Medicine Hat musician Derek Hintz is one of several Hatters who contributed to the newly released Medicine Hat Folk Music Club documentary, which filmed in the city last summer.--SUBMITTED PHOTO
kking@medicinehatnews.com
Medicine Hat Folk Music Club is the subject of a new documentary celebrating the local arts and culture scene, while highlighting the role community plays in keeping it alive.
The documentary, created by Telus in collaboration with Bamboo Shoots video production company, premiered last week, much to the excitement of club members.
“We’re definitely honoured (to be chosen for the documentary),” MHFMC executive director Rob Pape told the News. “Bamboo Shoots, the company that filmed it, actually reached out to us. They were looking to work with community organizations and they had heard of our Tongue on the Post Music Festival and what we do as a folk music club. So, they made the arrangements to come on down (to Medicine Hat) and they spent four days with us filming.”
The documentary was filmed early summer of last year during the MHFMC’s Cafe Concert Series, which usually runs in conjunction with the wintertime Tongue on the Post Folk Music Festival, but was pushed back last year due to the pandemic.
“We took the opportunity to showcase our Cafe Concert Series (which involves) local musicians and local coffee shops,” said Pape. “We really value our community partners, like the coffee shops and cafes, as well as our local musicians, so this (allowed us) to highlight both of them.”
Several Hatters are featured in the documentary, which is 1.5 hours in length, including Pape, MHFMC chair Gary Christensen;, musicians Gerg Herman, Eileen Wotschell, Jack Humeny, Ray-Al Hochman, Derek Hintz and Nathan Scott, as well as the club’s founding members Les Pearson, Betty Aitken, David Gue and Donna Robinson.
Those featured speak on a range of topics including the club’s founding and evolution over the past 21 years, as well as that of the local music scene.
“We have a great music scene here,” Hintz said. “(It’s) still growing. It’s a little slower-moving than some of the bigger centres, but there’s always music going on.”
Pape agrees with Hintz and says community is one of the driving forces behind Medicine Hat’s successful arts and culture scene, as well as MHFMC as an organization.
“The arts and culture scene here is phenomenal and growing,” said Pape. “And, truly, it couldn’t grow the way it is without the support of our community and our municipal government.
“Community runs through all of this. The musicians are part of the community, the audience is part of the community, our board members are part of the community, even our funding bodies are part of the community.”
Pape and others featured in the documentary assert that the community benefits from the local arts and culture scene just as greatly as those involved in it do, as arts and culture events, like Tongue on the Post Festival and Cafe Concert Series attract visitors, generate patronage at local businesses and provide community members with social opportunities.
And regarding the MHFMC specifically, folk music is a means through which Hatters can share their stories and experiences, and protect the unique cultural history of the city and surrounding area.
Pape hopes community members enjoy the documentary, learning more about the MHFMC and catching sight of the different locations throughout the city which act as the backdrop.
The documentary can be viewed for free on mhfolkmusic.com or YouTube.
