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17 · Wednesday, August 1, 2012 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.insideHALTON.com photos by james hoggett / special to the beaver performs at a July event. In the right photo, Ryan Switzer, of Massive Tank Studios, and 16-year-old Ivy James perform together. making music: Massive Tank Studios along with Community Youth in Action Network put on an open mic event at the e-Spot for young musicians. In the left photo, 16-year-old Sydney Delong Music night for young crowd By Dominik Kurek OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Sure there are places where musicians can go out and play, audiences can sit down and listen and everyone can have a good time. However, many of those places are restricted to people aged 19 or older. But, Ryan Switzer of Massive Tank Studios needed a place for his musicians to play, many of whom are teenagers and are not permitted inside bars. So, he partnered with local charity group Community Youth in Action Network (CYAN), which is dedicated to increasing volunteer and community-participation opportunities for young people. The result of the partnership was the formation of open mic musical events for youths. "This is giving young performers an audience to air out some of their material and to see how it works on crowds," Switzer said. The first two events took place at e-Spot in Oakville. Two more are scheduled for Aug. 8 and Aug. 22. Ivy James, a 16-year-old singer Switzer produces hosts the evening events. Youths are able to come up and perform their own musical repertoire, whether it's a song or an album. James emcees in between the acts and helps get the party started. "Ivy is the dead-air killer. The single worst thing you can have at an event like this is a silent room," Switzer said. Switzer is not new to showcasing young talent. He works with many youths at his studio and puts on regular showcases. This event, however, is open to everybody. E-Spot is also located along an Oakville Transit bus line, specifically chosen so that all youths could get to it. Aside from James, Switzer has invited other young musicians he works with so that there should never be a break in the music. There are several reasons for putting on the event. For one, it helps promote music and Switzer's business as well as CYAN. It keeps youths out of trouble. And, it gives young musicians experience performing in front of a crowd. "For a lot of these people that I produce, when you don't want them to be figuring out their stage legs is when they're sitting in front of an A&R rep or somewhere where you got them doing an industry showcase," he said. "Really, by the time they're doing an industry showcase, they should probably be on their 400th performance so that there is absolutely nothing that can go sideways." Entry to the event is free. A portion of proceeds from merchandise and snack sales will go to CYAN. The shows consist of musicians of varying musical skill levels, with performers who are familiar to the stage and those who are quite fresh to music. Switzer hopes that by watching other youths perform, young spectators might become interested in music themselves. Promotion for the events is mostly word of mouth and Switzer expects the crowds to grow larger as the summer progresses. E-Spot is located at 200 Iroquois Shore Rd. The event starts at 7 p.m. Visual Arts community Art s calendar August 1: Once again fairies will gather at Sovereign House in Bronte for the "Midsummer Magic" exhibition from the Illustrated Fairy Gazette books created by Oakville artist Frances Tyrrell and author Avril Tyrrell. Email ftyrrell.artist@ yahoo.com August 2: - Studio P.A.V.A.S. Summer Camps for ages 3-14. Explore Art Music Drama and Dance. Specialty camps also available for ages 6-18. Call 905-403-9435 to register today! Visit www.studiopavas. com for more information. August 3: Speckles Art Studio. Parent and Tot workshop, $20 per child, $10 for additional siblings. Suitable for children ages 2-5 years old, check our online calendar for weekly theme! http://specklesartstudio.yolasite.com/calendar.php August 4: Bernadette Duzyk presents "East meets West" Art on the Bluffs. Chinese Brush Painting in Bronte at Sovereign House. For more information contact: Bernadette Duzyk at 905-469-8553 www. brontehistoricalsociety.ca Irene Monique Salehi August 4: Different art workshop offered each Saturday. Suitable for children ages 5-12 years old or 2-5 years old with adult in attendance. Check our online calendar for weekly theme! http://specklesartstudio. yolasite.com/calendar.php and our media partner Performing Arts August 4: Jonathans "JBistro" features jazz guitarist Curtis Ray Smith every Saturday night from 7:30 to 11:30PM. For more information, visit: www.cutisraysmith. com or reverbnation.com/ curtisraysmith August 5: Latin/Pop guitarist Eddie Paton will appear at Julia's Ristorante for brunch on Sunday from 11:30am to 2:30pm. Book your reservation now to hear some of his beautiful music! Visit http:// www.eddiepaton.com/ August 11: High Rendition Jazz at the Oakville Jazz Festival. Centennial Stage. A great way to see and hear some of the best youth musicians that Oakville has to offer. For more information visit www.highrenditionjazz.ca. Heritage & Culture August 4: The Oakville Historical Society presents: Merrick Thomas House Opens for Summer. Visit http:// www.oakvillehistory.org/html/ museum.htm for hours of operation and more information about this historical home. August 6: Join the Oakville Museum and the Canadian Caribbean Association of Halton for the 5th annual historic Emancipation Day Family Picnic. Starts at 1PM at 8 Navy St. Visit www.oakvillemuseum.ca August 17: Improv Oakville presents: Theatresports, a marriage between Theatre and sport where two teams of improvisers square off against each other. Starring AJ Vaage from That's So Weird!!! Call 416-230-5967. August 1: Bronte Art Summer Camp. Acrylic to pencil, all ages all mediums [not oil paint]. Ratio of students to instructor: 3 students to 1 instructor. For more information email sandilands55@ gmail.com August 1: Speckles Art Studio - offering morning, afternoon and full-day camps in Art, Mixed-Media and modelbuilding with LEGO® bricks. Please view our schedule online http://specklesartstudio. yolasite.com/summer-camp.php August 1: Olympic Games Week at Crock A Doodle Oakville. It's Flags of the World Day at Crock A Doodle! Come paint your favorite flag to commemorate the 2012 Olympics! Visit www.crockadoodle.com August 4: "Epoch of Stolen Moments" by Sybil Rampen. A collection of fibre art plus "A messenger From Outerspace" by Tschoy Go from Joan of Arc high school. Joshua Creek Heritage Art Centre, www.JoshuaCreekArts.com. August 6: 47th Annual Art in the Park. Waterfront Heritage Park /Bronte Harbour. Oakville's Premier art show boasts only original work: painting, pottery, sculpture, woodworking, photography and jewllery. Visit www.oakvilleartsociety.com August 17: "4 The Sake of Art" featuring, Sandra George, Jo Ann Haynes, Mary Rischke, Maria Weir. Until Sept. 16 Opening Reception Aug 19, 2-5 p.m.. Contact info Jo Ann Haynes, info@joshuacreekarts. com, 905-257-4730. Join the Oakville Arts Council today. For more arts event listings visit www.oakvillearts.com or call 905-815-5977. SPECKLESARTSTUDIO CAMPS P ARTIES PARTIES · Parent & Tot Fridays · Saturday workshops · full/half day camps · Art and LEGO® themes LEGO Art ® OAKVILLE'S MUSIC STORE 324 Kerr St. 905-339-3515 w w w. g e a r m u s i c . n e t A Oakville's wards rt s Cogeco Stars Among Us 2012 20 12 September 20th, 6:30PM Tickets on sale now! www.oakvillearts.com To be a part of this monthly calendar supporting The Oakville Arts Council, please contact Alycia Howe at 905-845-3824 ext 278 or 905-825-9994 SPECKLESARTSTUDIO.COM 461 N.service rd. W. ahowe@oakvillebeaver.com