One of the folk clubs in Toronto that used to have a normal open mike has just changed its format, and it sounds interesting. Here's the description on their website:

"On the third Tuesday of every month, you will be sure to catch the best of songwriting and entertainment as Hugh's Room and Trevor Mills presents New Folk Night. Over the years, Trevor has gotten to know a host of great songwriters and musicians from around Toronto and across Canada. Every month he sits down at his computer and composes an email to these fine folks and invites them to the participate in an upcoming New Folk Night at Hugh's Room.

There are two ways to participate:

1) WRITE A SONG inspired by the THEME
2) Play in the HOUSE BAND

WRITING A SONG inspired by the THEME

Each New Folk Night at Hugh's Room will have a very general theme. When Trevor invites people to participate, he introduces the theme. The first nine songwriters to get back to him saying they've got a song finished inspired by the theme are the performers for that night. It's that simple. (In case of a tie, preference will be given to performers who haven't played before).

Examples of themes could be anything from very simple like "Love" or "Work", to a little more involved like "The State of the World" or "Inspired by The Simpsons", to inanely pedantic like "Urban Economic Policy of The Midwest United States Between 1947 and 1952" (okay, we'll probably never use that one).

Songwriters are encouraged to push their creativity when writing songs. The songs don't even have to have anything remotely to do with the theme. A creative introduction or segue is perfectly sufficient. The point is not to pigeon hole people's songwriting. The point is to trigger new material within a creative community and then bring that community together and have a little fun.

The nine performers for each New Folk Night are announced on the Hugh's Room website on the first of the month, giving them roughly three weeks to publicize their involvement. Each performer gets 20 minutes of stage time to play their new song and whatever else they want to play. If they wish and if it's appropriate, the performers are encouraged to involve the New Folk House Band to fill out their sound.

Playing in the HOUSE BAND

Are you a musician who can pick up and play on a song you're hearing for the first time? Are you interested in accompanying and getting to know some great new songwriters? If so, then consider coming to play in the New Folk House Band at Hugh's Room. The house band is simply musicians who are available to play along with any of the songwriters that evening. Adding a band to mix is meant to enhance the songs being performed, so playing with taste is very important.

One of the great things about songwriters is that they're often recording their songs. The New Folk Night is a great way for songwriters to meet musicians they like and vice versa. "

Marion