Behind the scenes
Founder of Monday Music shares how it all began.
Gwen MacLean enjoys music wherever she goes so it is no surprise she brings music to her church, Green Hill-Alma United. It is a little surprising, though, that her idea for a one-time concert has turned into a series that is now in its third season.
MacLean is the founder of the popular Monday Music which brings a weekly string of performers throughout the summer and drops off to one a month in winter.
“We have a dear little rural church with an older congregation and our numbers are getting pretty small so it beautiful to see people gathered here, waiting for a performance. The acoustics are pretty good, too,” she said.
The church, located on the Alma Loop, and its sister church in Merigomish have been without a minister for some time so the concert series has brought new energy and activity to the small, spare structure with its few adornments. There is a ramp at one corner of the church, and inside the lower walls are wrapped in varnished wainscoting. Some of the pews have colourful cushions. Because the downstairs is not accessible to people with mobility issues, the main floor has become increasingly multi-purpose.
“We just have a platform at the front of the church. The area was opened up years ago to make it a little more intimate and as a result, it is a great place for a concert. A lot of our shows here have the feel of a house concert without the clinking glasses.”
The church seats 60 very comfortably and 85 have been squeezed in by adding chairs.
“We’ve not had occasion to turn anyone away yet. I’d hate to have to do that when people have come out to hear music.”
MacLean, who was raised in Ontario, Quebec and Massachusetts, came to Nova Scotia as a student to attend Acadia University but she is now a retired teacher and principal, having spent 20 years at GR Saunders School in Stellarton and her last 11 years at Saltsprings Elementary. She has lived in West River Station but more recently in Millbrook.
“I guess I liked Nova Scotia and it became home,” she laughed.
She plays bass regularly with Pictou County Community Orchestra and a women’s group. Less frequently, he joins her husband, well-known musician Lloyd MacLean.
“I really enjoy playing with my women’s group but if Lloyd needs a bass player, I’ll come along. It is something I can do and I always get a lot of pleasure from music. ”
Her daughter Kate, a Northumberland High School graduate who is now a music teacher in the Toronto area, was releasing a CD a few years ago when MacLean got the idea for a church concert.
“Our church people love to sing and that is one of the things that attracted me years ago. Kate performed in church many times so I knew there would be an interest. Then I started to think there might be potential for a number of concerts.”
She immediately thought of Thomas MacCallum, another member of the congregation who often performed at church. Soon she was making a list of possible local performers.
“That was the beginning and the idea grew and grew. I picked Mondays because it is generally dark night in theatre and performance so we would not be competing with anyone else. It wasn’t complicated, I just started calling people.”
Many of the performers continue to be local including Don Haggart and Jakki Rogue and younger performers such as Robyn Alcorn, Layne Green and Alex MacNeil but MacLean has also tapped in to a stream of visiting musicians.
“We’ve had a few performers from British Columbia come through and others from Ontario. We’ve had performers who set up their campers in the church parking lot to stay overnight and others we’ve put up for a night.”
It is usually MacLean’s musical contacts who put her in touch with performers who can be lured to a small rural church or happen to be passing through. When a bed is needed, she is usually the one offering it. Each year she has tried to offer a wide range of music, from Full Circle Blues Band to country, gospel, folk and whatever she can find.
“I’ve been pleasantly surprised by how happy many local people are to be asked. There are so many people who are really happy to share their talent and they spread joy by doing it.”
She pointed to Dylan Holton as a young musician who surprised her.
“I had no idea what he could do musically so that is an evening that I remember for my own enjoyment and then there are other nights, such as when Shawn MacLean and Duncan MacVicar performed when I remember just looking around and enjoying how pleased the audience was.”
It is a challenging to promote visiting performers, she admitted.
“It is hard to get people out for people they have not heard before. We have had some really amazing performers like the Barrel Boys from Ontario and a couple of great artists from British Columbia who were on a cross-country tour.”
MacLean sends out a steady string of press releases and also promotes the series on social media where she relies on others to keep spreading the word.
“We’ve got people who come to most shows and people who only come for a certain type of musica such as country or blues. I used to feel bad when the audience is small but I can’t control who comes.”
When MacLean mulled over the possibilities for a concert series she approached the church board with the idea that it could become a small fundraiser.
“We ask that people make a donation. We keep our expenses really low and count on volunteer help so we make a little money which, for a small church like ours, is helpful but I think the support for musicians and the joy of sharing music is the bigger thing.”