Johnny’s Social Club lit up with talent last Saturday, August 8 at the second rendition of Wood ‘n’ Wire, a concert series featuring local musicians.
Lead vocalists Colette McKeen, Kevin Imrie, Debbie Rowe and John Bettger played three sets each, supported by a stage full of instrumentalists: Brent Lethbridge on electric guitar, Craig Bancroft on drums, Mark Kolt on keyboard, Mikylo Odut on flute and background vocals, Joanna Dauk on backup vocals, Melissa Streitle on alto saxophone and background vocals, Dorian Kent on trumpet, Brandon Kolt on trumpet and Debbie Rowe on percussion.
The diverse set list included covers from the 1940s to today, from folk to jazz and rock to rhythm and blues.
Highlights included Bettger’s gutsy rendition of Aretha Franklin’s “Natural Woman,” and McKeen’s pitch-perfect and emotive performance of “A Case of You” by Joni Mitchell, which prompted a standing ovation.
Half of the proceeds from ticket sales went toward the Flin Flon Community Choir; the other half was given back to Johnny’s Social Club to offset costs in outfitting the building as a performance space.
Over the last two years, Johnny’s Social Club, formerly part of Johnny’s Confectionery, has become a popular concert venue.
Mark Rowe, who co-owns the building with Greg East, invested sweat equity into the space this summer so it can transition smoothly from a drop-in community gathering space by day to a performance space by night.
Rowe installed a large raised stage with built-in outlets and hung speakers from the ceiling. He also painted the wall surrounding the stage a moody slate and added blinds to block the light streaming in from Green Street.
According to East, further upgrades, including the addition of a new stage monitor, are in the works.
In the past, a frustration for some concertgoers at the venue has been the first-come, first-served seating set-up, which resulted in crowded arrangements in the narrow room.
On Saturday, musician Susan Lethbridge announced a solution: anyone purchasing tickets to future Wood ‘n Wire concerts at Johnny’s will book their spot on a seating map at the time of purchase.
According to Mark Kolt, one of the organizers of the August 8 show, plans are moving ahead to produce similar concerts throughout the year.
The next Wood ‘n Wire will be on Saturday, August 22 at Johnny’s. Tickets are available at The Orange Toad.
