Music in the Water
a new blog for SPARC by Barrie Martin
Image Description: Several guitars on on stands. They are on stage. An amp is to the right.
Performing arts in the Haliburton Highlands - there must be something in the water! With 600 lakes in the County there is no shortage of water. Nor is there a shortage of music to “wet” one’s appetite for live performances. During the period of May - September 2023 there were over 175 concerts in our community. More recently, the County’s live entertainment calendar revealed 61 concerts between January 24 to April 20, 2024. That is a lot of music for a County that has only 18,000 permanent residents. When that number triples in the summer months there is still an ample supply to quench our seasonal visitor’s thirst for entertainment. One can find music in all corners of the Haliburton Highlands - rock, blues, country, folk, classical, opera and jazz in a variety of venues presented by no less than 40 presenters.
I would like to wade into the reasons why this small rural community has such an abundance of live music. An early and vivid memory for me was a production by R. Murray Schafer in the 80’s that took place on and in a lake In Haliburton Forest – imagine that. Schafer, the eminent Canadian composer, writer and acoustic ecologist mounted an opera called The Princess of the Stars where musicians gathered on the edge of a lake one hour before dawn, with the awakening of birds and the sunrise contributing key elements to the drama. Other characters enter via canoe and from the depths, chanting lines in a language created by Schafer. Despite the 4 am start, it was magic. This performance inspired an annual Forest Festival that featured concerts where musicians such as Bruce Coburn, Jim Cuddy, Sarah Harmer and the Good Lovelies performed on a floating stage while the audience viewed performances and sunsets from the shore.
Image Description: A photo from offstage of artists performing on stage. This is the MoonTones - Kris Kadwell, Bethany Houghton, Ian Pay. Jazz standards. Northern Lights Performing Arts Pavilion. Photographer Mark Robinson
The foundation for our performing arts scene has been years in the making. It starts with a tradition of arts in the community that began over 55 years ago with the formation of the Haliburton Guild of Fine Arts, which in turn spawned the establishment of the Haliburton School of Fine Art in 1967 (now Fleming College – Haliburton School of Art + Design) and the building of the present college campus in 2005. Thousands of students have taken summer and year-round courses that included music courses and workshops. The Arts Council~Haliburton Highlands (formed in 2003) brought together a wide range artists and organizations in all disciplines and performing arts groups which engendered a spirit of collaboration. In 2010 the Arts Council convened a roundtable for the performing arts that eventually sparked the formation an organization called Supporting Performing Arts in Rural and Remote Communities. The founding board of directors were all volunteers from the Haliburton Highlands. Their dedication, strategic thinking, three major symposia, support of the Arts Council and over a half a million dollars in funding helped SPARC evolve into a provincial, if not nationally, significant organization. And it all started here!
Music also thrived due to the support of organizations such as the Haliburton County Development Corporation, Haliburton County Community Co-operative, Rotary, Lions Club, Arts Council~Haliburton Highlands and the many music groups. The support of local government through their municipal cultural plans and committees, and the fact that art was one of the strategic priorities of the County’s tourism department influenced the growth of the performing arts.
The spirit of collaboration, the variety of indoor and outdoors venues; an outstanding music program at local schools; private music instruction by talented instructors; recording studios; concert series; music camps, theatre, and festivals; and inspiring landscapes and lifestyles were other factors that contributed to the growth of the music scene. Restaurants, pubs and attractions such the Dominion Hotel, The Rockcliffe, Rhubarb Restaurant, Abbey Gardens, Boshkung Brewery and Haliburton Highlands Brewing are important presenters of live music. These influences fostered a community of practice that attracted creators, producers, presenters, performers and audiences.
Image Description: People sit outside, distanced from each other, at Head Lake Park Bandstand. The sun is setting. Photographer Thom Lambert
Above all we had great audiences. While our permanent and seasonal population is small, our zest for live music is huge. This community has appetite for a wide range of musical genres The vitality of this music community is noteworthy (pun intended), indeed which inspired us to be bigger and better! At the risk of flooding you with details, there are a few specific influences that merit special attention.
The role of the local media has been instrumental in the development and promotion of live music. Our community is blessed with three weekly newspapers and two radio stations. Beyond paid advertising that may be purchased, the local media have supported live music in a variety of ways. Print media regularly feature stories of musicians coming to perform and attend concerts to take photos and provide additional coverage. Both radio stations often conduct interviews ahead of a concert. Canoe FM, a community radio station, has the flexibility to do so much more. They are able to air songs of the artists in advance of their performance. Paddling Beyond the Mainstream, Canoeing in the Country, Locally Sourced, Local Talent Hour are shows that feature the music of local and guest musicians, recorded or live on-air performances. Canoe FM has a new recording studio that supports the music community.
Volunteerism has been another key to success. Its hard not to volunteer in this community. There is a spirit of helping and an abundance of opportunities. The local music industry thrives thanks to the many dedicated volunteers. That said, there are challenges. The community is still recovering and rebuilding from the impact of COVID. There are also a lot of grey hairs around most tables and attracting younger volunteers with new ideas and energy is difficult.
Image Description: Inside a church, three musicians are playing in amongst the pews. They are at the Bluegrass music workshop - Highland Hills United Church – musicians include Kris Kadwell and Camille Martin - Photographer Barrie Martin
The Haliburton County Folk Society (HCFS) is another enabler of music in the Haliburton Highlands. Founded in 1998, the Society has worked hard to present and promote all types of music, and support local musicians. The Folk Society presents an annual concert series, monthly open stages, Winter Folk Camp, and a house concert series (Home Routes). For local musicians, the Folk Society provides them with performance opportunities including the open stage, as openers for guest musicians, and as featured artists. HCFS maintains a database of local performers that can be accessed by presenters with calls for performers. In 2023 for the first time, the Society sponsored four local musicians to showcase at the Folk Music Ontario conference. The Society also assists local musicians by displaying and selling their CDs at several locations. HCFS has partnered with other community organizations and businesses to bring more music to the community. The newly formed Highlands Buckslide Blues Society, Canoe FM, and the Folk Society organized and presented the first annual Haliburton Highlands Blues Festival to commemorate Maple Blues Award winner and local radio host, Patrick Monaghan. The Rotary Club of Haliburton has relied on the Folk Society for several years to develop a roster of performers for the lakeside Music in the Park series held each summer. Other partners include Abbey Gardens, Haliburton Forest, Dance Happens Here, Royal Canadian Legion 129 – Haliburton, and the Telling Our Stories speaker series. The Folk Society makes its sound equipment available to artists and various events.
The well went dry during COVID with no live gigs happening. Audiences were able to stream several online performances of local and guest musicians thanks to the Folk Society thus keeping the hope for live in-person concerts alive. After the pandemic the music scene was flooded with performances - so many businesses and organizations presenting concerts and so many musicians wanting to play. That combined with a still reluctant audience meant a good number of empty seats for the first year or two after the pandemic. Now in 2024, the deluge of concerts continues and the audiences are returning but not in the numbers to fill all the available seats. For a small rural community such as the Haliburton Highlands, how do we attract a broader audience - seasonal and permanent residents, and concert goers from away?
Image Description: Image Description: A young musician stands outside in the Fall. This is Laren Main - Up and coming young artist. Photographer Tim Tofflemire
For cottagers and full timers, consistently presenting great talent in interesting venues will keep your core audience and slowly build given the power of word-of-mouth. The Folk Society presents concerts other than folk music such Terra Lightfoot, My Son the Hurricane and a Patsy Cline Tribute to attract new concert goers who may, in turn, go to future folk music events. Offering free tickets on the local radio stations, special discounts to members if they bring friends, and free concerts to anyone 18 and under, are other tactics used to develop audiences.
Given that the Highlands is awash with music (and theatre, dance and film) promoting it as a destination for the performing arts will attract new audiences. This involves a marketing campaign targeted at music lovers regionally, provincially, nationally and even, internationally. It is a tall order but having more visitors buying food and accommodation and concert tickets is good for the local economy, particularly in the quieter times such as fall and spring, the shoulder season. Beyond traditional marketing tactics, a local ad by our County’s tourism department, has inspired a new perspective. The print ad promoting the region’s attributes shows the night sky with the slogan, “Where the Stars Hang Out” which also suggests that some of those stars could be the musicians that perform here. This begs the question - do these “stars” like playing in the Highlands? If they do, that gives our audience yet another reason to attend a concert. When we asked a sample of musicians on how they felt about performing in our community this is what they said.
“I love coming up to Haliburton Highlands for lots of reasons. There's a very supportive music community between presenters and the listeners in Haliburton. I've been coming up to Haliburton for so many years I've created some really nice friendships with people there as well. The more and more I travel to places and play music they start to feel like home; Haliburton is definitely one of those places! And, of course, the area is incredibly beautiful no matter the season, so a visit to Haliburton is always good for the soul too.” – Suzie Vinnick
“The trees are mighty and comforting and just plain everywhere. They are a feast for the eyes, ears, nose, and lungs. The people not only love and celebrate the nature around them, but they nurture and love and celebrate art. I think I’ve done more music workshops and shows in Haliburton than anywhere else in Canada. I, as well as many other artists, feel welcome, appreciated and at home there.” - Katherine Wheatley
"Haliburton is without a doubt, one of my favourite places to play. The audiences are always, without fail, attentive and warm, and I feel like I have the space and kindness to communicate my stories and experiences that eachs song contains. Playing to people who give you that kind of space, is always when I remember why I enjoy playing music, and the people of Haliburton have never once failed to give me that reception." - Sandra Bouza
“The Haliburton community has been supportive and welcoming from the first time we performed there. We’ve enjoyed every visit. Whether we had an interview at CANOE FM or a show at one of the local venues. We’ve made many great friends and connections through being a part of the Haliburton music scene. The Haliburton County Folk Society has been instrumental in providing opportunities for us to gain exposure in the music industry, and for this we’re very grateful. “- Salt Cellars
Downstream, our music industry will continue to flourish driven by collaboration, volunteerism, creativity inspired by nature, and a passion to entertain and be entertained.
There is music in our water.
Image Description: A photo of two people. Both smile at the camera. They are Sandra Bouza and the author, Barrie Martin. Photographer unknown
Barrie Martin is a member of the Haliburton County Folk Society, a founding member of SPARC, and a very happy husband, father and grandfather. The Haliburton County Folk Society (www.haliburtonfolk.com) is a project of the Haliburton County Community Cooperative (https://www.haliburtoncooperative.on.ca/ ). The Folk Society was awarded the Not-for-Profit of the Year in 2014 by the Haliburton Highlands Chamber of Commerce and winner of Folk Music Ontario's 2020 "Setting The Stage Award" given to a club, venue or festival to recognize outstanding contributions to the live music industry.
