SHAUNAVON — Winnipeg-based non-profit organization Home Routes/Chemin Chez Nous was created to champion artists and volunteer concert hosts in communities nationwide. This has grown into a group of people and organizations of almost 200, who each host a series of shows in houses or other small venues in their communities. Hosts in both Frontier and Eastend have been organizing Home Routes concerts for several years.
Leonard Podolak is co-executive director of Home Routes along with Cathy Crawford, who is based in Mission, B.C. and is also the operations manager of the Mission Folk Festival. Together, they operate the day-to-day operations of the tour, doing all of the tour scheduling, artist bookings, pre-tour planning, and marketing.
Leonard Podolak states that their mission is to create more folk music infrastructure and build shows where there are none, or only a few.
“We receive grants from Canada Council for the Arts and Manitoba Arts Council for operations, but we do not have funding to subsidize artists or shows. With our structure, the touring artists receive 100 per cent of the door proceeds. Tickets are usually $25 to $30. Hosts organize the venue, provide accommodation (usually billets) and promote the concert locally.”
“We tour mostly solo performers, or sometimes duos, which keeps costs down,” explains Podolak. “We find hosts, curate the series by working with the artists, and promote the concerts on social media.” He adds, “Attendance varies, but an audience of 30-35 people makes it financially viable for artists. Some hosts utilize space in the community that might accommodate more people.”
Laurie Reynolds of The Silver Willow Gallery & Guest House is in her 12th year of hosting. Frontier organizers Mike and Cindy Puszkar are in their third season of transforming the Frontier Senior’s Centre into a venue. Two fall concerts in each community featured Saskatoon singer/songwriter Eileen Laverty in October and Faddis & Adkins in November. The remaining three concerts are scheduled for January-April and will feature a combination of singer/songwriters, blues, bluegrass and cross-Canada music.
Burnstick features Winnipeg-based husband and wife duo, Jason and Nadia, whose roots are Indigenous and Metis/French-speaking with music of pop/blues/contemporary genres and a slide guitar. They stop in Frontier on January 28 then circle back to Eastend for a February 6 performance. Newfoundland’s Ian Foster will bring his east coast singer/songwriter talents to the prairies, in Frontier on March 6 and Eastend on March 7. Murfitt & Main, an old-time Appalachian duo, will conclude the series on April 5 and 6 with their exceptional harmony singing. (Eastend April 5 and Frontier April 6)
Eastend’s Laurie Reynolds expresses what she enjoys most about being a host stating, “I enjoy meeting the performers and learning a bit about them and their music and sharing our experience and thoughts of being in the arts and their importance.” She adds, “I also share my hometown and its history and show them a bit of the beauty of the Eastend valley. And, of course, gathering and catching up with neighbours and friends, old and new, for an enjoyable evening of music.”
In Eastend, the artists can stay at Reynold’s Silver Willow Gallery & Guest House which gives them their own space for the night. Concert hosts provide supper and breakfast for performers.
In Frontier, Alan Dumontel spearheaded the house concerts initially. He asked Mike and Cindy Puszkar if they wanted to get involved and they happily agreed. While the Puszkar’s provide billeting for the artists, the concerts themselves are held in a slightly larger venue, the Frontier Seniors Centre. The Prairie Pioneers group provides snacks and refreshments for the intermission. Puszkar says, “We enjoy meeting the artists and learning about their interesting backgrounds. The audience has been really pleased with the quality of these performers.”
Ticket prices at either venue are $25 with all proceeds going to the artists. The refreshments are provided by the hosts and guests usually contribute to a silver collection to show their appreciation for that. If you’d like more information, or to reserve tickets for a performance, you can contact Laurie in Eastend at 306-295-7470 or Mike in Frontier at 306-296-2072.
