A New Concert Series - Grid City Magazine

Music Runs Through It and Corked Wine Bar – A Perfect Fit.

Listen to our interview with Emma Chevarie

After more than two years spent searching for a regular stage to host live music in Fredericton, Emma Chevarie appears to have struck gold through a newly formed partnership with Corked Wine Bar.

“I’d been looking for a place in Fredericton for two years probably, trying to find something that I could be consistent in, to present and promote shows,” said Chevarie. “It’s a great arrangement.”

Over the past few years Chevarie has hosted touring musicians at a wide variety of venues including the Charlotte Street Arts Centre, Gallery 78, Grimross Brewing Co, and Roxstone Café. But despite hosting several successful performances with a who’s who of touring folk artists, Chevarie had yet to find the ideal room offering the size, location and atmosphere she was looking, until now.

This month, Chevarie’s Music Runs Through It performance series hosted its first event at Corked Wine Bar with Nova Scotia musician Norma MacDonald.

“It was really good,” she said. “We had over 35 people, which I was really happy with, and our capacity is 50 so we did really well. Everybody was here to listen and the sound was really good, even at the back.”

Charlotte Burhoe purchased Corked Wine Bar in July and is excited to be working with Chevarie as one of several new ideas she has to animate the space.

“When we started we were hoping it would be a monthly occurrence,” she said, “but now it’s shaping up to be a bi-monthly occurrence, which is a good thing. Some people who came out to see Norma MacDonald were people who knew Emma, some people were faces I’d seen in the bar before and others were regular city music followers.

“I think it was great for both of us,” she said. “I don’t know if that will be the core group that comes out every time, but it will be interesting to find out.”

The room’s size and shape are a perfect fit for hosting intimate performances to a listen audience. With four show scheduled and more in the works, it would seem Chevarie has finally found the venue she’s been searching for.

“Once you bring people in and see what it’s about, they’re more likely to come back again,” she said. “And they’re supporting a downtown local business, so we’re all winning.”