Jamie Morgan is excited and nervous about coming to Powell River to play with her band named The Jagsters.
She grew up in Powell River and was invited to play here by a former schoolmate Carmen Brown, a new member of Royal Canadian Legion Branch 164’s board of directors.
“I never played [music] in school,” Morgan said. “I was a late bloomer.”
She loved growing up in Powell River and still has family here, including her mother Shirley, “and a new generation is moving back.”
She delayed her professional singing to pursue an education and to raise a family but after spending years in the corporate world decided to “break on through to the other side.”
Describing The Jagsters as a distinctively diverse rhythm and blues band, Morgan explained it has “endless energy with a groove, soulful, harmonic vocals, with music that varies from sultry to light rocking psychedelia.”
The Canadian Oxford dictionary defines the term “jag” as a period of indulgence in activity, and the “ster” indicates a person engaged or in associated with. Consequently, Morgan said The Jagsters can be defined as “an infectious expressive level of entertainment that releases emotional energy which unleashes the suppressed soul.”
She added, “Pete Swann is an amazing guitar player.” At eight years old, Swann started at the Royal Conservatory of Music as a lefthander forced to play right. Completing the band makeup are Robb Flannery on drums and Chris Williams on bass.
Morgan said she’s been told that Legion memberships are dwindling and the board is trying to “mix it up” to attract new people. “Legions have been huge supporters of communities forever. It’s sad to see them struggling but nice to see them evolving and moving with community spirit.”
The Jagsters perform at 8 pm on Saturday, June 21, at the Legion on Alexander Street, and tickets are available in advance and at the door for $15. Everyone is invited to attend the dance.
