Crooked Stovepipe Folk Orchestra continues to grow

A great looking group of The Crooked Stovepipe Folk Orchestra musicians.

Brenda Moser

Advocate Correspondent

Eclectic mix of musicians performs regularly at Port Dover Harbour Museum and Old Town Hall

I will be the first to confess that I am, by no means, musically inclined but I do enjoy listening to those who are.

We are lucky to have a diverse selection of great entertainers in our area and I recently had the opportunity to sit and chat with two fabulous musicians who have a passion for music and enjoy sharing that passion with others - Ian Bell and Judy Moore.

Bell and Moore have been together about 25 years and music has been an important part of their life all those years. Both play a variety of instruments with Bell proficient on four or five instruments, including guitar and concertina, while Judy plays piano, accordion, clarinet and bass clarinet. Bell has also served as curator at Port Dover Harbour Museum, Norwich and District Museum and Archives as well as an historical interpreter at Black Creek Pioneer Village. Moore is a volunteer at The Paris Museum & Historical Society, the Collections at Museum of Ontario Archaeology and was involved with Strong Start to Reading. As busy as they might be they always find time for their music.

Bell and Moore decided to start a musical group at their home about 10 years ago. When they made the decision to start up their ‘little band’ they put the word out through emails and word of mouth. The response was overwhelming and before they knew it, The Crooked Stovepipe Folk Orchestra was formed and has grown to about 25 music-loving people.

When I asked how they came up with the name of their group Bell explained, “It’s the name of a well-known Ontario fiddle tune… oh, and we do have a stovepipe coming out of our wood stove, but it’s not very crooked.”

There are a wide range and assortment of abilities and instruments from tuba to ukelele, cello, bass clarinet, various accordions and guitars.

Bell added, “Some of the members are just learning to play for the first time while some are learning a second instrument. We focus on the music but it’s more about people with a like interest getting together. You don’t have to be a trained musician. Newcomers are always nervous, but nobody is critical of others, and they are always encouraging each other.” During COVID they were not able to meet in person so it was done, once a week, virtually on Facebook and YouTube.

“We would sit in our dining room, with the cats, and play… the others could hear us but we couldn’t hear them. It gave people something to look forward to and watch while they were shut in.”

Once COVID restrictions were lifted, they could get together and sit at a great distance… “with the tuba in the middle” adds Bell.

The Crooked Stovepipe Folk Orchestra practices every other Wednesday night at their home in Villa Nova, east of Waterford, taking the winter off. They perform on a regular basis at the Port Dover Harbour Museum and Old Town Hall, Waterford.

“It’s a very casual performance… whoever shows up, shows up and performs.”

You can check their Facebook page for details.

If you are interested in perhaps joining their unique band, you can contact Ian at www.ianbellmusic.ca. Their home is wheelchair accessible so all are able to join.

There’s nothing like some great tunes to brighten one’s life.