Every week I look forward to Tuesday Night.  That is the night when our jam meets to play music and to lose ourself in song.  Everyone is on their own, but together, with each of us striving to perfect our playing and singing, and maybe trying something a bit different in our attempts.  We are all learning new songs, new chords, and growing musically.  There is no pressure, just laidback, comfortable fun.

    Yesterday, I came across this old photo I had clipped from an old high school newspaper.  I think it was probably taken in 1964.  It shows the members of “The Folk Club,” a group of wanna-be students all interested in playing and singing folk songs.   None of us had ever taken lessons on how to play our instruments, we were just teaching ourselves, and learning from each other.

    During that time the “Folk Music Revival” was taking place in universities across the country.  Starting in 1963, there was a TV series called “Hootenanny” on Saturday nights which showed concerts featuring folk singers performing at universities.  That was where I first became enamored with folk music and became motivated to learn how to play the banjo (that’s me in the dark shirt with the banjo).  I formed the Folk Club, and we met weekly to play and sing.  We had a few “performances” at our high school and for local organization events.

    Anyway, I thought it is interesting how history is being repeated today with our jam, which I also organized in order to play music with other people who wanted to do the same.   Today we do some folk songs, but also rock, country, and even a few show tunes.  We don’t play for fame or fortune, just for our own enjoyment, but when asked, we do play for community events.  Some of the best fun I have had in my life has been while playing music.

View my paintings at:  davidmarchant2.ca