About The West Edmonton Music Society

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The West Edmonton Music Society is a strictly volunteer led and run organization with a mission to provide a space where local musicians of any stripe, from beginner to amateur to professional, can play, mingle or hang in an atmosphere that is devoid of any pressures that are normally associated with gigging or performing  in front of people in general. No judgments, just appreciation for the art.

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This is a place that is meant to be a refuge from the outside world where the mix of music and musicians reign supreme and where musicians and musical ideas can thrive and grow without the normal pressures a musician would have to endure just to play or see an idea come to fruition.

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Set up with a Stage, Backline, Sound & Lights, configurable Audience Space and equipped for Recording, the clubhouse has a lot of things to offer a musician: A place to play with friends, peers and new acquaintances, a venue to put on or watch a show, a space to rehearse and record, to meet and mingle with those who speak the universal language of music, whatever the dialect.

While the focus is on the music and musicians, there is a social aspect to the Society with many special events and parties being held throughout the year. We are always looking for a reason to have an event.

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The clubhouse is also a place where people who just appreciate live music, and like something a little different, come to listen.

The educational aspect of the Society is prevalent in our philosophy, from simply witnessing displays of fine musicianship in a jam session or a show, to formal workshops or lessons and partnerships with educational institutions or other associations. Growth of the musician is paramount to our philosophy.

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A Brief History

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The West Edmonton Music Society was incorporated in 1991 by a few musical friends and by 1994 the Society had moved from jamming in basements to hosting hall parties to having the permanent location at which the Society still resides. During the past 32 years, the clubhouse has grown in popularity and notoriety,hosting jam sessions every Wednesday and Friday nights (shows on Saturday nights were later added) until Covid hit during which time the Society shut the clubhouse doors. Upon reopening, the Society has never been able to regain a level of patronage enough to keep operations going so the Society was again forced to close its doors in the fall of 2025.

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Presently, we are working towards broadening the Society’s outreach to the musical community at large and the reopening of the clubhouse with a May 2026 opening target.

The Clubhouse

 

Located in a non-descript cul-de-sac in a light industrial area of northwest Edmonton, the clubhouse does not display any outward signs of its existence other than the address above the door.  Inside the clubhouse door and through a small entranceway, the place opens up into the main space containing a stage, service counter and seating. The walls are dominated with artwork by famed Edmonton digital creator Warren Sillanpaa, instruments and assorted knick-knacks supplied by the membership over the years. It is a uniquely warm and welcoming place which rarely fails to make a positive impression on first-time visitors.

 

Services

The Society provides a comfortable, friendly and inclusive space where an individual or group of musicians can congregate and:

• Jam with friends or new acquaintances, discover new things and make new friends

• Try out and refine ideas in front of a supportive and forgiving audience

• Rehearse, idiot proof and dress rehearse shows

• Perform a show in a space whose environment is under the artist’s control

• Record a performance, rehearsal or jam session 

• Refine and develop skills through dedicated workshops and interaction with other musicians

• Hold dedicated workshops

• Develop technical skills with the clubhouse recording (24 track), lighting and (future) video systems

• Whatever else the imagination can come up with

 

The Society will have evenings dedicated to various forms of musical activity, while proposed daytime usage must be restricted to functions with much quieter noise levels.

There are refreshments available – Pop, Water, Non-Alcoholic Beer and some Bar Snacks such as Chips & Peanuts.

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Membership

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Historically, the cost of membership has been kept low to ensure those who struggle financially can still join and participate. We do know what a few extra bucks can mean to a musician or student.

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Currently, the Fee Structure is under review.

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Membership in the West Edmonton Music Society buys the individual access to the clubhouse for members and their guests. As the club re-establishes itself and gets on a more stable financial  footing the benefits of having a membership will increase from a release from paying the cover charge, advanced tickets to events to discounted rates for club services for example.

The Setup

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• The clubhouse stage is equipped with a backline consisting of guitar, bass and keyboard amplifiers, 6-piece drum set, Keyboards and Vocal Mics. 

• There is the club 5-String Bass Guitar

• The Front of House consists of a pair of hung EV Speaker Cabinets, 24 Channel Mixing Board, dual 1/3 Octave Equalizers, an Effects Unit and Stereo Power Amplifier.

• The monitor system is configured to provide 5 individual channels with 3 powered Monitors and 2 passive Monitors, a 16 Channel Mixing Board,a1/3 Octave Equalizer for each channel and an Effects Unit.

• The digital recording set up consists of  a 24 Channel A/D, Capture Software on a Desktop Computer and an assortment of microphones.

 

Webpage

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The West Edmonton Music Society Webpage can be accessed at the westedmontonmusic.org address and comments, concerns and general communication may be made through the wemsonwix@gmail.com or bobplaysbass1@gmail.com email addresses.

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To Wrap It Up

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The West Edmonton Music Society is moving forward and expanding its outreach to the musical community at large in Edmonton. To this end we are inviting all musicians and music lovers of all stripes and ability to join us to celebrate the art of music!

We are looking for people who want to play music, listen to music and are especially interested in people who display leadership skills and like to get involved. 

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Being a volunteer organization, we are always on the lookout for volunteers as we have a lot going on at any time, are continually expanding our outreach and are always looking to expand the repertoire of programs and events available to the membership.

We have the space and infrastructure to make just about any musical idea a reality. It is only  limited by our imagination.

So, to paraphrase a Timothy Leary saying - drop in, tune up and turn on! Let’s Play!