Local teacher launches East Coast music series

Jamie Carruthers teaches at Chippewa Secondary School, paints, and works in pottery as well. He also loves the East Coast – he spends his summers there –and loves to support artists, and North Bay is about to reap the rewards of these passions.

Carruthers is soon launching a new concert series, the “East Coaster Studios presents series,” he detailed, and the idea is to showcase musicians from the East Coast right here in North Bay.

His first headliner is Terra Spencer, a singer-songwriter making waves in her home province of Nova Scotia, and she’s heading on tour in support of her new album, Sunset.

“The series is focused on bringing some East Coast artists from the Maritimes to Northern Ontario,” Carruthers said, adding the idea was inspired by a similar show he held this past summer. He was born in Nova Scotia, so his roots run deep to the area, and he produced an art show – complete with his some of his own works – and invited Terra Spencer to perform as well.

“I’m a huge music fan,” he said, and that combination of local artists and live music sparked the idea to host a similar series here. For now, the focus will be on the music, but at future shows he may incorporate works from local fine artists to round out the experience.

Moreso, “the initial motivation was to try to support artists, especially singer songwriters,” Carruthers said. “The last four years they have taken a real hit with the pandemic and no live shows. Everybody is streaming their music and album sales are drying up. It’s a tough road as an independent singer-songwriter.”

Already word is spreading about the show. Planned for a relatively small venue, Carruthers said of the 80 tickets available, 60 have already been sold. So, if you would like to see Terra Spencer in a small venue, this is your chance.

As for the opening act, there’s an interesting story behind that. This summer, while out East, Carruthers’ son, Connor, attended a songwriter’s retreat with Terra Spencer and other musicians. He ended up playing a few songs to open for her at his dad’s show that summer, and that roster shall return, as Connor Carruthers will be opening for Spencer at her North Bay show.

For tickets, reach out to Jamie Carruthers at [email protected] Tickets are $25, “and all  the money goes directly to the artist,” Carruthers said, minus any necessary expenses, say for equipment rental.

The show takes place on October 21st at Wildwoods Brewing in North Bay. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the stage comes alive at 8 p.m.

David Briggs is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter who works out of BayToday, a publication of Village Media. The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada.