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The Augusta Street & Co. Block Party
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by
Ric Taylor
August 12 - 18, 2010 |
A variety of colourful pockets of activity have slowly been blooming like small flowers creeping up within the cracks of urban development or dilapidation in the city centre.
Artists and artisans have helped to beautify areas like James Street North and Locke Street South. But the Haymarket area between James Street South and John South along Augusta Street has long had retail, restaurants and respites for libation, but this weekend they offer an outdoor street festival to help spotlight what makes the area so special.
“A few months back, members of the James South District approached me saying they would really like to help bring community awareness back to the area,” recalls Augusta Block Party event co–ordinator and former Pheasant Plucker employee Lindsey Gabriele. “It was at this point that I said that many people on Augusta have always wanted to do a street festival and maybe this could be the event that will build that awareness. It just so happened that the firefighters were also applying with the city to have their second annual chili cook–off on Augusta Street so we combined our efforts and now we are having one large event for the community to enjoy.”
“I had already built a relationship with the firefighters before I left the Pheasant and I love Augusta Street,” she adds. “I am just somebody who is passionate about seeing Augusta Street and the areas around it become more recognized and see the Hamilton Firefighters raise money for a great cause.”
Whether it be the Plucker or Aout n’ About, the Cat and Fiddle or more recently Gallagher’s or the Ship – the renovated historic homes turned bars, restaurants and music venues on and around Augusta have the same type of vibe that perhaps Hess Village had when they began creating their destination spot back in the early ‘80s – but long before the meat market mentality that pervades the dance clubs of 2010.
“Augusta Street is a great place to go and see a familiar face,” explains Gabriele. “You can walk into any of the bars or restaurants on Augusta Street or James South and always run into a friend. The bars have taken true pride in providing great food and drink for not only a constant flow of regulars but for newcomers looking for a great place to enjoy a cold drink or hot meal. The common characteristic that keeps people coming back is the great customer service. Owners and staff always take the time to know their patrons’ names and faces. They also take the time to get to know each other. All the bars on the street get along and help one another and I think customers recognize that and that is one of the reasons they keep coming back.
“When we were booking the bands, we wanted our friends to play,” she adds. “All the bands playing are either bands that frequently play on Augusta or are our regulars whose bands offered to donate their time to a good cause. All of the bands are important to the overall success of the day and each one of them have a specific sound and that is what will attract all types of people from the community.”
Quaint former Augusta Street living rooms, patios or upstairs locations have provided stages for a variety of performers over the years – and they all show up on the list of performers for the Augusta Street Block Party. One musician in particular got his start doing covers in the area and recently returned to that same kind of efforts once he began to re–immerse himself into the local scene.
“After touring for a year after Stalled Out In The Doorway came out, my personal life kind of fell into shambles,” recalls Tomi Swick on life after his major label debut.
“Everything was falling apart around me. I really needed some time to step back and refocus and centre myself and realize that I have some great opportunities here,” he adds. “I can still be that party animal, but most people knew me that way and I don’t want to be recognized as that anymore. I’m starting from scratch again. This is a new beginning for me and want to introduce what I’m doing now to people.”
For some people, Swick came from almost nowhere to become a staple on adult contemporary radio with his music when Warner music released his full–length debut nearly four years ago, but the singer and songwriter honed his performing and songwriting crafts in the city.
The rigours of national touring for Stalled took its toll on the gregarious Swick, who was once the life of a lot of parties – and that party took on epic proportions on the road. Swick’s wake up call was returning home after a year of celebrating.
“When I was touring, I forgot that it was about travelling and playing music and that it was not about sex, drugs and rock and roll,” recalls Swick. “It’s bullshit and has nothing to do with music, but I bought into it. I was partying all the time; I was destroying my throat, my health, my
relationship with my family and friends, my girlfriend.
“I had two polyps and a cyst on my vocal chords and my head wasn’t in it for a long time,” he adds. “But I took care of myself, I just got back from recording in England with some amazing musicians and producer. Warner has already picked four singles and it looks like it’s going to be an amazing year.”
Recording with producer Chris Potter (the Verve, Richard Ashcroft, Blur) Swick and his label are readying an EP release to re–introduce Swick sometime in September. Until then, Swick is excited to be temporarily returning to his cover song route to re–introduce himself to his local fans and to prepare to return to a regular performing schedule.
“My voice isn’t at where it was,” notes Swick on his recovery. “I’ve got some restrictions now. I’m probably at about 70 per cent. But I feel like a musician again, I’m having fun playing music again, I’m having fun writing again and getting into it again. Warner, my agent, my manager, my publisher have all stayed with me and waited for me to get out of this funk. Now I’m ready.
“Charlie [Guigliano] and I have been playing together a lot, mostly doing these
cover gigs around Augusta just to get back into it,” says Swick. “I’ve hardly played any gigs in the last two and a half years and so I thought I’d get back into it by doing what I did to start – play covers and get back into the swing of things. [The Pheasant Plucker] asked us to do this gig as part of these cover gigs that we’ve been doing and the next thing I know is we were the headliners. It’s not going to be a big band show for me – that’s going to happen at the Locke Street Festival on September 11.
“I thought that the 11–piece Motown band should go on last,” he adds. “It’ll be a great time and we’ll play a lot of great songs so I hope people come out for the outdoor part – and then it’ll be a blast once we get into the bars.”
“Everybody loves Tomi Swick and yes, he is a good friend to Augusta Street,” confirms Gabriele. “He is extremely talented. However, this day is about community awareness and raising money for the
Hamilton Professional Firefighters’ Association. Tomi is helping us by performing as he has a great following and the more people that come then the more the event is a success.
“We are hoping for a day full of fun, food and entertainment. The vibe you can expect will be upbeat and interactive. We will have two beer gardens, a kids inflatable play area, street vendors, live music all day, a chili cook–off, appearances by the Hamilton City Roller Girls, and a Y108 broadcast. We hope that after this event that Augusta will become the bridge between the communities surrounding it, helping to bring life back to some of the downtown’s struggling areas.” V
THE AUGUSTA
AND CO. BLOCK PARTY
w/Tomi Swick & Charlie Guagliano, BackRoom 11, Downboy, The Crimps and more.
Augusta + James St. Hamilton.
Saturday, August 14. 11am–11pm.
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