| After eight up-and-down years as a destination for fans of good food and music, Karma Local Arts House will be torn down to make room for – you guessed it – condos. The venue was opened in June of 1998 by three co-owners. It became the destination for local musicians to both perform and stop by for a drink.
"We wanted to make a cozy place where our friends would hang out," Lynne Thorimbert, one of the original owners, said in 1999.
The venue changed hands a few times along the journey, and what seemed to be a nearly bomb-proof customer base was eroded by poor service and lacklustrr attention to detail. All that changed when current owner Geoff Shipley purchased the business last year. An impeccable musical lineup was re-established, and the patio was once again stuffed with happy, hungry music fans.
When Shipley got word of the building’s fate, he set out to do two things. First, he began to look for another location for the business, and second, he booked a month-long musical celebration of all that Karma has meant to local music fans.
Luckily, there will be a more permanent souvenir of the venue’s existence than just great memories. Open-mic host Dave Simpson will be recording a live album there on October 22.
"Basically, I had a new group of folkier songs that I wanted to record and planned on doing so in Lorrie (Matheson’s) studio once we got it up and running. But then when Karma closing became official, it made sense to do it there, since the songs kind of live in that kind of environment anyways. So, Lorrie is recording it, engineering and mixing," says Simpson, adding that, although most of it will be him and a guitar, Tim Williams will be among the musical guests that night.
There will be plenty of opportunities to add to your cache of Karma memories this month with Steve Pineo onstage October 20, followed the next night by Wendy McNeil. On October 24, Bob Egan, formerly of Wilco and now often found playing with Blue Rodeo, will bring his magical sound to the stage. A must-see is the spectacular songwriters in the round session October 27 featuring Jane Hawley, Tim Leacock, Steve Pineo and Tom Phillips. It will seem like old times when Phillips takes to the stage the next night with the beloved Men of Constant Sorrow. The whole thing will end with a bang on Halloween, when Simpson will host The Last Waltz, and people are encouraged to come in costume. For more information, call Karma at 249-2263. |
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