We need musician(s) for our Dec. 4th event, and, as well, we need to fill out our pool of volunteer musicians for future events. Occasionally none of those we know are able to play one of our events and we end up panicking to find someone (as now). 

The situation is the large terrace room at MYkonos Restaurant, during the half hour before our poetry event begins (from 6:30 to 7:00) and during the intermission. 

It is a good chance, either for a relatively young musician to get their name out there or for someone who just loves music as a hobby, to play before an artistic audience of 40 to 60. Anyone with CDs can sell them. 

We can use individuals or groups, instrumental or vocal or both. As for genre, the music simply must be beautiful. It can be ethnic (which really suits the Greek milieu), classical, blues, jazz, pop, etc. The proviso is that since the event is centred around the poetry, not the music, it must be music which most people will find pleasing. In other words, something you might think of as 'alternative' music, which sounds wonderful to some people but definitely not to others, wouldn't work. 

If you're a musician who likes the idea of playing for us, or if you know someone who might, please contact me:   Stan Burfield at burfield@live.com or phone at 519-204-1792

The Nov. 6th London Open Mic Poetry Night was well-attended considering it was competing for audience with a major literary event at Landon Library. 

A total of 37 listened to one of London’s best poets, Susan Downe, and a dozen open mic readers, in the Greek atmosphere of Mykonos Restaurant while Irish novelist Emma Donoghue read from her novels at Landon. Even Susan Downe admitted wishing she could have attended the Donoghue event. We learned about the schedule conflict too late to change the date of the open mic. 

However, those who couldn’t attend will be able to view our entire poetry event on high-definition video on our website very soon. Probably Friday, Nov. 8th, the videos will be available for viewing, supplied by videographer Kevin Austin of Hawkeye Video Productions. 

We are very happy and honoured to have celtic harpist/vocalist Jennifer White and percussionist Robert McMaster once again at London Open Mic Poetry Night.  They will be opening Nov. 6th for featured poet Susan Downe's reading. 

White and McMaster appeared previously on Jan. 3rd, 2013, when their music brought poet John Tyndal to the stage.


The beauty of Jen White's harp and vocals captivated the audience then, just as it had a few months earlier at the 100,000 Poets for Change reading at Landon Library in September, 2012. 

On Nov. 6th, White and McMaster will play from 6:30 to 7:00 and then again during the intermission at about 8:00.

Most of Ms White’s pieces are original compositions, both melody and lyrics. They were inspired by Celtic music, myth and story. Her songs are “woven together with old tales”. 

Influences?  She “likes hanging out with wyrd people”. A more likely early direction came from her father, jazz cornetist Eddie White, whom she quotes as saying: “I'm just here to play!"
 
 In her own words: “I've been an independent musical artist since 1998, mostly since I never fit nicely into corporate 9 to 5, so I had to figure out a creative way to pay the bills and keep the wolves from the door. I hooked up with an ecclectic percussionist, Robert McMaster, around the same time, who's kept life interesting around my little corner of the world. One of these days I'll get those novels out of my head and onto the page. In the meantime, I'm having fun with my music. I get to meet people I would not normally have met, and venture off to places I wouldn't otherwise have had opportunity to visit.”

In May, 2013, Ms White tried out her political wings, competing for the NDP nomination for London West, which was won by Peggy Sattler.

Robert McMaster is memorable as the white-bearded, beret-wearing gentleman behind the huge assortment of drums, cymbals and a plate dangling with a multitude of keys, one of many instruments he puts in the category of ‘Found Sound’. Mr. McMaster is not only a full-time musician (percussion, 'Lacota flute, guitar), but is also an activist, having “seen more and more changes around me that are not good for the Earth or it's Peoples." In the past, he has been a photographer and body/enery worker (Kripalu massage).

A favourite quote: "Think outside of the box... but try not to fall off of the shelf." (I said that - Robert McMaster).

White and McMaster perform original music in concerts, music festivals, corporate events etc. They have one CD out ‘Jennifer White - Clarsach the Celtic harp’. A second CD is in production. A vocal track of a traditional song and three of Ms White’s original instrumentals have been featured on a number of world release compilation CDs.

Jennifer White’s website: www.Knockgrafton.com  Samples of White/McMaster music here:http://www.knockgrafton.com/contents.html