Many people may only think of the Royal Canadian Legion around Remembrance Day, but the members of the Eckville branch want to offer more. Members have been brainstorming ideas for fund raising as well as activities that will increase exposure in the community.
This year the Legion will host the third annual golf tournament, named in memory of a long term member, Don Macrae. The organizers are currently planning the date for this year, you can follow us on facebook for updates. Despite the weather the last two years, this tournament has been a huge success, participants golfed and then enjoyed a meal.
Last fall one of the members brought forward an idea for a raffle. The raffle was a sell out and the winner had the option to choose cash or a travel voucher. There are plans for this to be an annual event. The night of the draw brought the young and young at heart to the Legion where they enjoyed some snacks, beverages and conversations.
This year there was some searching to bring some entertainment to the Legion. While there are many groups that will come and perform, it was hard to justify the expenses. The concept of an Open Mic night was formed through conversations between one member and a co-worker. All the logistics were worked out, and advertising through Facebook, posters around town, word of mouth, and some newspaper coverage was put in place. The Legion just needed people to come! And they did.
Hosted by new Alberta band, Old Man Marley, on the nights of March 2 and April 4, the Eckville Legion’s atmosphere transformed from open mic stage performances into good old fashioned kitchen parties.
“A love for live music is alive and well in Eckville,” says Nathan Laurence, guitarist for the band, “I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of people, especially on that first night, who braved the snowstorm to come out to both perform and support the musicians. And, even better, to see how the interest has grown and brought out more performers the second night.”
He added, “It’s not easy to get up and put yourself out there in front of others so I applaud all the musicians who came out to play, especially if they were comfortable sharing some of their original music. A big thank you to the Legion for providing an opportunity for folks to play and a bigger thank you to all the patrons who came out to listen and sing along.”
Old Man Marley is an alt rock group that combines the powerful vocals and guitar of Matthew Ironside, with the intricate bass stylings of Jeremy Hervieux-Moore, and that other guy, Nathan, quoted earlier.
You can check out the band’s music by searching ‘Old Man Marley Plastic’ on YouTube and clicking on their profile link to follow them on Facebook for additional info and more of their music videos.
Amber Williams, a country musician from the Rocky area came out to the second Open Mic. Amber will be performing at the Rocky Rodeo in June.
“The host was very approachable and accommodating, the crowd was respectful and interactive. The venue was lovely and the snacks were great! The variety of talent and genres was astounding from young singer/songwriters to seasoned rock enthusiasts. I would definitely recommend anyone at any level of musical experience to go, and even if you just like to listen there was something there for everyone. “
Art Nielson came out on March 2 and entertained the crowd with a few solo songs. On April 6 he brought along the rest of his band, the Sawd Dawgs. The band includes Steve Mattson on drums and Doug Kujala on guitar. This band plays blues, jump blues and rock!
“Playing in front of people is so cool and fun and maybe a bit loud! We are trying to find a bass player which kinda hurts us right now. We called the band The Sawd Dawgs (all of our initials Wayne was our bass player). We have played outdoor venues and some private functions and the Eckville legion.”
A couple of the local performers really appreciate the opportunity to play guitar and sing in this setting. A lot of their past experience has been around a camp fire with family and friends. Their love of music is very evident in their enthusiastic performances. Along with the guitars there was also an accordion and harmonicas.
The performers came from Red Deer, Three Hills, Joffre, Rocky, Sylvan Lake and Eckville. With a variety of experience and musical interests, the variety is one of the benefits of this type of event. As Amber mentioned, there was something for everyone.
The next Open Mic will be on May 4th at 8:00pm, doors will be open at 7:00pm. This is a great opportunity for performers to gain more experience and exposure in a very safe and welcoming environment. For more information or to book a spot, you can call or text 403-596-3699.
The Eckville Legion is available for rental, at very reasonable prices. With two separate rental areas there are many different events that could be held here. For more information you can call or text 403-350-4206
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