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34 -- PORT PERRY STAR -- Tuesday, March 28, 1989 Old Time Fiddlers strut stuff by Rob Streich Every fourth Wednesday, of each month for the past year and a half, the people of Port Perry and area have been en- joying the delights of tradition- al fiddling and folk music. The Port Perry Old Time Fiddle Club has regularly brought step dancers, square dancers, singers and fiddlers together for a night of uniquely Canadian entertainment. Young and old have been coming out to these community gatherings to join in or just watch the fun goingon. Glenn Gibson, the club founder and president, brought the group together to preserve the art ofold time fiddle music. The 400 members and many willing volunteers have made the project very worthwhile. S The Port Perry Club is a non-profit organization. Through small fees and the sale of soft drinks and coffee, they have raised enough money to buy the necessary speakers, amplifiers, sound board and even a piano from Irwin Smith. By letting them 'play up- stairs at the Legion Hall in Port Pery, and having the club per- form in the downstairs hall oc- cassionally, the group been able to get solidly onto their feet. The Legion Hall provides Just enough room for the regu- ar crowd of 150 to 200. Many seniors come out to relive the fun of their youth and to take the opportunity to "cut a rug". ne of the volunteers, Lor- raine Smith explained that the club often travels to nursing homes to play for the residents. "There is gimething that they really like about it. It seems to bring them out of their shells." ". The Fiddle Club charges only $2 for membership, and then $1 for the evenings enter- tainment. Where else can you have four hours of fun for that price? Danceand play all night People have been coming from near and far to perform in the non-competitiive atmos- phere or to hear and watch the quality entertainment. Over the course of three hours on March 22, the audi- ence was treated to guitar, ban- jo, fiddle, and vocal perfor- mances, : Howard and Jean Edger- ton gave an exposition of step dancing to make cloggers eve- rywhere sit up and take notice. Other performerslike Vivi- an Clark and Barry Virtue took to the stage to try their hand at traditional country and western songs. The many people who came to dance and enjoy them- selves were flying around the floor to a quadrille at 7:30, and still "dancing the square" at 10:00. - Performers can be ama- teurs or professionals - anyone who enjoys the chance to playin . front of an appreciative crowd. Anyone who enters the hall with an instrument is encour- aged to get their name on the evening perfomance list. Some musicians, too shy to take to the stage, prefer to sit at their seats and play along, building confidence for their bigbreak in the near future. go A YB 20 INE Lai Where do you see a dance floor tilled with about 30 fiddlers, guitarists and an occas- Each act is allowed to per- form two pieces, because of time considerations, and then help out with the Jam Sessions during the evening. Youth keep traditions alive One of the highlights of the evening was a strong fiddling rformance by Oliver hroer. Schroer is only 32, but he has been a professional fiddler for the last half dozen years, a guitarist and violinist most of hislife. In addition to being one of Toronto's eight official subway musicians, Schroer playsin two successful folk music bands, Eye Music and the Harbord Trio. In addition to traditional jigs and reels, Mr. Schroer en- joys playing Irish and Celtic music and writing his own new canadian fiddle music. When most of his contem- poraries are trying to break into rock and roll, Schroer pre- fers to be playing flok music. He refers to it as, positive mu- sic, social, people music." Folk doesn't have the same negative energy given off by other types of modern pusic. Schroer identified himself as part of a growing body of world music which draws upon many different cultural roots for inspiration. It is the atmosphere at the Port Perry Club which has en- couraged many like Schroer to come out. "People are open and helpful, he remarked. "Every- one will help out, and give ad- vice or even a quick lesson." sional banjo or two? Only during the Jam Session once or twice each meeting of the Port Perry and District Fiddle Club. Young, old, professional, amateur and new beginners come together to share In the enjoyment of playing folk music. PICTURE IT PAINTED! ) ey AAA "WEDDING sikkens CE TRAL PAI y as Nae & WALLPAPER available PORT PERRY STAR 295 Ritson Road South -- OSHAWA -- 434-3939 Port Perry 985-7383 WATERCRAFT Expert boat repairs, refinishing, installations, restoration - and new construction. + Mobile service res. (705) 328-2465 shop (416) 985-0349 + Wood and fiberglass Oliver Schroer, 32, performs old time fiddle music In the best new style. As a professional musician, Schroer earns his living performing with folk music bands, writing music and as one of Toronto's eight official subway musi- clans. His love of traditional music Is partly due to his dis- like of rock and roll because of the negativity it projects. I HEHE fo Sone Howard and Jean Edgerton show their stuff and prove that clogging Is alive and well in Port Perry. These step- dancers were very well received by the audience at the Fid- die Club, too bad they could only perform two numbers. 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