Welcome to the home page of the

BOS logo

The new Brantford Open Stage began on Friday, January 6, 2006 to fill the void left
by the cessation of the Brantford Folk Club's open stage sessions.

Donald & Brenda McGeoch have devoted 23 years to creating a club
with a significant audience component and an international reputation.

Many of the regular participants had expressed the hope that someone will carry on the open stage tradition,
and Dave Jensen has stepped in to organize a new club, to be known as the Brantford Open Stage.
The new club is carrying on in the same place and with the same schedule.

Here are the details:

at the Brant Park Inn/Best Western Hotel
19 Holiday Dr., Brantford. N3T 5W5
(at the Hwy 403 and Wayne Gretzky Parkway interchange)
Every other Friday at 8:30 PM, September through June.
Run by Dave Jensen.  519-752-0453
Email: BrantfordOpenStage@gmail.com
(note: caps in that address are optional)
Open stage format (2-song sets).
Adm: $3 (performers free)
(wheelchair accessible & smoke-free)

2008 schedule: (*denotes special event - see "Coming Up" below)

January  4  &  18      February  1, 15 & 29      March 16 (an off-day; Sunday aft at 2pm) & 28
April 11 & 25     May 9 & 23      June 6 & 20

summer break / festival season

September 5 & 19      October 3, 17 & 31      November 14 & 28      December 12

These dates may be subject to change. Special dates will be announced throughout the season.

 


Mailing List
Intention is to send out a reminder (with any other tidbits or gossip that might be relevant)
no more often than twice a month. To be added to our mailing list, please send an email to
jeremiah@jeremiah.ca
and put "BOS" or "Brantford Open Stage" in the subject line

 

Special note: The domain name 'www.brantfordopenstage.org' has been generously donated to us by Jim Elve,
who is deeply involved with the Waterford Old Town Hall restoration project.
He also has a website design business, and we are quite happy to recommend that you check out Jelve Design.

Yer BOS Crew

(photos coming soon - you have been warned!)

Recent Events:

Friday, November 14, 2008 - Lessee, 'bout 45 people making up the audience, and a dozen performers. A few regular performers were fighting headaches and such, but were still there to support their fellow performers. Thanks and respect to all of you.

Mr. Jensen had to look after the sound board this night (and did a very creditable job), with myself tagged to do emcee duties ("Hi. My name is Jeremiah, and I'll be you Dave Jensen for the evening." The roster included:

Bo Baziuk - leading of with a 3-song set
Nigel Scrutton - with his banjo 'Vincent' - Vincent Van Jo? - hey, don't blame me; that was Nigel's line!
Diane Kennedy
Stewart McPhail - in banjo mode this evening
Neil Stoneman
Archie McArthur
              
<break time>
     
Ian Reid
Pat McLeod & Cam Kemp w/ Jeremiah
Al Lindsay
Jeremiah w/  Ian Reid & Stewart McPhail - would not normally have thought of banjo as going with the Tennessee Waltz, but that combined with Ian's support on guitar was just lovely.
Russ Burns
Bob Baker w/ Cam Kemp & Jeremiah
Allan Edgar w/ the same posse as Bob.
closing song; "The Wild Mountain Time" with verses from Jeremiah, Diane Kennedy, Al Lindsay, & Allan Edgar

 

Friday, October 31, 2008 - Hallowe'en - 'Tis to my great regret I wasn't able to get to this one (on the other hand, I was tickled to be playing at - get this - a Goth wedding on Hallowe'en!)
BOS had an excellent turnout (19 performers during the evening), with several performers going the costume route. Participants are being curiously closed-mouth about the evening, but I'll update this as specifics surface!



Friday, October 17, 2008 - Numbers are down a tad this week, but still some 40 of you fine folks in the audience and about 13 performers, including (* indicates a first-time performer at BOS):

Carolyn Reed
Bo Baziuk - with Mike Hogg
Mike Hogg
Al Lindsay
Mark McNeil
Dave Jensen w/ Mike Hogg  & Jeremiah
              
<break time>
     
Sarah Hillis - Sarah's performance included an original work, using the words of Willam Butler Yeats
*Nigel Scrutton - new to BOS, perhaps, but Nigel was a regular at the Brantford Folk Club 'til he moved to Sudbury (or the Sault, or someplace similarly northish). It's been several years, and it's good to see him back.
? - Aack! I didn't get the name of this performer (sorry), but she had her friend Stephanie throwing out prizes to the crowd!
Ed Vandendool, and Andrea Barstad (Andrea is a very fine fiddler, & has played with the groups Kilicrankie and Tamarack.
Janis Vandendool, along with father Ed, brother Jo and Andrea. This round included a stunning arrangement of ERic Bogle's song "Singing the Spirit Home"
Stewart McPhail w/ Larry Aul (mandolin)
Jeremiah w/ James Richards (guitar) & Larry Aul (mandolin) joining in on the 2nd song
Bob Baker w/ Dave Jensen, Jeremiah, Mike Hogg, Allan Edgar & Larry Aul - it got a bit confusing at this point, as Bob and Edgars sets sort of melded into a final closing comglomeration.

Instrument-wise, there was the usual wide variety including guitars, harmonicas, fiddle, pennywhistle, accordian, bass guitar, and keyboard.



Friday, October 3, 2008 - About 50 people out, and we were in the 'Jay Silverheels Room', the usual alternate to our main room. We had 19 performers/groups during the evening. Lots of variety as well - the instrument list included (many) guitars, including a copy of the legendary Weissenborn guitar (acoustic instument played 'lap steel' style), mandolins, fiddles, banjo (frailing style), tin whistle, bass guitar & harmonica.
Working the sound board tonight was James Richards, who will be manning this station as often as his gig scehule will allow.
The list (* indicates a first-time performer at BOS):

James Camus
Neil Stone
Sarah Hillis
Bob Martin
Donald McGeoch
Jack Rankin (fiddle) w/ Janice Buckley on guitar & Jeremiah on bass
Stewart McPhail (frailing-style banjo) w/ Larry Aul (mandolin)
*Cecil Sault
              
<break time>

Mark McNeil w/ Steve Parisien
Steve Parisien
Al Lindsay
Jim Hodges
Pat McLeod & Cam Kemp w/ Jeremiah
Danny Bazenko
James Richards (Danny & James did solo sets tonight; though they usually play together as The Overplayers, a very high energy wee group)
Paul Terangeau (fiddle) w/ Janice & Gary Buckley (fiddle & guitar, respectively)
Allan Edgar w/ Dave Jensen & Jeremiah
Janice Buckley w/ Dave Jensen & Jeremiah
closing song; a bit of an instrumental jam with Dave Jensen (accordian), Jeremiah (bass), Janice Buckley & Allan Edgar (harmonica)

Friday, September 19, 2008 - a slightly smaller crowd, about 50, and we were in the somewhat smaller 'Wayne Gretzky Room' this time around. What seemed like a slow start gathered steam and became a thoroughly superb evening. We had 14 performers/groups during the evening. The list (* indicates a first-time performer at BOS):

The Overplayers (Danny Bazenko, James Richards & Matt Bazenko) from Hamilton led off with the traditional opening set of 3 songs. They also have a full concert coming up at the Waterford Old Town Hall on October 4.
Steve Fuller was a very pleasant surprise. He's usually in sufficient demand as one of Ontario's finest fiddlers, and being able to get out on a Friday night is a rare thing indeed. Of course he got hauled up for backup time & again!
Ed Vandendool, along with son Jo & daughter Janis.
Alfie  Smith
Stewart McPhail, accompanied by Larry Aul on mandolin

<break time, and congrats to Ellen Lister-Aul , who won the 50/50 draw>

Jeremiah, w/ Ed Vandendool, Larry Aul and Steve Fuller as his 'Band du Jour'.
Dave Ballin  
*Elaine Moran w/ Dave Ballin
*Janis Vandendool w/ some assistance from Ed Vandendool & Jo on the 2nd song
Bob Baker w/ Dave Jensen, Larry Aul, Steve Fuller, Stewart McPhail & Jeremiah
Donald McGeoch
Bill Crawford - a wonderful surprise: Bill hasn't been able to get out for quite some time.
Allan Edgar w/ Dave Jensen & Jeremiah
closing song; this time an instrumental extravaganza with Dave Jensen (accordian), Jeremiah (bass), Larry Aul (mandolin), Steve Fuller, (fiddle), Stewart McPhail (mandolin), & Allan Edgar (harmonica)

It is with considerable regret that we announce that Eric Bower will no longer be doing sound on a regular basis. In addition to sound duties Eric is also a bassist and now has a regular Hamilton gig on Friday nights. Eric's been doing sound for us since the Brantford Open Stage began and he will be missed. We're hoping he'll at least be able to visit every now & then. Aw, who're we kidding? - we hope his gig changes night and he's back with us again.
Meanwhile, thanks to James Richards for filling in tonight.

Friday, September 5, 2008 (1st regular session of the fall season) - off to a fine start; in the Grand Ballroom rather than our usual room.  Audience had about 70 people, with 15 performers/groups featured, including:

Luanne Ashe, with Jeremiah on bass and Gael Bridger on bodhran.
Bernie Moffatt, backed by Luanne, Jeremiah and Dave Jensen
Al Lindsay
Mark McNeil
Donald McGeoch, joined by Larry Aul on mandolin, & Jeremiah for his 2nd song
Stewart McPhail, accompanied by Larry Aul on mandolin, with Bernie joining on the 2nd song.
Diane Kennedy

<break time, with the usual 50/50 draw - proceeds this time around going to the fundraiser for Alfie Smith & Linda Fraser, whose home and possesions suffered extensive fire & smoke damage when the semi-detached next to them went up. The winner, a couple whose names I didn't catch (sorry) donated their share back to the benefit. Thank you & congratulations.>

Mike Hogg, with Ian Reid providing vocal back-up on his 2nd song.
Ian Reid (who has a new CD just about to be released, and will be performing a feature set at the Hamilton Folk Club's season opener on Tuesday, September 9.)
Bob Martin
Archie McArthur
Pat McLeod & Cam Kemp w/ Jeremiah
Bob Baker w/ Dave Jensen & Jeremiah
Alan Edgar w/ Dave Jensen & Jeremiah
Finale: instead of the usual closing song there was a mandolin-inspired instrumental melee featuring Stewart McPhail & Larry Aul (mandolins), Dave Jensen (accordian), Jeremiah (bass), Diane Kennedy (guitar) and a couple others (sorry, I lost track).
Thanks, as always, to Eric Bower for providing excellent support as the man in charge of the sound.

 

Past Events:

Friday, June 20, 2008 (regular session & last one before the summer break) - the finale for what has turned out to be an excellent season. Eric Bower was away organizing the Beamsville Strawberry Festival; so thanks are offered to James Richards of The Overplayers, who coincidentally dropped by, and volunteered to babysit the sound board for us. 18 performers/groups were featured, including:
Donald McGeoch, with Larry Aul on mandolin, & Jeremiah on bass.
Stewart McPhail, 5-string banjo (Stewart plays 'frailing', or 'clawhammer' style, BTW) accompanied by Larry Aul on mandolin.
Tommy Hughes
Luanne Ashe, backed by Larry Aul.
Mark McNeil - one number with guitar, and one with a ukelele.
Bo Baziuk
Archie McArthur - with Larry Aul on his 2nd song.
<break time with schmoozing, refreshing, etc>
Dave Jensen (cor-deen) w/ Luanne (guitar), Paul Tourangeau (fiddle), Larry Aul & Jeremiah
Paul Tourangeau's turn.
Jeremiah's turn; just one number w/ Dave & Larry as his 'Band du Jour'.
Doug Welland
Al Lindsay
James Camus
Carolyn Reed
Ed Vandendool
Jack Mitchell
Bob Baker w/ Dave Jensen
Alan Edgar w/ Dave Jensen & Jeremiah
Finale: "The Wild Mountain Thyme" - singing verses were  Dave Jensen, Luanne, Jeremiah and Al Lindsay.

Friday, June 6, 2008 (regular session) - hot, sunshiny summery weather this evening; so a lighter turnout, but still 15 performers joined us. The audience included visitors from Cape Breton and from Scotland.
Roster for the evening:
Stewart McPhail , on mandolin accompanied by Donald McGeoch on guitar & Jeremiah on bass.
Donald McGeoch, with Jeremiah. Don also announced the welcome news that he was presenting Eric Bogle in a solo concert this coming December 10 (a Wednesday). You may wish to make plans early, as it's expected that tickets will all sell out soon after they go on sale.
James Camus
Jay Linden
Wayne Hosick - it's a long drive from Fonthill (St Catharine's area). Glad you made it, Wayne.
Jack Rankin, some fiddle stuff (including a short version of 'Scotland the Brave' in honour of our Scottish visitors) with Dave Jensen on guitar & Jeremiah.
<herewith be the break>
Bob Martin
Luanne Ashe
Pat McLeod & Cam Kemp w/ Jeremiah
Al Lindsay
Mike Hogg , who (along with brother Steve) will be doing the feature set at the next Hamilton Folk Club (June 17)
Bob Baker w/ Jeremiah
Alan Edgar w/ Dave Jensen & Jeremiah
Dave Jensen w/ Luanne (who loves every opportunity she can get to play Dave's Taylor guitar), Alan & Jeremiah
Finale: "The Wild Mountain Thyme" - singing verses were Luanne Al Lindsay, and Dave Jensen.
And congratulations to Pat McLeod who won the 50/50 draw.

Friday, May 23, 2008 (regular session) - 20 performers tonight; not so large an audience as last time, but still respectable
instruments heard tonight: guitars (natch), mandolins, electric basses, tin whistle, accordian, harmonica, minstrel harp, flute, & fiddles
Roster for the evening:( * indicates a first-time performer at BOS)
Ezeduzit - Jim Hodges, Stewart McPhail & Jeremiah
Russ Burns
Pat McLeod & Cam Kemp w/ Jeremiah
Al Lindsay
James Camus
Bernie Moffatt
Donald McGeoch
Dave Jensen - snuck his accordian on stage to lead "Happy Birthday" in honour of Donald
*Brent McLean - a most welcome visitor from Antigonish, Nova Scotia
 Autumn Road - sisters Michelle Howard & Danielle McIver
<break>
Mike Hogg , joined on his 1st song by Larry Aul on mandolin
Tommy Hughes
Archie McArthur
Diane Kennedy - brought a minstrel harp this time around
Luanne Ashe - a song in French to start off, and then joined by daughter Amelia Ashe
Bob Baker w/ Larry Aul on mandolin, Mike Hogg on mouth harp, & Jeremiah on bass
Denise Hogg - favoured us with a single a capella number
Allan Edgar w/ Dave Jensen & Janice & Gary Buckley
Janice & Gary Buckley w/ Dave Jensen
Jack Rankin & Paul Tourangeau, both old-tyme fiddlers, joined by Dave Jensen & Janice & Gary Buckley . Dancing ensued!
Finale: "The Wild Mountain Thyme" - singing verses were Dave, Diane, Jeremiah, and Al w/ instrumental support (flute) from Luanne.

Friday, May 9, 2008 (regular session) - 23 performers tonight; originally some 26 were signed up - some had to leave before their turn came up, or just decided to listen instead.
Roster for the evening:( * indicates a first-time performer at BOS)
 * The Heartbroken Souls - Maggie Ferguson & Fred D. Smith - they have an upcoming EP release at Hamilton's West Town Grill on May 24.
Russ Burns
Mike Hogg , joined for his 2nd song by Luanne Ashe on Dylan's "Tomorrow is a Long Time"
Don McGeoch
Bernie Moffatt - Barb Bloemhof joined him for the Richard & Mimi Farina song "Pack Up Your Troubles" (not the kitbag song); then Mike Hogg added some harp into "Blues Stay Away From Me"
Ian Reid - led off with his original "Art Girl" and followed that with a haunting ballad in Korean! It'd be wonderful to have a translation and/or synopsis.
John Stroud
Bo Baziuk w/ Mike Hogg on harp; Bo's version of "Swing Low" had the whole place goin'!
Jay Linden w/ Larry Aul on mandolin
<break>
* Joann Lawton - formerly with Sirens; now solo; she'd just done a feature set at last week's Hamilton Folk Club.
Karen McLaughlin
Randy Uberig & Steve McNair
The Echoes - Barb Bloemhof, Doug Welland & Eric Bower (on bass, taking a break from running the sound)
Diane Kennedy - It was a 2-dulcimer night. (Is there a song title in there?)
* David Joseph
Bob Baker w/ Larry Aul on mandolin & Jeremiah on bass
Luanne Ashe w/ Jeremiah - Lightfoot's "Pussywillows, Cat-tails" & Stan Roger's "Lies"
Pat McLeod & Cam Kemp w/ Jeremiah
Bob Martin - 2 days before Mother's Day and the only 'mother mention' in the whole durned evening was Bob's ("It was a bear - a great big mother of a bear")
Al Lindsay
Allan Edgar w/ Dave Jensen & Jeremiah
Dave Jensen - ended us off with a quick accordian tune; then summoned most of the usual suspects up to do "The Wild Mountain Thyme" - singing verses were Dave, Jeremiah, Al and Diane w/ instrumental support (flute) from Luanne.

Friday, April 25, 2008 (regular session) - 22 performers/groups filled out this evening.

Friday, April 11, 2008 (regular session) - A new record - we accomodated 24 performers/groups in the course of the evening! (Old record was 23 at the Brantford Folk Club.)

Sunday, February 24, 2008. a BOS House Concert! Held at the home of Bob Baker; our special performers will be Joanne Crabtree & Paul Mills
From 2 o'clock in the afternoon until 5, with admission a mere (suggested donation) of $10.
It will be a bring-your-own-beverage (coffee & tea provided, 'though) and a chair affair.
If any of you would like to contribute a potluck snack, well, that would be just dandy, too.
For your invitation and directions, please call Dave Jensen directly at 519-752-0453
or email the dear lad at dave4446@rogers.com.

Friday, October 5, 2007 - The Brantford Open Stage will present a concert featuring Dave Clarke and Rosemary Phelan at 8:30 pm. Admission will be $10. For further information or for tickets, email Dave Jensen or phone 519-752-0453. (Note: no open stage this evening)

Dave Clarke is well-known in folk music circles as a member of the 'folkgrass' trio 'Steel Rail' and as a long-time guitarist & arranger for Juno winner David Francey. His website is: http://www.daveclarke.ca/ and Rosemary Phelan's is http://www.rosemaryphelan.net or http://www.myspace.com/rosemaryphelan

Dave has also made a few unannounced appearances at BOS and the Brantford Folk Club and it'll be a real treat to have this wizard guitarist stretch out a bit.

I should mention that the reason Dave is in the area and available is to attend the wedding of our friends Allison Lupton and Geoff Somers. Best wishes to them from all of us at the Brantford Open Stage.

Sunday, October 21, 2007 - The Brantford Open Stage is putting on a concert featuring Bill Garrett & Sue Lothrop.
This will be at the Best Western / Brant Park Inn from 2pm to 5pm. Admission will be $10.
For further information or for tickets, email Dave Jensen or phone 519-752-0453.

Some of Bill & Sue's material may be familiar to you since our own Bob Baker has adopted a few of the songs they do including the supremely lovely "Like I Used to Do"

Special Evening: Friday, May 11, 2007
at the Brant Park Inn/Best Western Hotel
19 Holiday Dr., Brantford
"Folk Music's Road Warrior"
(I made that up - Garnet'll probably hate it.  J)
Garnet Rogers
8pm   $15 advance / $18 at the door

Special Evening: Friday, March 16, 2007
This regular BOS session will be a bit different - our own St Patrick's Day concert, featuring:
Ezeduzit          Steve Fuller (TBC)          Donald McGeoch
with the possibility of other surprise guests
8:30pm start, and the cost is a modest $5

Special Evening: Tuesday, March 13, 2007
 at the Brant Park Inn/Best Western Hotel
19 Holiday Dr., Brantford
Tommy Sands & His Irish Band
7:30pm   $15 advance / $18 at the door
info: Dave Jensen  email or phone 519-752-0453
This is a very special opportunity for us to host  a performer who is seldom seen over here.
With a slightly early start than usual to accomodate Tommy's demanding travel schedule, there will be no opening act.
This is a "not-to-be-missed" concert!

Special Evening: Friday, February 23, 2007
(off schedule from the normal BOS evenings)
at the Brant Park Inn/Best Western Hotel
19 Holiday Dr., Brantford
a concert featuring:
Bob Baker & (granddaughter) Annie Shipham
Ed Vandendool w/ Bill Crawford (sort of a Cravan Spirit reunion)
Donald McGeoch
8pm   - admission by donation ($10 suggested)
for more information, call Jeremiah 519-753-2820 or email

November 24th /06

a fund-raising evening

featuring the Scottish Traditional and original music of
Donald McGeoch
Ack! Last minute change - Don is ill (gonna be okay, but not by tomorrow)
Filling in, we'll have some fine instrumental guitar work by
David Rogers

featuring the bluegrass sounds of
Otter Creek
(Cindy Dell & friends)

featuring the Irish pub band sounds of
Poor Angus     (led by Scott Cameron Smith)

tickets are $15 ($12 in advance)

after the fact:

June 23rd /06

This is indeed the final session before the summer break and all them amazing festivals.
We have a special treat to kick off this session, as well.
Cindy Dell is bringing along her bluegrass group, "Otter Creek".
This is a 6-person group and we're going to have them open the evening with a 4-song mini-feature. Now, I haven't heard the group myself, but I've been a fan of Cindy's music for a number of years,
her other group "Blue Rubies" kicks royal butt and being acquainted
with some other members of Otter Creek,
I'm predicting this is one session you'll not want to be fashionably late for!
Remember, they start right at 8:30.

after the fact: Otter Creek gave us a superb set. A very recent development (September/06) are websites for Cindy and the band:
Cindy's site is http://www.myspace.com/cindydell
Cindy's other group (Blue Rubies) site is http://www.myspace.com/bluerubies
and, of course, Otter Creek's site is http://www.myspace.com/ottercreekbluegrass


March 17th /06

Special Fund Raising Concert
Friday March 17/06
 celebrating St. Patrick's Day
and featuring:
Sarah Hillis (Brantford Blind Idol)
Allison Lupton & Geoff Somers
'Fiddler Cyn'
Don Sweeney
David & Louise Szwarc
and
Tom Jordan & Celtic Friends

8:30 pm, at the usual place
all this, and more, for a mere, pitiful $5!

after the fact: The St Patrick's Day Concert, was an outstanding success. Ever the optimist, Dave had set out 113 chairs to start with, and had to hustle up another 30 before we could start.

Young Sarah gave us an excellent set to start with, her soprano voice and harp lending itself well to traditional Celtic fare such as "She Moved Through the Fair", "The Blacksmith" and "Paddy's Lamentation".

David & Louise Swarc managed to skew their repertoire into an Irish theme (with broad parameters) with such contributions as "Red is the Rose", "It's a Whiskey Evening" and "When Irish Girls Grow Up". The usual 'Szwarcian' elements were all present: Lousie' lovely voice, David's sublime fingerstyle guitar work, David's quietly-presented outrageous jokes and Louise' long-suffering forbearance of same.

One unannounced addition to the evening was the addition of Dave Clarke to Allison Lupton's set with Geoff Somers. Dave is an amazing guitarist, part of the 'folkgrass' group Steel Rail, and helped shape Juno-winner David Francey's sound for 6 years. Together the three of them just smoked the place!

And of course, there was Tom Jordan. In concert, Tom is a glorious lunatic. Irish to the depth of his soul, he is. With his stock of time-honoured jokes, superbly delivered, he held the audience in the palm of his hand. When he turned his voice to the classic Irish repertoire - laughter and tears often hand-in-hand.

All in all, a very successful evening. A sold-out room, funds raised for equipment, and fine time had by all. Thanks to all who participated, and all of you who came out to support the evening.