Make Music Happen 5!

May 12-13 can't come quickly enough right now - Make Music Happen is my favourite time of the year. Not only do I get to see young people working with some of our province's finest songwriters and embracing their inspiration. Everybody walks away from MMH with a fresh energy, and great excitement for where this experience will take them. Please check out the FB page for more details on the conference: https://www.facebook.com/events/211110742982478/

And here's the poster for the songwriters circle concert that is open to the public: https://www.facebook.com/events/1689124744540979/

Please, share this, and make plans to join us in 10 days at Swirsky's 

for the best show in town on May 12th. 

Open Stage for the Underage @Swirsky's!

Hey gang;

We are headed back to Swirsky's for another Open Stage for the Underage. Get down by 645 to sign up, and tell/bring all your friends, as we will be talking about this year's Make Music Happen Conference, as well as giving away tickets to see the Make Music Happen Songwriters Circle. 

See you on Wednesday. Please share this around. A lot.

Thanks. 

Check the FB page for more details: https://www.facebook.com/events/204700586957238/

Mobile Stage for the Underage

How excited am I to have been asked by the Arts & Culture Centre NL to host some shows in Central Newfoundland?

A lot. Very much. Bigly.

Please be sure to share this with all the young people you know within striking distance of the ACCs in Gander and Grand Falls Windsor, especially if they'd appreciate having a chance to perform on a big, beautiful stage.

Thanks.

See you next week, Stephenville!

I'd be lying if I said that doing another show was my only reason for coming to Stephenville - Danny's and Domino are on my itinerary, obviously - but staging another show just to hear the area's talented young musicians is certainly my main reason. 

 

Partnered with MusicNL, and in association with Arts & Culture Centre, Stephenville, we are proud to announce we're heading west for another Open Stage for the Underage!

On Saturday, March 10th, Mr. H Presents is returning to Stephenville, to take over the Arts & Culture Centre’s Stage II. 

Aspiring area musicians aged 12-18 are invited to prepare 3-4 songs (up to 15 minutes): set times will depend on final number of performers who sign up to play. 

The show will run from 2-4 pm, and performers should arrive by 1:45 to sign up, or message me through the Mr. H Presents Facebook page (see link below) or at paul.heppleston@gmail.com. 

Admission is $5 for students, $8 for adults. Tickets will be available soon from at the ACC box office. 

These events are open to young performers of all kinds (musicians, djs, poets, essayists, etc.) and are intended to foster a supportive arts community among the area’s youth. 

https://www.facebook.com/events/132914690860459/

Open Stage for the Underage!

We kick of the season with an Open Stage for the Underage, this Wednesday night! Get down by 645 to make sure you get a spot to perform. I've got two sets of tickets to see Quote the Raven on Thursday night, at the Rotary Arts Centre, but you've got to come Wednesday to win!

Sorry for all the exclamation points, I'm just really excited. It was all I could do to avoid CAPS LOCK.

A New Season for Mr. H Presents Events!

Hi gang;

Mr. H here. Are you ready? I know I am, but I have just one, simple request of you for this year: make your voice heard.

In seven years, I have seen hundreds of students attend - and at least a hundred of them perform -  at over a hundred different events. At various concerts, four conferences, countless open stages, and other unique events (see: In Session), I have attempted to give young people more opportunities to experience live music.

Why? Because I think it's important.

We all have something to say, something to express and, if you're like me, sometimes words fail. Music then, can be such a powerful tool for expressing the inexpressible. The more avenues for self-expression available to young people, the better. This is why my stages aren't just for musicians, but also poets, and essayists, and comedians, and more: because your voice is important, and it deserves to be heard.

So please, raise that voice - my stage is for you. And, please, talk to me! Not just about what they mean to you, but about what you'd like to see at these events. Students participating in Mr. H events have changed in the last seven years, as have their wants and needs, and I'm doing the best I can to respond, but I'm 41. I haven't been a teenager since the mid-90's. Even working young people for a living, I can get it wrong, so speak up. Let me know how you would be better served by my events, and I will do what I can. I promise.

Finally, please let others hear your voice, and do so in two ways: tell friends about my shows (and bring them to those shows), and attend the shows - even if you're not performing - so that you can cheer on your peers. More than anything, this year, I want to see young performers building each other up. This is how we will continue to strengthen our community.

Thank you for your time, and I'll see you soon.

Make Music Happen #4

On the off-chance there's a young musician who doesn't have Facebook and, therefore, cannot see the event page posted there, I will re-create it all here.

This two-day event is designed to help aspiring young musicians improve their songwriting and performance skills through a variety of workshops lead by professional artists.

The musicians leading songwriting workshops at MMH:
- Gary & Whit
- Joanna Barker
- Kelly McMichael
- Steve Maloney

In addition, live performance workshops will be lead by:
- Dave Connors
- Louise Gauthier
- Nick Hamlyn

Susan Quinn Lemessieur, the Janeway's Music Therapist, will deliver a key-note address on the positive effects of music on mental health.

Space for the workshops is limited to twenty five students, and we are already 60%, so don't hesitate to sign up. Registration is $60, and that includes two days of workshops, lunches and snacks both days, and admission to both the songwriters circle (Saturday night) and the student showcase (Sunday afternoon). To register, or to find out more, write me: paul.heppleston@gmail.com

Ask any of the dozens of students - not to mention the workshop leaders - who have attended in previous years, and they'll tell you: special things happen at Make Music Happen.

Make Music Happen Conference 3

It's time to Make Music Happen! This conference is an opportunity for aspiring young songwriters to workshop their songs with professional artists. Because everybody involved enjoyed last year's conference so much, we decided to add a second day to the event.

With 15 of 25 slots already filled, we've only got space for 10 more students, and we sold out last year, so act quickly!

Check the Facebook event profile for more details: https://www.facebook.com/events/1687154588168378/

An Open Stage for the Underage: Stephenville

We are taking the show on the road! On Sunday, April 10th, for the first time ever, Mr. H Presents is going to Stephenville, and taking over the Arts & Culture Centre. 

What are the young people of the Bay St. George area up to, anyway? Who's making music? Who needs a stage? 

Aspiring musicians aged 12-18 are invited to prepare 3-4 songs (up to 15 minutes), though set times will depend on the final number of performers who sign up to play. 

Corner Brook regulars Bailey Jordan-Neil, Caylie Hopkins, and Bridget Swift & Dahlia Waller, will fill out the lineup. 

The show will run from 2-4pm, and performers should arrive by 1:45 to sign up. Admission is $5, and tickets are available now at the ACC box office. 

The new series: In Session

For years now, I have been watching for other ways to involve touring artists as they pass through Corner Brook; if I can't book them for a show, I'll try to get them into a classroom, at the very least.

Several years ago, feeling I could do more, I imagined an interactive workshop, one where students could listen to an artist perform AND talk about various aspects of live performance: practice, song selection, instrumentation, crowd banter, and so on. After numerous conversations with artists, and a handful of best-intentions, the stars aligned, and we have ourselves a show. 

(*check it: https://www.facebook.com/events/1576961372628380/)

Sunday, March 13th, at 2pm, young musicians are invited to join us at Swirsky's for the first-ever In Session event. Allie Duff and Heather Nolan are great musicians from St. John's, and I couldn't be happier to be launching this new series with them.

Admission is $10. Parents are welcome to attend (certainly welcome to pay ;) ), but everyone should please remember the event is student-oriented.

Please take some time to check them out online using the links below:

Allie: https://allieduffandthehappycampers.bandcamp.com/


Heather: http://ladybrettashley.com 

Open Stage for the Underage!

We are heading back to Swirsky's for another Open Stage for the Underage! 

Bring your songs, poems, jokes, and essays, and the mic is yours! Use your own instruments or free to use the guitars, keyboard, and drums waiting for you on stage. 

Open to performers of all types, aged 12-18. Last time, we had a PACKED lineup, so get down by 645 to sign up; you'll have up to 10-12 minutes, depending on how many performers we've got.

Admission is $2, with all funds going to offset expenses and upcoming events. 

Busy days ahead!

In the next week or so, I will be announcing three events, and two of them are new ones!

Je suis tres stoked.

First up, on March 9th, we are heading back to Swirsky's for another Open Stage for the Underage. The last one was JAM-PACKED, so if you want to play, get down early to sign up.

Secondly, on March 13th, we are having our first-ever up-close and personal event with two artists playing Swirsky's later that same night. Allie Duff and Heather Nolan are two dynamite songwriters who agreed to do an exclusive event with Mr. H performers; they'll be talking performing, recording, touring, songwriting, AND they'll be playing some songs for us as well. Stay tuned for the official announcement, and the catchy and clever name (*still working on the name...it may not be clever).

Thirdly, we are taking the show on the road! Sunday, April 10th, we are doing our first-ever show in Stephenville, at the Arts & Culture Centre. Stay tuned for the official announcement, coming soon.

All this, AND I haven't event gotten to talking about the Make Music Happen Conference (3), coming May 14-15. You'll have to wait a bit for that one though...

Circle of Love Coffee House for Isla Short

This Thursday, there's a very special night planned for a very special girl. Elwood Regional High has partnered with Mr. H Presents on this coffee house to raise funds for Isla Short's family, still living in St. John's while Isla undergoes treatment.

Prizes have been donated by local businesses and community members, which will be raffled off throughout the night (tickets only $1 each). A full list of prizes will be posted shortly.

Tea, coffee, and goodies will be provided, and donations will be accepted at the door.

With live music by student musicians, snacks and hot beverages, AND a raffle full of great prizes, this will be the best show in town.

Please spread the word, make plans to join us at Elwood Thursday night, and let's show our love for Isla and her family.

First Open Stage of 2016!

Hi gang;

Let's get back at it, shall we?

With apologies to high school students who may miss the show to study, I am excited to host the first Open Stage of the Underage for 2016.

Please check the details below and make a plan to come sing, play, rhyme, or cheer along with some of Western Newfoundland's finest young performers.

https://www.facebook.com/events/1493728834268420/

Mr. H Presents Reflections on 2015

After missing nearly a year and a half of Mr. H Presents – kept alive by my friends, Dean and Emma Peckford – I hit the frozen ground running in 2015. I re-started the monthly Open Stage for the Underage at Brewed on Bernard, hit up the Pasadena Winter Festival again, had another Make Music Happen Conference, and got back to where it all started, with the fifth End of Exams Jam. I also marked the end of the summer with a beachside show, the Back To School Special. Throw in a couple special shows at schools in Corner Brook and Deer Lake, and the final tally for 2015 is 17 events!

Hundreds of people came to our shows and saw more than forty young performers take the stage; with so many of our original group moving away in the past year, we got to see a number of new performers, many playing to an audience for the first time. In May, a full slate of 25 aspiring songwriters attended the Make Music Happen Conference, four of whom traveled from the Clarenville area! With a touch of bittersweetness, we outgrew our beloved Brewed on Bernard, and moved the Open Stage to Swirsky’s this fall.

I don’t do any of this alone, so I need to give some thanks. Firstly, thanks to Dean and Emma for keeping Mr. H Presents going in my absence. Secondly, Dave Connors has been my right hand man this year, bringing his talents and his expertise with him, and helping me relax at shows. Michael Moulton, Max Simms, and Michael McDonald have also stepped up to provide tech support this year, if Dave couldn’t make it.

I am extremely grateful to our main sponsors, Corner Brook’s three music stores – Gary Bennett Music, HM Audio, and Village Music – who contributed equipment so Mr. H could have a dedicated sound system this year.

Thanks to Brewed Awakening, for continued support – they have been with us since the beginning. Thanks also to Cole Clark Guitars, the City of Corner Brook, Rotary Arts Centre, SM Consulting, and MusicNL. I’m grateful to the host venues as well: Brewed on Bernard, Corner Brook Regional High School, Elwood Regional High School, Lillian’s Eats & Drinks, Oasis Grillhouse, and, the new home of the Open Stage for the Underage, Swirsky’s on Broadway.

Thanks to members of the press for continued coverage of the great stuff our students are doing (ie: Tom Cochrane, Wendy Woodland, and a number of folks at The Western Star). 

Finally, thanks to all of you: the performers, the cheerers, the social media-posters, and the parents, who make all the hard work worthwhile.

So what’s up for 2016? More. More of doing whatever I can do to have young people experience live music in positive ways, in positive settings.

More making music happen.

Ho Ho HOpen Stage(s) for the Underage(s)

Mr. H Presents will be closing out an AMAZING year of helping young people make music happen with not one, but TWO Christmas shows.

Elwood Regional High will host the first show on Tuesday, December 15th, and Swirsky's is the spot for the Corner Brook show on Wednesday, December 16th.

Admission for both shows is $3 for students, $5 for everyone else, and everybody can save $1 by bringing a non-perishable with them.

Got an ugly Christmas sweater? Wear it! The best (worst) at each show will go home with a special prize. 

Share this around. A lot. Let's pack these venues, have a great time, and do some good in our communities.

An Open Stage for the Underage, at Swirsky's

Our first show at Swirsky's Theatre and Music Hall was a great success (over ninety people in attendance!), so we are heading back for another one.

Bring your songs, poems, jokes, and essays, and the mic is yours. Bring your own instruments, or feel free to use the guitars, keyboard, and drums on stage.

As usual, the show is open to performers of all kinds, ages 12-18.

To cover event costs, and to bank funds for upcoming events/opporunities, Open Stage shows will now have an admission charge of $2, so don't forget your toonies!

Needed: Photogs and videogs

By my own admission, I'm not a great photographer, and I am a TERRIBLE videographer, especially at my own shows, with so many other ducks to keep in a row.

SO, I am asking for your help. If you like music and enjoy taking pictures and/or videos, talk to me about covering Mr. H Presents events. The pay isn't great, but the job is a lot of fun.

Reach me through the Mr. H Presents page on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Mr-H-Presents-125150400829319/timeline/

Mr. H

The first Open Stage for the Underage of the school year!

Now that you're all settled in to the new school year, get on down to Brewed on Bernard for an evening of entertainment by some dynamite young musicians.

The show is free to attend, but space is limited, so get down early to claim your seat and/or your spot in the line-up.

Please help us make some noise about the show by posting, re-posting, and inviting lots. See you on Wednesday.

Thanks.

https://www.facebook.com/events/1649181662000683/

End of Exams Jam (5) Prize Pack!

Next up for free stuff: an End of Exams Jam (5) prize pack complete with a pair of tickets to the show and a bundle of goodies from the band.

All you need to do is to send Facebook invites to as many people as possible, and send us a screenshot of the finally tally. The person who invites the most people wins!

Post your pics on the Mr. H Presents Facebook page.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mr-H-Presents/125150400829319

Contest ends at noon on Friday.

GO!