ELORA – Listen up Elora.
Rick St. Clair is lining up what he hopes will become a regular concert series at the Elora Legion – a series he’s calling Listen Up Elora.
There are lots of bars and restaurants in the area that feature live music, he acknowledged in a phone interview, “but not where music is the centre of the event.
“I’m hoping for something where the chairs face the stage, where people aren’t eating or talking, where they are present and listening,” he said.
The first Listen Up concert is set for Jan. 24 at the Elora Legion.
St. Clair will be one of the performers, and he’ll be joined by Jessica Spurrell and Jesse Baer, who will each play their own set.
The vibe for this concert is folk, acoustic, unplugged, “nothing too loud,” he said.
“Just music to listen to and enjoy.”
But subsequent concerts could include almost any genre, even spoken word, said St. Clair.
He noted he was part of a concert series in Halton Hills about 10 years ago when many of the performers played rock. But one singer was acoustic, and she was all but drowned out by the raucousness of the crowd.
“So we hosted another event just for her, a listening event, and she was great. That’s when I realized environment and context matters,” St. Clair explained.
“I’m trying to bring that same spirit to Elora. I want the audience to be present and to unplug as well.”
The first gig at the Elora Legion is Jan. 24. Doors open at 9pm and performers take the stage at 9:30pm. Tickets are $15, available through Eventbrite or at the door. Proceeds will be donated to the Elora Legion to help with its programs.
“My great-great-grandfather fought in the First World War, so I’m proud to contribute to the Legion,” St. Clair said.
Planning for a second show is in the works, but St. Clair hopes the series will become a monthly event.
Musicians interested can contact him through his website, rickstclair.com.
