Ask people around the music scene in Powell River and one repeated reply bemoans the lack of live venue spaces.
“I want to promote live music and I don’t think there’s enough of it really going on,” said Rockit Music owner Rob Reed.
Reed, who said there is no consistent concert series in town and that other venues have not tried hard enough to promote local or live music, is stepping in to fill part of the void. Rockit Music Sessions begins Saturday, February 4, and continues on consecutive Saturday nights.
“We have the space to do it, we have the gear, a really nice soundstage and an intimate little venue to do it in,” said Reed.
After taking care of some housecleaning, Reed said he found enough space to stage the sessions right under his own nose, in the store at 6820 Alberni Street.
“We basically got rid of all of our junk and found another storage location for it,” he said. “We were able to find the space that way.”
The stage area is bigger than some local bar venues have provided for live music in the past, he added.
Local musician Tyler Bartfai, who works at Rockit, has been booking the acts. He said the acts will feature plugged-in acoustic sets with the occasional band or trio, such as Walter Martella Trio.
Bartfai will open the series when he shares the stage with Austin Parise on the first night, each playing separate sets. Currently, the session calendar is full through March and tentatively booked for April and May.
“This is going to awesome,” said Bartfai. “We’re aiming to make it different than just the jam spaces and the heavier bar spaces. We want this to be for people to relax and listen to live music.”
The space is meant for musicians who have rehearsed material for a full set of live music that people are willing to pay to see, said Bartfai.
“I’m going to be doing a 10-song set, eight of my own songs and two covers,” said Bartfai. “That’s what we’re hoping to promote, more people who have their original stuff or have taken covers and made them their own, versus the word-for-word, note-for-note covers of the classics.”
Bartfai and Parise will be followed by Chris King and Cris Greenwell on February 11. On February 18, the legendary Sam Hurrie takes the stage. Ben Wittrock and Jasper Sassaman will be featured on February 25.
For more information, search for Rockit Music Sessions on Facebook.
