The CBC Radio 3
Searchlight Competition for
Best Live Music Venue in Canada is on right now. I've had the good fortune to travel around the country for work and for fun and
see bands play in every province and one territory. There are undoubtedly a great many fabulous places that offer live music to the masses.
But there is
nowhere like Wakefield's Black Sheep Inn.
Don't worry if you've never heard of Wakefield. I'm sure the friendly folks who live in the Quebec town about 25 minutes drive from downtown Ottawa would rather
keep it unspoiled and small. But if you come to Ottawa for a visit,
do yourself a favour and make the trip to one of the prettiest places around.
The Sheep, as it's known to those of us that frequent it as often as we can, is as
unassuming as the little town itself. The stage is small, a foot high and stretching barely 20 feet across. Giant picture windows behind it are only half-covered by red velvet curtains. During matinees the
musicians are silhouetted by a dazzling backdrop of the Gatineau River--whether frozen or flowing. At night,
when it's not fogged-up by the breathing inside, you'll see lights twinkling across the water.
Despite its coziness it is still regularly home to multi-night stands by big draws like hometowners
Kathleen Edwards,
The Acorn, and
Jim Bryson, and by out-of-towners who adore it like
Joel Plaskett,
Amy Millan, and
Neko Case.
When I heard about the contest I started recalling some of the great
nights I've spent with friends and music on its checkered floor. One night my friend and I
two-stepped within the confines of a 2'x2' square. It was a packed show featuring local country heroes
Fiftymen. (Incidentally, a couple of them own Kaffe 1870 in Wakefield. The
best stew you'll find anywhere and live tunes too!) Fiftymen have been
busy with the business. Those of us waiting four years for another record from them will just have to
chew on the stew and wait a little longer, I guess.
This tune "
Try to Hide" will get your toes tapping and longing for a Black Sheep Saturday night. Hey, maybe you'll even bust out a two-step in its honour.
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