The Big Sound is proud to announce a new project, Yours, Mine, Ours: Open Mic & Music Workshops, designed to offer a space for youth musicians (both aspiring and practicing) to come together in a collaborative space facilitated and hosted by young adult musicians connected to the GB Folk Society.

These open mic nights and workshops are open to all Grey Bruce youth aged 13 – 17 years old. Adults connected to the youth are welcome but not required, this is not open to the general public.

The Big Sound is working to address the lack of opportunities for youth in our community. By connecting both music and social justice, this project intends to be a container for youth who want to be involved in the community in ways that have meaning and importance to them.

One of the goals of this project is to entrust much of the leadership and decision making about the open mic and workshops into the hands of the youth involved, from ensuring a positive, safe environment, to collaborating with each other and local social justice organizations/movements to bridging the gaps between the youth and the issues they are concerned about, using music as a tool for community building and engagement.

Youth in Owen Sound, and Grey Bruce counties don’t have ample options for connection outside of school. We know from the Community Foundation’s 2019 Focus on Youth Report that young people in our community want more options; more options mean more opportunities, more pro-social behaviors, and more chances to engage with their community in a meaningful way. This project aims to be one of those options, bringing together music, social justice, and hopefully, fun.

The Open Mic Nights kick off on Thursday November 10 at 5:30 p.m. with dinner and music will begin at 6:00 p.m. The program will end by 8:00 p.m. 

Participants are encouraged to sign up as spots are limited. There is no cost to participate. Hosted by the Owen Sound & North Grey Union Public Library in the auditorium, located at 824 1st Ave. W., Owen Sound.

The Open Mic project runs from November 2022 through June 2023 on Thursdays Nov. 10, Dec. 1, Jan. 25, Feb. 9, Mar. 9, Apr. 6, May 11 and Jun. 8.

Door prizes generously donated by Long & McQuade.

More information on the open mic nights, workshops, and more can be found here.

If you have any questions, please contact the Big Sound at [email protected].

source: media release, The Big Sound