| Oct 05, 2016


Jim Bryson is an acclaimed Canadian singer/songwriter who has toured and recorded with many other top-drawer Canadian artists such as Kathleen Edwards, Oh Susanna, the Weakerthans, and even the now legendary Tragically Hip.

He has recorded five albums of his own and has traveled around the country and beyond playing music for years.

So, you would think a Festival of Small Halls show at the Agricultural Hall in McDonalds Corners on Sept. 30 would be a minor event on his calendar.

That was not the case, however, for a couple of reasons.

For one thing, Jim Bryson, like all performers, draws on the energy of the crowd, and the audience last Friday was drawn into the groove he created from the songs on his latest album, Somewhere We Will Find Our Place, as performed by his crack four-piece band, featuring guitarist Blair Hogan.

With the small dance floor next to the stage filled by the time he was halfway through his third song, and the rest of the crowd listening intently and bopping in their chairs, Bryson seemed genuinely moved by the response.

Perhaps it was because things had not gone as well for him a few nights earlier in Owen Sound, where he said the crowd sat as far back as possible and seemed to be more interested in anything but the music.

Bryson's music does not fit neatly into categories, although Alt-Pop seems to be as good a fit as any. There is wry Canadian-style self-deprecating insecurity to his lyrics and his persona on stage.

However as was demonstrated by the audience reaction, it is as easy to sit back and listen to the songs and absorb the lyrics as it is to shimmy, sway or jump on the dance floor. The lyrics were sharp and unpredictable; the guitar work by Bryson and Hogan was melodic and rocking in turn; and the drums and bass provided the necessary driving force.

Melwood Cutlery, who lives in nearby Gen Tay, was the opening act for Bryson.

It was a rare opportunity to see Melwood Cutlery perform locally, and he sang a number of the perfect songs that he has written over the years, including There's a Loon on the Lake, Big City, Jimmy's Room, 2 Lane Highway. Accompanying himself on guitar and sometimes harmonica, he alternated between the gravelly low and sweet high ranges in his vocals, with the odd yodel thrown in for good measure.

Thanks to Melwood Cutlery, the crowd at the 'Corners was primed and ready for Jim Bryson and his band and the Ag Hall rocked that night.

Before any of the music, the Agricultural Society served a beef dinner followed by a selection of the best pies of the season: lemon meringue, coconut cream, butterscotch, cherry, blueberry, and more.

In its second season this year, the Festival of Small Halls has continued to be a success, filling venues in small and tuny communities alike. By providing the funding to bring top-notch acts to the halls, and putting together a good marketing campaign thanks to a very enthusiastic team under the auspices of Bluesfest productions, the result has been memorable evenings that demonstrate the vibrancy of the local communities and the halls that have been at their center, sometimes for 100 years or more.

 

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