Maureen Pollard hosts a monthly Songwriter’s Song Circle where budding and seasoned songwriters have the chance to play their creations in front of a welcoming audience of peers. Even if you don’t have an original song to share, it’s a great place to connect with other music enthusiasts and hone your skills in both writing and playing.
Maureen is a social worker, specifically a grief and trauma therapist, with an office on Division Street in Cobourg. She decided to make her space available on the third Wednesday of every month to encourage like mined individuals to come out and try out their new songs, or just drop in to a friendly and inclusive environment and get more comfortable with their musicality.
Pollard told us she was inspired to created the Songwriter’s Song Circle from her experience with the Toronto Songwriting School.
Maureen shared that she wrote her first song was really in response to her day job as a grief councilor and it spoke to all those lives she’d touched who’d lost someone either to suicide or those that were thinking about harming themselves. According to Pollard, her song gave her the opportunity to say what she wished she might say to everyone of them. Over the last four years, Maureen has found comfort and a healthy outlet to express a lot of her personal feelings in songs.
Pollard told us she was motivated to start the Circle to help others overcome the nervousness she felt playing in front of others.
Pollard will be hosting something special this month – a Grief Stories an Open Mic Prep Workshop on February 7th from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m., followed later in the month with a Songwriter’s Song Circle beginning at 7:30 p.m. on February 21st at her offices at 467 Division Street.
Maureen told us that interest is slowing starting to grow and she’s happy to act as host.
It should be noted that the event is for those who want to participate in sharing songs – it’s not an audience event – and all levels are welcome whether you’re just there to practice performing for a small group, you haven’t played for a while, or you play all the time, it’s an inclusive, supportive circle!
Check out our events listings for more info here: Northumberland Upcoming Events
Written by Joseph Goden
