Musicians from Powell River’s past and present will be taking the stage at the second Westview Jammers Reunion, running for 14 hours from from noon to 2 am on Saturday, August 3 at Westview Hotel.
The event will serve as a reunion for old-timers who used to play at the bar’s weekly jam sessions, which ran from the early 1970s until the 1990s.
Local names such as Peter Howey, Dennis Fox and Debbie Dee will be in attendance. “It’s like a homecoming for musicians,” explained Dee.
Participants will travel from all over Canada, including Vancouver, the Lower Mainland and Ontario. One artist will arrive from as far away as Thailand.
The event has no cover and welcomes musicians young and old.
“Although we love playing together...we’d love to see some new people out to pass the torch, so to speak,” said Dee.
Artists who want to get involved just need to show up, she added. All genres are welcome, and everybody who wants to will have an opportunity to play.
As a new initiative this year, organizers have involved Malaspina Art Society. A contest was held to find a new logo for the event, with Ursula Medley’s simple line drawing being chosen.
Artists will be at the jam, painting the jammers as they play. Part of the proceeds made from the event will go to the society.
This is the second jammers reunion. The first was held in 2010 and, in Dee’s words, was a raging success. “It was just so much fun,” she explained. “Everybody asked to do it again.”
She added that the current planned reunion is jokingly nicknamed The Sequel.
The jam is part of a general revival of live music at the Westview, said Dee. The pub has also started to host live music nights and special nights where artists can perform original songs.
“We’re reviving the old girl to her former glory,” she said laughing and explaining how the Westview used to have jams six nights a week.
The event will have prizes, draws and CD giveaways. T-shirts with the event’s new logo will be on sale.
Event-goers are asked to leave their vehicles at home and take public transit to discourage drinking and driving.
Dee encourages people young and old to come out and see old friends, make some new, and listen to some awesome music.
