A hot meal. A place to stay. A place to play.
What more could a travelling musician ask for?
Kelowna venue Snedden House is providing all of that and more for artists on a budget coming through the city.
Michael and Cindy Snedden moved to Kelowna in 2011 and have been hosting concerts in their living room ever since. While it started small, the Sneddens now pack over 30 people on average into their living room to listen to music.
And thatѻýs truly what itѻýs about for them: listening.
ѻýItѻýs hard to find a venue where it is intimate like this and people actually come to listen,ѻý said Cindy. ѻýWhen we go to see music, we want a listening environment. We can provide that here.ѻý
Cindy said she likes to follow the bands they host and cited several bands who went on to be nominated for and win awards after playing at Snedden House. The Sneddens have Juno-nominated acts including Corin Raymond, Annie Lou and the Slocan Ramblers, along with various other award-winning bands.
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Michael Snedden watches on from the kitchen as the concert happens in his living room. (Michael Rodriguez - ѻý)
The couple hosts a potluck at every show of which ѻýthe band always eats first.ѻý Members of bluegrass band flocked to the buffet-style table and filled up their plates with home-cooked goodsѻýa lot of which were provided by the Sneddens themselves.
Cindy and Michael Snedden talking while waiting in line for food. (Michael Rodriguez - ѻý)
Dinner conversation ranged from the B.C. real estate market to the morality of DJing (general consensus from the band was that itѻýs not), but the band did not mince words when talking about the significance of venues like Snedden House.
ѻýThis is so necessary in the folk and acoustic space,ѻý said Maiken de Villiers, vocalist and bassist for the band.
They elaborated, saying shows like these provide another place to play between larger festivals in the summer and it helps them to come out of a long tour in the black.
Story House is currently on the way to Shady Grove Bluegrass festival in Nanton, AB. Members of the band said this show will help them cover travel costs, which can be significant.
The cover charge for the shows is by donationѻýthe Sneddens recommend around $20ѻýand all proceeds go to the band.
ѻýItѻýs really inspiring to get to know these musicians a little bit and we know that itѻýs hard for them,ѻý said Cindy. ѻýItѻýs really nice that we can provide something that works for themѻýand it really does work for them. We can feed them dinner and breakfast; usually they spend the night, too.ѻý
While a lot of work goes into putting on these shows, the Sneddens said they donѻýt see an end in sight.
ѻýIt can be exhausting,ѻý said Michael. ѻýBut every time itѻýs over, you think ѻýthat was the most awesome thing ever.ѻý
ѻýItѻýs so worth it.ѻý
You can find out whatѻýs happening next at Snedden house by following them on or going to .
michael.rodriguez@kelownacapnews.com
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