Joanne Muirhead, the owner of JoJo’s Cafe in downtown Osoyoos, is proud to announce she is committing to hosting monthly concerts and art shows at her establishment throughout 2015. There will be a concert featuring local and regional bands and musicians the last Saturday of each month and a local visual artist will also have their work showcased inside the cafe. Brendan Kolybaba, who works at the cafe, will be responsible for booking the artists and musicians. The first concert of 2015, featuring Dale Seaman and Hwy. 97, will take place on Saturday, Jan. 31 at 7 p.m. The first featured artist in January is Osoyoos painter Emma Rose. (Keith Lacey photo)
A local eatery and café has made a commitment to supporting local artists and musicians throughout 2015.
Joanne Muirhead, the owner of JoJo’s Café on Main Street in downtown Osoyoos, held sporadic arts events in her restaurant and café throughout 2014.
Because most of the events were successful, she has made a commitment – along with staff member Brendan Kolybaba – to hold monthly concerts and art shows throughout 2015.
“I’ve tried to be very supportive of local artists since I opened this place back in 2010, but with the new year here, we’re making a commitment to organize monthly concerts and art shows,” said Muirhead, who has been a member of the Osoyoos Potters Guild for more than a decade.
“January marks the one-year anniversary of starting up these concerts and art shows and we’re really looking forward to hosting regular events for our regular customers and people who are visiting Osoyoos.”
The concerts will take place on the last Saturday each month and one local artist will have his or her work on display throughout the month.
Kicking off the concert series on Saturday, Jan. 31 will be the talented duo Dale Seaman and Highway 97, featuring singer-songwriters Craig Brown and Dale Seaman.
Emma Rose is the local artist whose paintings will be on display throughout January.
“All of the performers and artists will be local, although on the odd occasion we might have to bring in somebody from as far away as Penticton,” she said. “The whole idea is to support local musicians and artists in a supportive environment here in Osoyoos.”
JoJo’s Café is fortunate to have “exceptionally loyal patrons” who not only gather on a regular basis to enjoy a meal, but also to support the concerts she helped organize last year, said Muirhead.
“We had good crowds at almost every concert last year and it was my patrons who insisted that we try and do something to support local musicians and artists,” she said. “There’s no use organizing events like this if nobody shows up, but thankfully my loyal customers did show up and are allowing us to proceed with this concert series throughout the coming year. They are so supportive and are the reason we’re going ahead with this.”
All of the concerts will be free of charge, but patrons will be allowed to make donations when a hat is passed around during each concert performance, she said.
Being able to support local musicians and artists is her way of giving back to the community, said Muirhead.
“When you’re an artist, you open our soul to the judgment of others who listen to your music or view your art, so it’s nice to be able to do that in a supportive and friendly environment,” said Muirhead. “We have a nice little cozy space here with a very supportive audience and I’m just glad our business will be able to help and support them.”
Kolybaba will be in charge of hiring the musicians, bands and artists, she said.
Muirhead said she’s already counting down the days until the first concert on Jan. 31.
“I invite everyone to come on down and join us,” she said. “They will have a good time and be part of something really cool. We’re really looking forward to this,” said Muirhead. “It should be a lot of fun over the next few months.
The concerts begin at 7 p.m. and should last about two hours.
KEITH LACEY
Osoyoos Times
