By Kate Butler @butler2
Here’s the fifth article in Kate Butler’s series Temporary Venues, exploring the Fredericton all-ages scene between 1997-2006. In this feature, she speaks with Heather Ogilvie.
Heather Ogilvie spent her formative years in Dartmouth, NS where she made her initial connection with the ever-flourishing Halifax music scene. Halifax has always been home to an ever evolving scene, not to mention an all-ages scene which is vibrant, welcoming and always booming with local talent. The Pavilion has remained an all-ages venue since 1998 and resides on the Halifax Commons. The Pavilion continues to be a local haunt for many and provides a space for an all age scene to continue to exist and flourish.
“I think it was ’99, I would have been 16 years old at the time,” said Ogilvie. “I grew up in Dartmouth and had pretty easy access to the Halifax music scene through its all-ages venue, The Pavilion, a really sweet spot on the Halifax Common. They’d have two or three shows a week and you knew about shows because monthly schedules were distributed through record shops. I remember seeing Thrush Hermit, Shoebox, North of America, Tricky Woo, The Smugglers, and a host of lesser known local bands.”
Ogilvie credits her parents for instilling the values and appreciation for live music which kept her going back to shows again and again. “There’s something about live music that can’t be replicated. Not just the immediacy of the music itself…there’s a kind of connection between player and audience that’s especially apparent at small, all-ages shows. I love that. It’s also in my blood, my parents met at a folk festival and they still make a habit of going to shows.”
Like many others, Ogilvie’s first foray into playing music was through a high school band she played with, “I played in this unnamed band in High School but we never played any shows.”
It wasn’t until she made the trek to Fredericton for university did music take on a larger role in her life. “When I came to Fredericton for university, I’d mess around with roommate’s instruments when they weren’t around, and was a bit of a bedroom DJ. Primarily I was involved in the hip hop scene. I would go out to all the events, The Capital had a Hip-Hop Night back then and I helped out the indie record label Deadbeats.”
Following graduation Ogilvie decided it was time to start playing music more seriously and find a band to play with. “A guy I worked with, Chris Hoban, manifested a trumpet and a cello for me and I eventually started playing those with The Names and Faces. That led to involvement in more projects and learning more instruments, most notably with Slate Pacific and became part of the Forward Music scene.”
Ogilvie notes that there is most certainly an all-ages scene in Fredericton but it often lacks support from those who are veterans of the all-ages scene.
“Most independent bands love playing all-ages, alternative spaces. And people come out to revel and support them. It’s gratifying to provide younger people opportunities they might not otherwise have! That said, it’d be great to see more scene vets at these events. Having a cross-section of the music scene interact could really bolster the community.”
Ogilvie continues to play music, most notably with The Shorty Tubbs and owns ReNeu Boutique, a downtown clothing store. She has shown a strong commitment to the all-ages scene by hosting 2-3 all ages shows at ReNeu Boutique each month. ReNeu was the featured venue for opening night of The Flourish Music Fest. Flourish is taking place this weekend with a focus on providing up-and-coming bands and music fans access and opportunity to live music which includes a large dose of excellent all-ages shows.
Also check out:
Temporary Venues – The Ebbs and Flows of the Local Scene
Temporary Venues – Tanya Duffy and Deleted Scene
Temporary Venues – Pals of other Performers and Deleted Scene
Temporary Venues – Punk Rock Memories
