Tag Archives: Rock The Hall
My Sweet Patootie and Emma Wright Join Cast of The Last Waltz
Chris Scerri is lifting the veil on more local performers who will be guests at The Last Waltz. Along with the band that plays The Band, there are many other performers to reference as part of that concert. In this tribute, all of the performers will be local stars. This week Chris announces that Emma Wright, Sandra Swannell and Terry Young will be on the program.
Canadian Folk Music Award winners Sandra Swannell and Terry Young, who live in Woodford when they’re not on the road, are currently preparing their annual Harp and Holly Concert Series. They will joining one of the world’s foremost Celtic harpists, Sharlene Wallace for a series of concerts featuring baroque Christmas songs. This is a side project from their main gig as My Sweet Patootie, the roots and ragtime band that’s attracting attention in the U.K. from their regular touring there. Their annual Harp and Holly concert was born out of a love for timeless music that evokes something about the Christmas season that live in the hearts of all of us. They’ll be playing concerts during the Christmas season at three local venues in Owen Sound, Colpoy’s Bay and Sauble Beach, as well as in Guelph and Oakville.
Being part of The Last Waltz, Meaford Style, gives Sandra and Terry a chance to share music with their community here at home.
“A sense of community,” says Sandra, “That’s what Martin Scorsese captured between the musicians, both on stage and off in the epic film The Last Waltz.”
Rockin’ The Hall Raised the Roof on Saturday Night
Review by Bill Monahan of Rockin’ The Hall Vol. 2 at Meaford Hall, May 6, 2017
Photo courtesy of Marissa Dolotallis
Saturday night’s concert, Rockin’ The Hall, Vol. 2, was the centrepiece of the Grand Re-Opening Event that took place at Meaford Hall on the weekend to celebrate the balcony renovations. And it was fitting that it should be. It could be said that without Meaford Hall the great band that rocked the hall on Saturday night might not exist at all. And what a band! Each member of the ten piece company had moments of outstanding performance as they worked their way through a number of familiar songs that were given new energy by the quality of the interpretations. The performers ranged in age from thirteen to somewhere north of 60, from relative newcomers to award-winning industry veterans, but you would have been hard pressed to distinguish which was which as each seemed to vie with the others to take the audience higher. All through both sets, audience members were jumping up like Whack-a-Mole in spontaneous appreciation of great moments. It was clear that each performer loved being there and gave their all. And a big part of that was the hall itself.
Meaford Hall is truly a gem that puts our little town on a cultural level that punches far above its weight. As the mayor said during the ribbon-cutting ceremony that preceded the concert, this is the best venue of its size in Southern Ontario. With the completion of the balcony renovations the long journey to create a world-class venue his reached a sort of culmination, something truly worthy of celebration.
It’s worth remembering that this wonderful achievement is primarily the result of the efforts of dedicated and hard-working volunteers as well as the generosity of citizens who stepped up to cover the lion’s share of the cost. The Balcony Renovation Project came in on time and on budget. It was shepherded through that process by talented individuals who brought specific talents to bear for the sake of the community.
While the building and the Meaford Hall & Culture Foundation are essential elements in the success of Meaford Hall, a lot of credit goes to the excellent staff. This is particularly true in regard to concerts. Local music fans are very well served by booking policies that put the emphasis on quality Canadian talent. To attend regular concert offerings at Meaford Hall is to become an educated connoisseur of Canadian talent. Often the performers are not well-known names (although many are) but because of such judicious booking policies it is pretty much guaranteed that any show booked there will be outstanding. The hall also has a top-notch technical crew. It has become commonplace for touring performers to heap praise on the staff and enthuse from the stage about what an exceptional place this is for them to play. That enthusiasm from the performers is a big part of what makes the shows as good as they are.
The entire show was a flow of unstoppable energy that gained momentum throughout.
Which brings me back to the idea that this great band that performed on Saturday night would not exist without Meaford Hall. If you have followed the other articles about Chris Scerri bringing his friends from Port Credit to Meaford, you already know that they have fallen in love with our town and we with them. And it all began with Chris’s inspiration to bring a show called The Great Canadian Songbook to the Opera House. Having these talents become part of our local culture has made a permanent change that is putting Meaford on the map as a centre for live music, live original music that radiates primarily from the great programming at Meaford Hall but also provides exposure for exceptional local talent.
