Egads, there are times when I love this city of Toronto!

We have a new folk club, and boy, I hope it flourishes. "Hugh's Room" is named after the late Hugh Carson, truly a friend of Ontario folk music for a number of years, and is run by his brother Richard. Veteran performers often have "wish lists" for performing venues that very rarely are grounded in reality, but I think this time many of us are scratching our heads and marvelling at the number of things that this club has "got right".

Perfect sight lines (not a bad seat in the house), a stage big enough for a full band, Ownership that actually ASKS the performers for suggestions about the sound system and sound persons(!!), FREE PARKING! Seriously good food....and get this....The folks in charge KNOW that it will take a while for the public to discover this place, so they're not walking around with a panicked look and a calculator, staring at the door!

No need to look at the door when you have TOM PAXTON for two successive nights though. He filled the place twice (app. 200 folks per night)on Friday and Saturday.

As M.C. for last night's show, I had the opportunity to ask how many in the audience were making their first visit to the club, and it was most of them. That's a very good sign. Tom was in fine fettle (with Ken Whitely backing him up, and Jim Layeux doing a great opening set) and I think many of those folks will be back to see some of us with less profile, but equal enthusiasm.

Nope, I'm not a part owner, and I NEVER throw compliments around unless I really believe they're deserved...and this new room deserves them. It reminds me a lot of my favourite (til now) folk Club, The Ark, in Ann Arbour Mich. Plus, there's a number of long time folkies doing the advising (Just don't let 'em do the books, Richard!)

click

Easy to follow website as well.

Rick