A Wonderful New Folk Venue Opens.

Subject: A Wonderful New Folk Venue Opens.
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 20 May 01 - 12:39 PM

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

Subject: RE: A Wonderful New Folk Venue Opens.
From: wysiwyg
Date: 20 May 01 - 01:21 PM

Get Seamus up there ASAP Rick, if you can make the connection happen. Be very good for the club, and great for you and Seamus too. Let me know-- we will come up too.

~S~

Subject: RE: A Wonderful New Folk Venue Opens.
From: hesperis
Date: 20 May 01 - 02:00 PM

Great!

But is it smoky?

Subject: RE: A Wonderful New Folk Venue Opens.
From: SINSULL
Date: 20 May 01 - 02:05 PM

I am long overdue for a visit to my family in Buffalo. We can take a drive to Toronto for dinner and the show. Thanks, Rick.

Subject: RE: A Wonderful New Folk Venue Opens.
From: Hyla
Date: 20 May 01 - 02:16 PM

I am also overdue for a a visit to the Buffalo area to visit my Dad. Next time I visit, I will try to get up to Toronto to visit "Hugh's Room." Yes, Seamus would be great there!!

-Jeff

Subject: RE: A Wonderful New Folk Venue Opens.
From: marty D
Date: 21 May 01 - 03:15 PM

In my footloose and fancy free days I discovered some amazing folk venues in London. The Troubadour in Earl's Court had quite an atmosphere and I even saw Tom Paxton AND Bert Jansch on the same nite. Quite a double bill.

I wish Hugh's room luck. It can't be much of a money maker opening a strictly folk club these days. Wish I was near enough to see Connie Kaldor's appearance though, she writes fine songs.

marty

Subject: RE: A Wonderful New Folk Venue Opens.
From: Fortunato
Date: 21 May 01 - 03:19 PM

Looks good, Rick, I hope to get there sometime. Can you tell us any booking info?

Chance

Subject: RE: A Wonderful New Folk Venue Opens.
From: InOBU
Date: 21 May 01 - 04:31 PM

Saw the web site, and I am serriously jealous! Can they open a New York annex? - Larry

Subject: RE: A Wonderful New Folk Venue Opens.
From: DougR
Date: 21 May 01 - 04:50 PM

Wow, Rick, that does look like a great venue! Maybe someday, sigh.

DougR

Subject: RE: A Wonderful New Folk Venue Opens.
From: SINSULL
Date: 21 May 01 - 04:55 PM

If several of us can coordinate a date in Buffalo, maybe we can meet at the club. Maybe even get to meet Rick.

Subject: RE: A Wonderful New Folk Venue Opens.
From: Jande
Date: 21 May 01 - 05:00 PM

Wow! Ken Whitely!

Isn't he on one of Mose Scarlett's CDs? Fundamental Things, I think it is...

What a picker/plucker/player! Love that album!

If it's not too smokey, we may drop in there sometime. It sounds great, Rick! Love the website, too!

~ Jande

Subject: RE: A Wonderful New Folk Venue Opens.
From: Jeremiah McCaw
Date: 21 May 01 - 10:59 PM

And there's an open stage on Tuesday nights, hosted by Trevor Mills. I'll be there tomorrow night for my first visit. Looking forward, I am . . .

Subject: RE: A Wonderful New Folk Venue Opens.
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 21 May 01 - 11:00 PM

They keep the website click up to date as far as bookings go, and one of the reasons that I'm going to be doing Monday nights there is that I've been looking for a place to take my radio guests after the show. By the way Bill Sables and Sam Pirt will be my guests on June 4th, and hopefully they'll join me for a bit of pickin' at Hugh's room afterward. The concert and dining room are non smoking, Jande. I think Ken has produced (and played on) all of Mose's recordings. Just had brunch with Mose today and heard all about his Australian tour. He took 800 pictures!!

Rick

Subject: RE: A Wonderful New Folk Venue Opens.
From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler
Date: 22 May 01 - 06:11 AM

Having bought Mose Scarlett CD on Rick's recommendation I also concur about him & the Whiteleys. Go see/hear them if you can!
RtS (OK a recommendation from a non-musician, non-folkie like me may not say much!)

Subject: RE: A Wonderful New Folk Venue Opens.
From: Fortunato
Date: 22 May 01 - 10:01 AM

Rick,

By booking info I mean do you have information about to whom and where one sends promo packets in order to book an engagement? I would like to try a Northeast tour for The Shiver's next year.

Regards, Chance

Subject: RE: A Wonderful New Folk Venue Opens.
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 22 May 01 - 10:50 AM

Hi Chance. 'Fraid I don't know the details about booking, but my guess is that a package sent to Hugh's Room care of Holmes Hooke (he's the one who called me for my Monday night thing) would produce results. I'll put in a good word.

The other venue that many artists use for their first trip through Toronto is The Free Times Cafe (sorry, I don't have the phone number, but it shouldn't be hard to find). I'm a big believer in phoning first before sending packages.

Just from a personal standpoint vis a vis my radio show: I get approximately 15 CDs per week for airplay and after a while they really start piling up. Sometimes it's quite a while before I have the time to listen to the backlog, and although many are really good, I tend to play the ones that are most traditionally based (the CD I received from you has had a few airplays) but sometimes a phonecall jogs the memory. A Northeast tour sounds good.

Rick

Subject: RE: A Wonderful New Folk Venue Opens.
From: Fortunato
Date: 23 May 01 - 09:23 AM

Thanks Rick. I'll save that good booking info, and the "good word" for later. I'll ask for your help when we start planning in earnest.

The act I hope to bring to Toronto, The Shivers (pronouced Shy-vers), is a stage act built around Old Time Songs (Delmores, Bluesky Boys, Carters, etc.) and comedy.

I'll be in touch. When are you headed down to Washington, DC?

All the best, Chance

Subject: RE: A Wonderful New Folk Venue Opens.
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 23 May 01 - 11:31 AM

Sounds good. I'm gonna try and set up a few gigs in that area for late summer or fall.

You know, I should also mention The Free Times Cafe (in Toronto, as well) as far as good folk venues go. Mudcatter Rana, can fill you in on The Tranzac if he wants.

Judy Perly has run the comfy little club for almost 20 years through thick and thin. Often it was the ONLY place in town for the very best touring artists (who weren't commercial enough to fill a hall) to play. The food's good and a pretty young crowd of singer-songwriters (some great..some indescribable) now call it home. Great little downtown oasis.

Rick

Subject: RE: A Wonderful New Folk Venue Opens.
From: GUEST,Rana
Date: 23 May 01 - 12:32 PM

Hi,

Rick should also add the Oasis, just up the street from Free Times - Colin Puffer tends to book that (get back to me if contact info required - [e-mail])

Myself and Steve Prichard are involved with the Flying Cloud which uses the TRANZAC on Sunday's. Again they are putting other stuff on (open stages etc via Norm Hacking) and so I can refer you to them. Mariposa have a night at the Cloud once a month. Also, Acoustic Harvest folk club and Fiddles and Frets.

As for the Cloud, we're basically booked for the Fall but as I said I can provide contact info for all the above

Cheers Rana

Subject: RE: A Wonderful New Folk Venue Opens.
From: Fortunato
Date: 23 May 01 - 03:05 PM

Rick, let me know what your dates and requirements are. maybe we can work out a booking at The Royal Mile, or a house concert. I'm sure you have other offers but keep us in mind to have you over for dinner at the least and bed 'n breakfast if you like.

Thanks Rana very much, I hope to meet you all next year.

I'm looking far ahead to next summer and fall (2002).

I'll save your good info and contact you this November or December about booking next year. cheers, Chance Shiver