As the streetlights flickered awake and many began to unwind for the night, a party was just getting started at Nancy Addison’s house on Patricia Street.
About 30 locals—many familiar, some unknown, waltzed through Addison’s front door on Nov. 17 to hear the musical stylings of folk artists Anique Granger of Quebec and Ontario’s Melanie Brulée.
As the two musicians prepared for their first set, the concert attendees mingled with other folks in Addison’s warmly lit kitchen, engaging in polite small talk, drinking wine and snacking on some home baked goodies. However, once the two musicians started strumming their guitars, a soothing silence came over the crowd and everyone quickly made their way to the rows of seats lined up in the living room.
“That’s my favourite part—when the music is being played and nobody talks,” Addison said. “Everybody wants to hear the music and everyone wants to be in the moment and really hear what the musicians are saying.
“You don’t always get that at other venues.”
Addison started hosting the personal affairs about five years ago when she stumbled upon Home Routes/Chemin Chez Nous, a not-for-profit arts organization based out of Winnipeg.
“About five years ago, my mother and uncle kind of landed on my doorstep. They had both come from a sad background, but then I got the phone call asking if I would host,” Addison said. “I’ve always believed that you have to actively work to be happy and I thought this must be worth it because music makes people happy.
“Music feeds people’s souls and this came at a time when I needed mine fed and so did my mother and uncle.”
Since then, Addison has hosted 27 house concerts, averaging about six a year.
“I usually try to cut attendance off at about 40 people, but we’ve had as many as 65 people jam-packed in here because people just won’t take ‘no’ for an answer,” she said, adding that she has some attendees who haven’t missed a single show in the last five years.
Dorothy Peterson is one of those people.
“I don’t even check to see who’s playing because I always know it’s going to be a good show,” she said. “I couldn’t be bothered to go to a bar, but at these shows you actually get to know the musicians—they become more than just random entertainers on a stage.
“It’s just a more personal setting. You can bring a bottle of wine and socialize all evening and that’s something I look forward to every time.”
The founders of the Winnipeg Folk Festival initiated Home Routes/Chemin Chez Nous in 2007 as means to create new performance opportunities for French and English speaking musicians and audiences in rural, remote and urban communities across Canada, hosted by volunteers in their homes.
The organization’s house concert routes are normally composed of 12 houses, usually in the same province, connecting musicians with their hosts.
House concert hosts are expected to present six shows from September to April, offering a balanced program including everything from bluegrass and Celtic to blues and contemporary music.
Despite wanting to promote Canadian talent, not just anyone can show up on a host’s doorstep. According to the organization’s website, musicians are vetted and selected by a panel of Home Routes/Chemin Chez Nous judges.
“I’m always pleasantly surprised at how good everyone is. No one is just starting out,” Addison said. “These are all experienced and talented musicians.”
Aside from bringing raw talent to remote parts of the country, the idea of the organization was conceived to help artists overcome the cost barriers of traveling long distance. While artists pay their own transportation costs, it’s the host that charges $20 per ticket and provides a place to crash and a few warm meals for the troubadour artists.
“It’s hard to make ends meet as a musician in this country, so this is a great way for them to do that,” Addison said. “I don’t keep any of the money. I just volunteer, but I think it’s a win-win for everybody. Small towns get some high-end entertainment and musicians get some work during the off-season.”
Addison’s latest musical guests, Granger and Brulée, said while they’ve been fortunate to have successful musical careers they actually prefer to play small shows in strangers’ homes.
“You get to meet some of the best people and the audience is always so attentive. Sometimes when you’re playing in bars people are talking or only half paying attention, so this is nice,” Granger said. “The people of Alberta have been so nice and accommodating to us.”
Granger and Brulée played 12 shows throughout northern Alberta during November.
Addison will take a break from hosting duties for the holidays, but concerts will pick-up at her place, 1117 Patricia St., on Feb. 3.
“I don’t mind hosting at all because I think they’re a great thing for the town,” Addison said. “Music is a great thing when you’re feeling down and out. It’s always there to lift you up.”
Kayla Byrne
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