Avondale United Church is opening its doors for a sping-themed concert this May.
Boreal, an award-winning singer-songwriter trio, is coming to Avondale as part of their Ontario-wide Songs of Renewal Tour.
Angie Nussey, the newest member of Boreal, said that they wanted to add Stratford on the tour because of Avondale specifically.
“We were sold on this specific church because it’s actually a really beautiful venue,” Nussey said. “It just seemed like the ideal experience and the ideal venue for us.”
Boreal was established in 2006 by Katherine Wheatly, Tannis Slimmon, and Jude Vadala, with Nussey replacing Vadala in 2019 when she retired.
Boreal had previously only toured in winter, to breathe some excitement into a normally dour season, but during the COVID-19 pandemic they could only perform outdoors and pivoted to performing in spring and summer.
That made the trio realize their love for springtime staples like flowers, butterflies, falling in love, and bicycle rides to name just a few.
Now, Boreal’s Songs of Renewal Tour will put that love on centre stage in thirteen venues across Ontario, including Avondale.
“In the wintertime our show is designed to uplift people in times of grey,” Nussey said. “In spring, nature is already lifting us.”
Boreal’s show is part of a wider music series hosted by the church.
Paul Harris and Karen Brown are part of the church’s Music Series Team, formed by congregational members who gathered to bring Avondale’s unique space to the wider community.
“Music is a very important part within the congregation and for people from outside,” Harris said. “What could we do that's a little bit different from what people are already able to experience in Stratford?”
Avondale has been deeply involved with a number of Stratford music organizations and this series was not intended to be a repetition of other experiences or events – rather something that suited the character of the church and featured creative Canadian artists.
Karen Brown, another team member and Harris’ wife, added that they also try to feature local artists as much as possible.
They previously hosted The O’Pears this past Christmas and Michael Kelly Cavan and Celtic trio Kettles On this March for St. Patrick’s Day.
The money raised by the Avondale Music Series goes toward a few initiatives the church has undertaken.
Avondale’s Food Shelf was established fifteen years ago at St. John’s United Church and was taken on when the two church’s merged congregations.
The Food Shelf provides non-perishable food items, as well as fresh fruit, vegetables, frozen meat, milk, and eggs – to name a few items – to those in need. It currently runs every Friday from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. by dedicated volunteers.
As well, Avondale partners with numerous other local churches and community organizations to hold meals that are free to the public, on a monthly basis from October to May. These meals serve on average fifty people per month.
Additionally Avondale takes part in numerous “change-seeking” initiatives both locally and globally.
Boreal’s show starts at 7:30 p.m. on May 11, with doors opening at 7 p.m. Tickets are $25 each and can be purchased at Avondale, by emailing [email protected], or by visiting Ticketscene.
