In a bid to lure Saultites back to their pre-pandemic offices, the Downtown Association has arranged a free lunch-hour concert on Friday.
Eclectic bluesman Jay Case, known for his chopped-finger guitar stylings and 2011 Northern Ontario Music and Film Award-winning vocals, will perform solo from noon until 2 p.m. on the March Street stage, between the Queenscentre and June and Friends Salon.
The Friday-the-13th performance is a partnership between Canada's Music Incubator (CMI) and the Downtown Association.
"They [CMI] reached out to us because they do these Courtyard Concerts downtown, enticing folks to go back to the office to activate spaces," Nicholas Luck, Downtown Association executive director, told a meeting of his board on Wednesday night.
"So they contacted us to have performers perform downtown. It's no cost to us. We just turn on the power and they perform," Luck said.
In a written report to his board, Luck said there's an opportunity for the Courtyard Concerts to resume in 2024 if they are well attended.
Angela Romano, a director of the Downtown Association, commented this week that it would be nice if the city made sure the stage is in good condition if it's going to be used for public events.
"There's pieces missing from the front of the stage. It's been like that for a while," Romano said.
Jay Case will also be performing at the $200-a-plate Sault Area Hospital Foundation Gala, Nov. 4 at the Marconi Cultural Event Centre.