There’s no stage at Ann Ross and Doug McGregor’s house. There doesn’t need to be. Musicians play on a rug near the fireplace.
Mic stands and instruments crowd the space, while just behind the perfomers a pile of coats sits on a bed. There are too many for the coat rack next to the bed to hold.
It’s a typical night for Local Roots, a concert and house party started by Ross and McGregor about four years ago. The aim, the two say, is to give Flin Flon musicians and their friends a welcoming place to play and to listen.
The idea for Local Roots came at first from a similarly named concert series – Home Routes. Ross and McGregor deeply enjoyed the concerts, brought to Flin Flon by Elly and Tim Spencer, but had a vision for a more localized series to encourage Flin Flon musicians.
“What struck me was that through the music that we play – particularly because Doug teaches guitar – we know of people that play music,” said Ross.
“They play at home, they play in the garage, but some of them haven’t had the opportunity to play out. Part of that was that people didn’t know they played.”
Ross and McGregor built a new home on Murton Boulevard, overlooking the east end of town. At first, the home was supposed to solely be a senior-friendly abode. “We wanted a senior-friendly home that we could live in for years to come, because we’re both getting older,” said Ross.
The open-concept bungalow has tall shelves full of antique vinyl, musical artifacts and instruments along the walls and a large central space with little furniture.
It didn’t take long for Ross and McGregor to see the home as a concert venue.
“We realized it was music friendly and we thought, ‘Why don’t we try this Local Roots idea?’” said Ross.
Since that moment, the home has played host to many Local Roots shows, with room for as many as 50 spectators to sit comfortably.
“We established a few rules for us – people would be encouraged to invite friends and family so they’d have a friendly audience. We decided early that the concerts would be free, because money complicates things. It kind of took off from there,” said Ross.
On a concert day, Ross and McGregor clean up their main room, push the table into their corner kitchen and put the plants and instruments in the garage, replacing them with two big stacks of white plastic chairs.
“The truth of the matter is that it doesn’t take that long. It did in the beginning because we were trying to figure out what worked best. Now, we’ve got it down,” said Ross.
“We get up in the morning of a concert really excited and we start. The truth of the matter is we could get it down in an hour.”
While the environment is meant to lift up performers, it has also helped lift up the organizers.
About four years ago, not long after Local Roots began, McGregor was diagnosed with prostate cancer after a routine screening.
McGregor has fought the disease steadily since the initial diagnosis. In mid-February, McGregor got the news he’d been hoping to receive for years – the cancer was gone.
“The hormone treatment I’ve got has been excellent. I’m in very good shape. That was good news, a week ago we got it,” said McGregor.
“It wasn’t easy, but together we went at it. We got good news – great news.”
Now that he’s back to health, McGregor and Ross want to get back to the music and to the shows, which are growing, not just in awareness but in content. Ventriloquists have played at Local Roots shows – so have hoop dancers, ceremonial drummers and nearly every genre of music under the sun.
Meanwhile, McGregor and Ross have heard stories of Flin Flonners who have encountered musicians on stages in other cities, provinces and even continents that they first saw at the house.
“My son pointed out to me that culture has kind of gotten to the point where Flin Flon was known kind of as a hockey town, and now it’s known more as a kind of cultural town. There are so many people who make it happen. It’s great,” said McGregor.
One story McGregor loves to tell involves a visitor from Winnipeg –
Leonard Podolak, folk musician and son of Mitch Podolak, the founder of the Winnipeg Folk Festival and of Home Routes.
“Leonard told us, when he heard about Local Roots, he said, ‘That’s what my dad was hoping for – to help inspire the local scene,’” said McGregor.
“We’re so happy to be part of the local scene in Flin Flon. It’s healthier than it’s ever been. It’s fantastic in this town right now. It’s amazing. Choices have to be made on an evening for where to go. It’s fantastic.”
The pair have plans to expand their shows. McGregor, a music teacher, hopes to hold a special Local Roots show for young performers in the future. Plans are also coming for this year’s Culture Days, including possibly expanding the number of sets and shows at the home.
Also on deck are plans to use the events as fundraisers for community causes, like the Aqua Centre Committee.
The same concept behind Local Roots in the beginning is still at play – providing a warm, inviting space for local musicians to perform.
“If there’s anybody out there that fits into what we’re trying to provide here, if they’re sitting in their bedroom or their basement, they can get in touch with us,” said McGregor.
