A jamboree held monthly from fall to spring at the Legion branch here continues to draw fans of old time music in large numbers, as it has for the past three decades.
During the summer, fans of old time music, the kind that relies on fiddles, banjos and guitars for its distinctive sound, gather in campgrounds, barns and wherever there’s room for both musicians and audiences.
However, when the weather turns cool, many head indoors to community halls, where they can continue their musical merrymaking year-round.
The Legion jamboree, recalls Harriston resident Frank Gilbert, was initiated in the fall of 1987 by himself and local restaurateur Norman “Newt” Lloyd.
“He played the fiddle and we used to go around to different places where they had little do’s,” Frank recalls.
“He always wanted me to go with him, I don’t’ know why because I could hardly even rosin his bow at that time. He mentioned that we should start some kind of a do down here at the Legion.”
The organizers booked the upstairs hall at the Harriston Legion and began to spread the word at jamborees they attended.
“We went to the plowing match and told people there,” recalls Frank’s wife, Flo Gilbert, who has also been involved with the event from the start.
“The first one we had, they came from all over the country,” said Frank. Some partiers even came from across the border in Buffalo, added Flo.
“We didn’t even have any equipment … for a do like that with a big crowd. All we had was a couple of old amps. But anyway everybody had a good time and that’s how it started,” said Frank.
Flo explained that while the organizers were planning to pay for the hall, those gathered at the first Harriston jamboree decided to take up a collection and held a vote in favour of continuing with the event in the future.
While attendance today doesn’t quite rival the enthusiasm of the early days when attendees were sometimes turned away because the hall was full, it remains strong roughly 30 years later.
“The last two times we fed over 160 – it’s never went downhill,” says Frank.
While the bulk of participants come from a radius of an hour’s drive, from Wiarton to Waterloo, Frank notes the event is barely noticed by the local population.
“There was only one person from Harriston at the last jamboree. They come from everywhere else but Harriston,” he said. “I can go down the street on a Monday morning after the jamboree and start talking to someone and they say ‘What was going on at the Legion with all those cars around?’”
In true jamboree style, everyone can take their turn on stage. Flo registers the participants as they come in and Frank makes sure the sound system is ready to handle the tunes. Each participant that signs up gets to play or sing on at least two numbers.
“It doesn’t matter how good you are at all, everybody has their two minutes of fame,” notes Frank.
“They’re really good players, a lot of them,” Flo is quick to add.
The Gilberts suggest the Harriston jamboree has remained popular because it was the first in the area to really draw big crowds, and people just kept coming.
“We have some that I don’t think have ever missed too many,” said Flo.
Carmen and Robert Johnson of Burlington have been making the trip to Harriston for years now.
“We try to come a couple of times of year. Because it’s a fair distance but it’s the only place close to us that we can still do some hoppin’ and dancing and singing,” said Carmen who was in town for the March 20 event.
While the couple also attends jamborees in other areas, including Blyth, they always enjoy the trips to Harriston.
“The people are so friendly, the food is good, the music is good and I get to play,” she said.
“This jamboree is the best one in the country,” said Brian Halliday of Clinton, citing the high quality of the music and adding “they have the best food.”
“They have a very good floor” as well, notes Frank Cherry of Wallenstien.
The jamborees, which begin at 1pm, are held on the third Sunday afternoon each month from October to May, with the exception of December.
“Then we camp after that,” said Frank.
For more information contact the branch at 519-338-2843 or legion296@wightman.ca.
