The Troubadour Festival experience is only days away, but some local talent is already getting excited about the event and what it means for the city.
The festival takes from the legendary South By Southwest event in Texas that has become an internationally famous spot to see songwriters and musicians in different locations over the course of a few days.
Donaleigh’s Temple Lounge, Flying Monkeys Attic Lounge, Homestead Bakery, St. Andrew’s Church and the main stage at Meridian Place, will all be the spots for great music this weekend from Friday, Sept. 21 to Sunday, Sept. 23.
One of the acts that will be performing is a local one in Ben Lemen. Lemen will be at the Flying Monkeys venue on Saturday and says he hopes to connect with the audience more than anything.
“It is great to get the experience to be in front of people and I think every musicians fear is not being able to connect with them, but it’s kind of like stand-up comedy in that once you get that first laugh you feel better and get into it,” said Lemen. “Once you hear the crowd get into the song and what you’re doing it is a great feeling.”
Having taken some music courses at the University of Guelph years ago, Lemen returned to Barrie with a desire to be more involved with music.
Working the sound for several events like the Singer-Songwriter Series, the folk music singer eventually put together an album, Almanac, that can be digitally downloaded from his website and contains 11 songs.
Lemen says that while performing is great, it is the song writing that he considers one of the truly fun parts of being an artist.
“I really enjoy going through that process of working it out,” said Lemen. “My inspiration usually comes from things I read and is pretty poetic to me. There is a great feeling when you can complete the song writing process and have something you’re very proud of in the end; then going out and performing and being able to get positive feedback or just have people enjoy it is even better.”
While big Canadian names like the Joel Plaskett Emergency and Hollerado will be in Barrie for the festival this weekend, there is a wide collection of lesser known artists who will be performing for what organizers are hoping are big crowds.
Lemen will be joined on his 45-minute set by his wife, Emily, and the 29-year-old is very happy with the opportunity to do so, having little desire to move on from where he is in life with regards to music.
“I’m really looking forward to Emily singing with me and being a part of such a big and unique event, at least to this area,” said Lemen. “But as far where I want to go with music, I am very content where I am. I am a teacher at the Barrie Music School and I enjoy that immensely and love seeing people of all ages learning music whether writing it or playing it.”
Lemen will be at the Flying Monkeys Attic Lounge on Saturday with that location’s doors opening at 9:15 p.m. and the show starting at 9:45 p.m.
For more on Lemen check out his website.
For a full line up of artists and times for the Troubadour Festival, check out their website.
