Jodie Leslie performs at The Orchard Café, part of Whitecourt House Concert Association series

 

Canadian singer/songwriter Jodie Leslie rocked the roof off The Orchard Café in downtown Whitecourt on Sunday, March 25 as the latest installment of the Whitecourt House Concert Association concert series. The volunteer-run association brings a wide variety of artists to Whitecourt and has been doing so for years. Once a month, from January to April, the group takes over The Orchard Café location and sets up a stage area at the front of the restaurant. Thanks to the size of the café and the unique set up, the environment becomes very personal and intimate.

Marilyn Dudinsky started the association after taking in a few house concerts while on vacation. “She came back to Whitecourt and said, wow, we should really try to do something like this here,” explained association member Barb Maddigan. After holding a couple of house concerts at her own home, Barb said Marilyn ended up in the building where The Orchard Café is currently located although it was called Theodore’s Den at the time.

Members of the association spend a lot of time preparing for each year by researching artists, checking out their YouTube channels, and seeing if their schedules would work for a Whitecourt concert. “It’s a fantastic opportunity for these artists to be able to come and play their own music. Quite often if they play in a bar, people want to hear other music, too, not just theirs. They get an attentive audience here and a very appreciative one, too,” said Barb.

During the concert, guests were able to enjoy all kinds of homemade goodies from the restaurant which owner Kelly Kenny graciously kept open. From cookies and cakes to specialty coffees and teas, attendees were treated with both sounds and tastes.

Jodie Leslie has been singing and writing music for years and was recently nominated for Recording of the Year in the Blues category at the Edmonton Music Awards. She was once described as a female version of Tom Petty and has shared the stage with a long list of artists including Bryan Adams, Gino Vannelli, Juice Newton, Michelle Wright, John Conlee, Allanah Myles, Lee Aaron, Trooper, Harlequin, Prism, Honeymoon Suite, and Dr. Hook.

The next artist to grace the stage at The Orchard Café will be Kevin Cook on Sunday, April 22. For more information join the association’s Facebook page “Whitecourt House Concert Association.”