Al Boucher likes music and wants more of it downtown.
So, he and Shuswap Pie Company owner Mary Jo Beirnes are going about the business of bringing it in themselves.
“We feel it’s easier for us to operate in tandem and generate more of a buzz,” says Boucher, noting an initial music crawl will take place Friday, Sept. 27. “The music scene is great here, but it’s not as vibrant as it could be with the wonderful talented musicians we have.”
Boucher says the Pie Company stepped out first, hosting pre-Jazz Club music every Thursday evening.
“They spearheaded that so we’re trying to build on it,” he says. “There are so many good groups and we want to give them more opportunities to showcase their talents.”
The crawl will begin at the Pie Company on Alexander Avenue at 5:30 p.m. when the popular licensed eatery will play host to Shushmanoush – a gypsy jazz group comprised of Willy Gaw, Bill Lockie, Richard Owens and Neil Fraser.
“We are really excited to team up with another great local business,” said Beirnes. “I am really excited about anything fun happening downtown, and especially anything that supports local, live music.”
The crawl, which will move on at 7 p.m. has no cover and is in addition to the Pie Company’s regular Thursday night music events that feature a variety of artists from 5:30 to 7 p.m.
Then it’s along Hudson Avenue to the Blue Canoe, where the idea for Boucher’s latest venture grew out of his successful participation in this summer’s Routes and Blues program, in which Jake Verburg, Steph Clifford and Sam Masterton packed the café playing as the Sons of Bitumen.
“We started talking about another show but they’re moving to Victoria in October, so we’re billing this as their last concert here,” says Boucher. “And Sasha Lewis moved back to Salmon Arm and has been studying hard, so this is her debut.”
Boucher says he is excited about the event and will acquire a special liquor licence for the evening. He will also feature two special fall items available only that night, along with the regular menu.
Cost for the evening is a $10 cover charge plus cost of dinner which, as always, will feature locally produced organic food. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the music begins at 7:30.
Boucher is hopeful a similar crawl will take place every couple of months.
