Getting spooky with Curbside Concerts

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This article was published 09/10/2020 (2025 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

There’s no promise that they’ll play the Monster Mash, but things are getting spooky for the musicians on the roster of Curbside Concerts as they get set to play Halloween gigs.

Sierra Noble is one of the musicians who has been getting booked to play in front yards around the city since she was signed to the booking service at the beginning of September.

“This really is the only way I feel comfortable playing music in front of an audience; outdoors and from a distance,” Noble said, adding she’s played nine or ten concerts during that time. “Doing it on someone’s front yard makes it safe for me and for the audience. Sometimes I’d be playing in a front yard, and I can see six other families watching from their front yards.”

The chance to perform in front of a live audience fulfils a need for the Crescentwood-based musician — something she missed when concerts and music festivals were shut down last March due to the pandemic. She said her regular stage equipment is stripped down to a portable, battery-powered mic and speaker, so all she needs to carry is a fiddle, guitar and a wood board for tapping out Métis foot rhythms.

“Music is such an important part of getting together in our society,” Noble said. “It’s so good to be able to play for people in real life. Nothing compares to a live performance.”

Curbside Concerts’ Halloween is being sponsored by the Original 16 brewing company, so every concert that’s booked for Oct. 31 will be accompanied by a 15-pack of its beer, according to Romi Mayes, who is the Manitoba producer for Calgary-based company.

“We’re hoping to have everyone booked for Halloween, because we know how Halloween is going to be different for people this year. Kids aren’t supposed to go door-to-door, so we’re thinking music can help with that loss,” Mayes said. “If you have a bonfire, and have four to six friends come over, our folks can play a 45-minute concert for you.”

Curbside Concerts recently added three musicians to its roster, bringing the total to 12. 

“We’ve added Kevin Hogg, who does pop songs and is great at entertaining kids at Halloween. Gary Gach plays both original songs, and does Beatles, BTO and Sheepdogs rock ‘n’ roll covers,” Mayes said. “Andrina Turenne is a francophone from St. Boniface who played with Chic Gamine, who plays music from her roots.”

Halloween doesn’t mark the end of outdoor concerts for the musicians, although Mayes said she’s not sure what format they’ll be able to continue with. “Perhaps carolling. We’re putting our creativity into figuring this out for the winter months.”

Noble said the idea of playing outdoors as the weather gets colder toward Halloween doesn’t bother her. “I grew up playing fiddle on the outdoor stages at Festival du Voyageur,” she said. “That toughens you up.”

And she’s certainly open to the idea of incorporating a few Halloween classics into her regular mix of Métis fiddle music. “I love dressing up in a costume for Halloween, too,” she said, adding her choice of costume would be a surprise to whoever books her for Oct. 31. “It’s a Saturday night, and a blue moon, too.”