Black Walnut Folk Club

Tom Massiah is a singer/songwriter who lives south of Woodstock in Otterville. He has been playing off and on at BWFC for 8 or 9 years. We usually don’t know when to expect Tom to show up at the club but on Friday night Tom will start our evening off at 8 p.m. with a half hour of his songs.

The doors will open and sign-up for the open stage will start at 7:30 pm, after the sound check. Don’t worry. the hallway is nice and there are washrooms out there. The new format and requests for open stage performers has worked out well and our plan is mostly the same again this time. See the revised  “Folk Club Update” posting for most of the details. The first open stage performer will start after Tom’s set.

The admission is still $3.00 and parking is still free and every show is different.

On Friday October18, 2011, The Black Walnut Folk Club was host to twelve open-stage acts plus some rare encores. There were two Black Walnuts first-timers and some guests who don’t make it out to our club very often. Where was everybody else? We may never know.

Next Month we will start off with a feature length set by Scott Abrams. Scott is a native of Niagara Falls, New York and has been entertaining audiences with his eclectic collection of folk music for over 25 years. He has been treating us to his diverse collection of songs and very expressive guitar and vocals for what seems like a couple of years now and we are really looking forward to his set on Friday, December 16, 2011.

On Friday November 18 the performers were:
Jack Guest
Dan Hergott
Scott Abrams
Lynn Kirby
Jakki Annerino
Randy Ouillette
Kevin Kenalty – NEW to the club
Cam & Pat
David Maranta
Wayne Cheater
Jim Galway
Monty – NEW to the club
plus there were some extra songs by Jim & Wayne, Jack and Kevin

The Mill Race Festival of Traditional Folk Music in Cambridge, ON will feature sing-a-rounds at The South Waterloo Naval Veterans Hall. 30 Cambridge Street (@ Thorne Street) on Saturday July 30 and Sunday July 31 from about 1 pm – about 5:30 pm. The Black Walnut Folk Club will host those on Saturday from 1-3pm, hosted by Don Sawchuk and again on Sunday from 3-4:30pm, hosted by Jakki and Wayne. If you wish to lend a hand or sing along just meet us there. If you want to bring an instrument but don’t want to carry it around all day or leave it in your vehicle, you can deposit it for safekeeping at the the Festival instrument lock-up at the Cambridge Centre for the Arts on Thorne Street.  It is a terrific festival and it is free.

For more info on the festival please check out www.millracefolksociety.com and buy a program. Other BWFC regulars will be involved and performing including Terry Golletz/Zubrivka, and Bob MacLean.

Well folkies, the club is off for the summer until September 16, 2011.
BUT: The eleventh Annual Campfire is on Saturday July 9, 2011. For more info, check your email. If you aren’t on our email list you could call Jim or Irena at 519-699-4520 for more info.

This message from Jakki is important to members of our folk music community. GK was an important member of the Black Walnut Folk Club from way back in the early days. Jakki posted this on Facebook:
“I just received the sad news of the passing of my friend, G.K. (Gail Karen Eckert). She was a singer/songwriter, music teacher, writer, mentor and a lovely woman. She will be missed by many. I’m so glad I got to spend a bit of time with her in the last few weeks. For those of you who knew her, she has some videos on youtube about finding your creativity. Sing with the angels, G.K.!!”

From The Record on May 28,: “GK passed away at Freeport hospital, in Kitchener, on Wednesday, May 25, 2011 at the age of 58. Beloved friend and companion of Byron Leis of Waterloo. Loving sister of Gudrum Reichert of Lucknow and Linda Eckert and Arthur Hutchison of the Yukon. Lovingly remembered by her nieces, nephews and cousins. Predeceased by her parents, John and Berta Eckert. Special thanks to the doctors and staff of Grand River Hospital and Freeport Hospital.
To celebrate GK’s life, a memorial reception will be held in the Fireplace Room of the Erb and Good Family Funeral Home, 171 King Street S. Waterloo on Wednesday, June 1, 2011 where friends and family will be receved from 7-8 p.m. and eulogies shared after 8 p.m. Any expressions of sympathy, donations may be made to the Grand River Hospital Regional Cancer Centre by contacting the funeral home at www.erbgood.com or 519-745-8445.”