and original music tour de force—well, as of this Saturday, I’m pleased to report that Ric is back! So dig out your good old boogie shoes and come on down—let’s see if this old floor can still bounce the way it used to! (Saturday 10, 9pm, $10)
Next week is very exciting, if, I don’t know, you like good music? Chris Brown joins us next Tuesday, yes THAT Chris Brown (Kate Fenner? The Bourbon Tabernacle Choir? The Barenaked Ladies?) We’re incredibly excited to host this Eastern Ontario legend fresh off his recent, well received Folk Festival appearance—don’t pass up your chance to enjoy this good time rocker in our ‘great time’ listening room! Reserve now! (Tuesday 13, 8pm, $12) here’s a bite of his Wikipedia page:

Brown was one of the primary singers and songwriters for the alternative rock band Bourbon Tabernacle Choir in the 1980s and 1990s. When that band broke up, he continued performing as a duo with his Bourbon bandmate Kate Fenner. Brown has accompanied dozens of notable musicians on stage, including a six month stint as a member of Barenaked Ladies in 1998 filling in for Kevin Hearn while Hearn battled leukemia.
Brown released a solo album, Burden of Belief, in 2003. He performs this material both solo and with Tony Scherr, Anton Fier, and Teddy Kumpel as Chris Brown and the Citizens' Band. The group's album Oblivion was released in 2007.

Then, on Thursday, the sweethearts of the prairie are back—Oh My Darling are what old time wished it was, what bluegrass tries to be, and what most musicians wished they could get half-way right—pure chemistry, spontaneity and joy! (Thurs 15, 9pm, $10.) Al Tambay will be appearing on Saturday for all you blues fans out there—so come on down and dirty and prepare to get ‘Al-i-fied!’ (Saturday 17, $8)
Wednesday, September 21st is Leonard Cohen’s birthday—I can’t say for sure that he’ll be here, but we’re throwing him a party whether he shows up or not—At least eight awesome local musicians have signed up so far to play a couple of his poems, er, I mean ‘songs’ each, how about you? Would you like to just come and watch? Everyone is certainly welcome, it is a party after all! (Sept 21, 8pm, free!) that Saturday the branch is proud to host a spectacular bluegrass-country-blues and folk outfit: The Ottawa Valley Special—featuring fiddling from award winning local girl Ellen Daly—the bio on their website says that they are ‘better than Mama’s home cookin’-If they’re even half-right, I, for one, am expecting to have an awesome time! (Sept. 24, 9pm, $5)
That’s it for September, but just for the record, on October 1st, also known as ‘the next Saturday’, the branch will be hosting none other than locally grown international celebrity rock-star icon, or, ‘Kemptville’s biggest star that you’ve never heard of’ (go ahead, look him up, I’m serious!), Brad Turcotte aka ‘Brad Sucks’ will be performing on a double bill along with returning branch favourite Matthew de Zoete—start planning now—that’s gonna be a good’un! (Oct 1, 9pm, $6)

September:
Friday 9 ~ Frank Western and Birdie Whyte...7pm, free!
Saturday 10 ~ The Ric Denis 3 band...9pm, $10
Tuesday 13 ~ Chris Brown (fmr. Bourbon Tabernacle Choir) ...8pm, $12
Thursday 15 ~ Oh My Darling!...9pm, $10
Friday 16 ~ Frank Western and Birdie Whyte...7pm, free!
Saturday 17 ~ Al Tambay(duo)...9pm, $8
Wednesday 21 ~ Leonard Cohen birthday tribute ...8pm, free!
Friday 23 ~ Frank Western and Birdie Whyte...7pm, free!
Saturday 24 ~ Ottawa Valley Special(bluegrass) ...9pm, $5
Thursday 29 ~ David Celia ...9pm $6
Friday 30 ~ Frank Western and Birdie Whyte...7pm, free!

October:
Saturday 1 ~ Brad Sucks and Mattew de Zoete…9pm, $6
Thursday 6 ~ Keith Glass (Prairie Oyster, Lynne Miles) …9pm, $8
Friday 7 ~ Frank Western and Birdie Whyte...7pm, free!
Saturday 8 ~4th annual John Lennon Birthday Tribute, Roxzilla as the house band! Sign up with Chef Bruce, 9pm, no cover
Sunday 9 ~ Thanksgiving Fundraiser for the Salvation Army, turkey and trimmings buffet, ‘pay what you can, pay with a can’ sing along gospel-themed jam session, everyone welcome!…11am-4pm
Thursday 13 ~ Paul Simon Birthday Tribute …8pm, free!
Friday 14 ~ Frank Western and Birdie Whyte...7pm, free!
Saturday 15 ~ Ryan Cook…9pm, $10
Thursday 20 ~ Matty McKechnie, (Graven) …9pm, $5
Friday 21 ~ Frank Western and Birdie Whyte...7pm, free!
Saturday 22 ~ TBA
Friday 28 ~ Frank Western and Birdie Whyte...7pm, free!
Saturday 29 ~ Brock Zeman…9pm, $5
Sunday 30 ~ Our fifth birthday party, free buffet, cash bar; come jam with Chef Bruce and The Burning Sensations!