LeLievre, best known as the bassist for Slowcoaster, is testing this theory by hosting a weekly Tuesday night Open Mike session (and yes the pun is deliberate) at Governors Eatery on Sydney’s Esplanade.
“The first session went great, ’bout six or seven people played, me ‘n Albert (Lionais from the Tom Fun Orchestra) had a jam.” LeLievre says, “The range of material is all over the place, if people wanna bring drums amps and stuff in they can, I’m there with a guitar and my voice, so it ranges depending on who shows up, but everyone is welcome.”
“It works on a first come first serve basis and there’s a lot of folks who like early, and a lot who like late so we try and get everyone that wants to play up,” he says about how the evening’s organized. “People sometimes meet and play all at the same time hahaha!!! that’s what i want people to do, make bands and form duos and get their feet wet performing. FUNTIMES!!!”
These sessions are for those 19 and older (IDs might be asked for) and start after 9 pm. Open Mike will be running the rest of May and depending on the turnout could run indefinitely through the summer season.
And anyone who can’t make the Open Mike sessions (even those who can), should check out the weekly Wednesday early evening Open Irish Session with Ryan MacNeil in support of The Cape Breton Cancer Center Patient Fund. Drop in and hear the cream of local traditional artists.
