By David F. Rooney
Denis Severino has an idea he hopes will appeal to both newcomers and long-time residents: a monthly coffee house-style event that will feature music by local musicians who may never have performed in public before.
“It will be an opportunity for up-and-comers to play songs, and Revelstoke’s local band Sister Girl will be the night’s feature,” the Kingston, Ont., native said in an interview Tuesday. “We will get through as many acts as possible, encouraging all ages to come and enjoy a participatory and supportive atmosphere. I figure we will open the sign up sheet when the doors open, probably around 7:30 pm. There will be coffee and baked goods served at the intermission and there will also be a 50/50 draw.”
Severino said the format for the January 22 evening at the United Church will be similar to that at the Sunnybrae Coffee House near Salmon Arm. Prospective performers will sign up at 7 pm and will get to perform three songs. This will be an acoustic evening, so heavy electronics will be ruled out. The audience will be admitted at a cost of $3 a head starting at 7:30. Coffee and baked goods will be available.
“This should be a great way of supporting local talent and getting people on stage who’ve never done that before,” he said. “I’ve see a lot of people come out their shells this way.”
The only set performers at the evening will be Severino himself and Sister Girl. Everyone else will be signed up to perform on a first-come, first-served basis beginning at 7 pm.
“I’d really like to see the church hall filled with people from Revelstoke — not just ski bums,” he said.
The coffee house will be in the basement of the United Church on January 22 at 7:30.
