Down in a holler and I mean down, maybe 60 or 70 feet below us, 200 of the Garage's closet friends were in front of a stage that would put most venues to shame. I couldn’t believe my eyes and started taking pics on my phone, no, not the ones included with the article. They were taken by Muse photog and longtime Garage supporter, Shauna Specht. It was a site to behold. A natural amphitheater in the
middle of the bush, in the middle of nowhere and still, the place to be. From my current view, I could see the stage, maybe 20 feet deep, equally as high from floor to trusses roof. It’s about 30 feet wide and fully covered in the event bad weather. As we descended down the narrow stair style path, more and more came into view. Not only a stage, a second acoustic stage for music there is a full fledged sound
booth, a merchandise tent, a green room and what couldn’t be seen from the top of the hill, still, a garage. More accurately, a garage style, drum room about 12 feet deep. This is really the proverbial, you have to see it to believe it. For many that will never happen. Sadly, but understandably, this is a private event, invite only, so you need to know someone who knows someone and is willing to take responsibility for you. Misbehavior will not be tolerated, you will be removed, as will the person that
brought you. You’re also likely to get banned from future events.
The event itself has grown so much that there is eleven hours of programmed music on the Saturday, with unofficial playing around the fire until five in the morning, give or take. As well, during set up on the Friday, a jam can break out and there are thoughts of a more organized night as well. People wait for this event to happen. Months before, people who play no where else start practicing and rehearsing,
most looking to play the acoustic stage. For Lisa and Joe, it’s a proud moment, that one to have people looking forward to something you do. I for one, can relate. I prefer to watch the crowd act a show and see how they enjoy it. If that’s the acoustic stage, what about the main stage? The big bands? For starters, Joe has been playing music since just out of high school. That love has moved to the kids who have been in bands since a young age. Lisa says that watching not just the kids, but all returning bands grow and improve, is another one of those proud moments . The bands want to come back and support those who supported them in the beginning. There is no pay in this venture, this is for the love of music and the love of Lisa and Joe, who have given them a chance to play the big stage when so many might not be
able to otherwise.
If this is such a private event, where do all the bands come from? Well, as we said Joe plays, the kids play and artists tend to hang with other artists. Another “supplier" of music has been the West Edmonton Music Society. Lisa and Joe hooked up with them and it’s a great place to discover artists that just want to play. I have been to WEMS, thanks to local player and member Bradly Tucker and it to is a place to see. It’s in a bit of a warehouse district but upon entering you could mistake it for any major music venue, with its stage, its sound and its audience of artists and music lovers alike who frequent the members and guests club, appreciating music of all genres.
Speaking of all genres, hard rock was playing at Joe’s Garage when I was there, but they do have all kinds. Ranging from bagpipes and classical, through country and folk to hard rock and even a thrash metal band once, all can be found on the Garage’s stage. Planning is key. As an all ages event, the true eight to eighty, the young kids and the old kids tend to call it a night earlier, leaving the others to put away the guitars and put out the fire. To accommodate everyone, you will see the folk and acoustic turn to roots and country, turn to pop and rock throughout the day and into the night.
You would think that an event like this would be enough by itself, but not for Lisa. She has started volunteering at the Parkland Food Bank and saw the shelves empty during summer months. She knew she could do something with Joe’s Garage. This year was year two asking people to bring a donation and boy did they bring it. Over four hundred and seventy pounds of food was brought to site, a one hundred
percent increase over last year. Add to that a hundred and seventy dollars in cash. If next year produces the same result, it will take a delivery service to pick it up. Anyone, anyone?