Bragg Creek’s music scene has struck a chord as local venues have embraced experienced and novice musicians alike giving them a stage to showcase their talents.
Over the last couple of years, Bragg Creek restaurants and bars such as the Bragg Creek Steak Pit, Creekers Bistro, the PowderHorn Saloon and Loko’s Lounge regularly host local musicians.
West Bragg Creek musician Jamie Newsom said he has enjoyed the support of enthusiastic local audiences and has grown as an artist since he started performing with his jazz swing band the Waltzing Matildas.
Newsom, who formerly only played bass, said he started playing guitar and singing lead vocals with local band mates Leanne Copithorne, Sandi Lightfoot and Tim Jeffery to broaden his musical horizons.
“I thought I could have a whole lot more fun if I did something new,” said Newsom. “I haven’t had this much fun performing since I was 18.”
The Bragg Creek Steak Pit hosts open mic nights every Thursday and Newsom said the evenings are so popular musicians from Cochrane, Priddis, Millarville and Black Diamond come out to the hamlet to perform.
Newsom and the Waltzing Matildas refined their chops at these open mic nights and gained valuable experience which prepared the band to perform regular gigs.
“These open mic initiatives are really good at a community level,” said Newsom. “They provided the platform that helped me develop a skill set and a confidence that enabled me to go out and book gigs.”
Newsom has performed at the Bragg Creek Steak Pit’s open mic nights every week since last summer and he has seen many other musicians gain the same experience allowing them to improve their musical skills.
“I have seen newcomers performing over the last year and they have gotten quite good,” he said. “They’re having lots of fun.”
According to Newsom, open mic nights provide a great opportunity for these new musicians, who have previously only performed for friends and family at home, to test out their material before a live audience.
“Newcomers have cut their teeth at these open mic nights,” he said. “You have to build up confidence and that doesn’t happen in your living room.”
Besides providing a venue for novice performers, Bragg Creek restaurants and bars now regularly hire local musicians to provide live entertainment.
“The local restaurants and bars have supported us by having performers do entire shows at their venues,” said Newsom. “The Waltzing Matildas is not the only band that is picking up gigs in the community.”
John Czarnojan hosts local musicians at his restaurant Creekers Bistro once a month on Fridays.
“It is win-win as local musicians get to play and I get entertainment,” said Czarnojan. “I support local entertainment which gets the locals out and gives them something different.”
PowderHorn Saloon owner Rose Dallyn also hosts live bands on Friday nights.
“We always encourage local talent,” said Dallyn. “It’s amazing how much local talent is in Bragg Creek.”
Newsom said he sees great potential for the growth of the Bragg Creek music scene and said he would like to see more young artists performing in the community to keep things fresh for local audiences.
“I’ve been thinking about the next step and there’s room for further growth,” he said. “It would be nice to get more participation from the 18 to 25 age bracket.”
As a performer, Newsom said he prefers living in a small community like Bragg Creek rather than a larger centre because smaller communities are more supportive of homegrown artists.
“There is a strong sense of community here,” he said. “I can’t understate the significance of a supportive community.”
