Mary Stockland

I don't know what it's like outside where you live (where exactly do you live internet?), but in Montreal it's snowy. And cold. In nothing short of a heroic effort to delay my descent into said weather I decided to post another song from the Old Time for a New Year concert we had in the shop a few weeks ago. This time it's an original from our friend Mary Stockland. Mary is a wonderful person with a wonderful voice who writes wonderful songs. Enjoy...

First of many....

Great music, great crowd, great beer. Lots more videos on the way....

Old Time For A New Year

We broke in the new shop with our grand re-opening concert a few weeks ago, so it's about time for another party! Come join us for a night of fiddle tunes, ballads, old time songs and original music performed by Montreal's finest ballad singer Mary Stockland and old time stringband The Bogghoppers. Mary has an absolutely incredible voice that'll leave you weak in the knees and the Bogghoppers burn through old time music like it's hot off the presses! (I know that metaphor doesn't really make sense -- just trust me that they're GREAT!). This is a pay-what-you-can event and doors will open at 8:30 with music getting started at 9:30.

Mile End Guitar Shop
#712 5445 de Gaspe
Saturday, Jan. 15th

Mike O'Brien

A key item on the agenda of our first shop (re)opening party planning committee meeting was a serious discussion as to whom we should ask to perform. As per the by-laws, an exact transcription of the meeting was recorded -- a segment of which I've reproduced below...

"So we should probably throw a party, huh?"

"Yeah, maybe get Mike and a bunch of other people to play."

"Ok, sounds good."

Fascinating. Really though, there was no doubt in our minds that we should get Mike to play. He was a big part of concerts in the old shop and one of the best thrills as a guitar maker is to hear someone who can really play have a go at one of your creations. For the first song in his second encore Mike plays an original, 'Josephine' ...

Is there anybody out there?

Hello internet!

This will be the first post in a series of at least one recounting the past few months in the life and times of the Indian Hill Guitar Company (aka. me). A lot has happened since we last spoke -- squatting at City Park in New Orleans, oud repair at a Virginia commune, moose sightings on Cape Breton, rolling a skidoo in the Yukon, and an unexpected shop relocation to name a few.

That last little tidbit came about when our old building was (temporarily) condemned by the powers that be. The reasons for condemnation are somewhat suspect and full of potential political intrigue, but the end result was a less than thrilling packing up and moving 450 feet down the street. It was unplanned and generally a royal pain, but building a new shop allowed us to (theoretically) learn from our mistakes and expand in bold and exciting new directions. For what could be more "bold and exciting" than gaining an additional three members to the shop?! Well, probably a lot but we're rather pleased so don't question it.

As expected, we seized upon an excuse to throw a big party and had our grand shop (re)opening gala a few weeks ago. Lots of music, friends, and Jeremy's delicious beer made it a resounding success. Here'a video from the first act of the night, The Boghoppers (with special guest and new shop member Kaitlyn)...