A Different Kind of House Music – Music On McLean

Ottawa, have you met the neighbors? You’re going to love what they’ve been up to! They’re practically right next door – just down the highway in a real next door kind of way.

If you love great music making in an intimate and relaxed, fuss free  setting, the Music on McLean House Concerts are for you and are going to make you extremely happy. If you have not had the experience check them out!

The concept is simple and the story is sweet. The founders are the dynamic music and people loving husband and wife duo, Sue and Steve Tenant of Mclean Boulevard in Perth, Ontario. Just a comfortable stone’s throw from Ottawa, and a ‘comfortable quest for good music ride’ up the highway from other points in the province, the Music on McLean experience is like no other.

The concept was born about eight years ago after Sue and Steve took in a great music making session in a small living room in a home in Harrowsmith, Ontario. As good as the experience was for them there, the space was cramped and they sat on the floor. The missing element was comfort. Determined to enjoy great music in a similar setting and solve the comfort issue they cleared out their own living room in their home and rounding up some chairs and made themselves and friends a comfortable space to listen to some of their favorite musicians. Just like that, the Music on McLean House Concerts were born. Once upon a time before MP3s and mini-music machines people sat around together and listened to each other and their favorite recordings (yes, even records) – that was an intimate shared experience and it was very relaxed and very cool, I remember it well.

Since the first concerts there have been upgrades – newer chairs, and the furniture has been permanently given to their truly appreciative children. Over the years they have amassed an email list of over three hundred fans and friends to invite to the concerts. Today, they comfortably seat forty people for a show – that  is cozy. Things happen organically out of necessity, for example, a stage was built because people once complained about not being able to see seated musicians.

Like any venture there have been some exciting firsts. ‘Slide to Freedom’ was a show that saw the blending of blues and Indian music…Doug Cox (who could now be seen, thanks to the stage!) joined visiting Indian musicians Salil Bhatt, Satik Veena and Ramkumar Vishwa. This was not only a first for the concert series but a first for Perth solidifying the concert series as a vibrant happening in the town. Blending of cultures with music, it could not all be any more perfect.

Due to the size of the space the concerts are by invitation only. This controls the numbers of people coming to attend and indeed, controls the flow in and out of what is a home. It’s like a great big little private party – for about forty of about three hundred of your closest friends – at a time – kind of thing.

The intimacy of the setting does not end with the concerts. Sue and Steve like to hear prospective musicians live and get a sense of how they will sound in a room. They have their favorites – Sue and Steve tell me, “Most musicians will spend the night, enjoy meals & share a few stories of life on the road. This is the biggest thrill for us, as well as introducing our friends to new music that they may not have heard.”

There are endless stories about the concerts and the friendships made. The anecdotes are endless with each equally as charming. One of my favorites goes a little something like this: “A couple from Ottawa were flying to Florida…while waiting for their flight, he was listening to Sirius satellite. He caught this female singer whom he thought was quite good and decided to check her out, downloaded some of her music, and “Googled” her and found out she was playing at “Music On McLean House Concerts”. They would be back by the time she was to play here. He called, asked what a house concert was, and asked to be put on our email list – He sent a cheque from Florida just to make sure he had a seat.” Now, I know I don’t have to ask you, ‘how cool is that?’ But wow – how cool is that? Music did that and the concerts come through in shining style.

It is a relaxed atmosphere away from the bar and venue noise. The musicians are treated like family, they pass the word along and by word of mouth the news has spread and keeps spreading. Promoters and agents are calling and the roster glows with the likes of lesser known performers to big names. Roots, folk and blues, the price is right, the atmosphere and the room are cozy. Concerts are officially free but a suggested donation of $20 goes a long way being accepted on behalf of the performers. Simple snacks, coffee and tea are served at intermissions. It is just cool that way. Here are just a few of the names of those who have made great music on Mclean: Doug Cox, Keithh Glass, Peggy White, Suzie Vinnick, Ken Whiteley, The Marigolds, Tony Quarrington and other fine musicians and performers. Part of the McLean treat includes possibly attending a show where you do not know the performer previously and because of the intimacy and the atmosphere, you leave a fresh fan of both the musician and the venue.

Check out the website and learn a little more about this great way to enjoy some wonderful music making: http://perthhouseconcerts.blogspot.com
For more information and to get on the email list drop Sue and Steve a line at: susan.tennant@cogeco.ca or send them a letter by snail mail:
c/o 12 McLean Blvd., Perth, Ontario, K7H 2Z3 t:613-267-7902

Now you know what the neighbors are up to and who they are be neighborly, go ‘knock’ on the door and say hello! Everybody’ll be glad you dropped by. You’ll be in for a treat, pass it on.