A small venue tucked away in the Valley is still managing to draw big names in the Maritime and Canadian entertainment scenes to its stage. The Union Street, located on Commercial Street in Berwick, has presented artists that consistently attract live music fans in the 35 to 60 age demographic. The list includes Matt Minglewood, Dave Gunning, Old Man Luedecke, Myles Goodwin, Matt Mays, Adam Baldwin, Joel Plaskett, Classified, Jim Bryson and Donavan Woods.
Lauren Bonner and Virginia Fynes, the co-owners of The Union Street, took over the restaurant and lounge about four years ago. Since then, they have tried to build on the solid reputation the business had built up over several years.
“There is a reason we bought an existing business and didn’t start a new one,” Fynes said in an interview. “It had a reputation for good food and good music. And that is still the basis of our business.”
Fynes said the restaurant menu is based on a farm-to-table approach and tries to support local producers by using local meats and produce.
“We are close to a gastropub-style, and then we tie in our seasonal dishes through our entrées and specials,” she said.
“What sets us aside is most of our menu items are from scratch. You know you are getting a homecooked meal. All of our breads and desserts are made in house.”
Fynes said the menu offers a wide variety of choices for a variety of occasions.
“You can come here for a beer with the guys, or you can come here for your anniversary and still find something on our menu.”
The Union Street has been a showcase for top Maritime and Canadian live music for more than a decade
The Union Street puts on ticketed shows a couple of times per month, combining a dining experience with live music.
Doors open for dining at 6 p.m. and music starts at 8. A customer’s seat for dinner is the same seat they will be in for the performance.
Bonner, who worked at the old Union Street Café for several years before becoming co-owner with Fynes, said their goal is to try to make their events a memorable experience for the people who come to the shows.
“It’s not a cheap thing to do to go out and see live music. And, we try to be conscious of that and make sure everybody is having a good time,” she said.
However, they also work hard to make it a memorable experience for the musicians, many of whom look forward to return engagements.
Bonner said the room has a reputation among performers for being an acoustic space with an experienced sound technician. There have been renovations to the stage and a lounge area, allowing the musicians to relax.
“To musicians, that's a huge thing. But I think another thing that makes musicians want to come to the Union Street even though we are in a smaller town and have fewer seats is that we really show them a good time and go above and beyond hospitality wise.
Musicians don’t forget when you treat them well,” she said.
Blues stalwart Garrett Mason is a fan of The Union Street experience as a musician.
“It’s one of the best venues I’ve played,” he stated in an email.
“It’s a perfect room sightline wise for every attendee. The stage is a great size. Not too high, just high enough. The staff treats you like royalty. And you can tell they are really into what they are doing,” Mason said. “It just has a certain vibe that is hard to describe. It’s an old school vibe. I like that.”
Bonner said she sometimes can’t get over the calibre of the people they are able to have perform.
“We are really lucky that way.”
Bonner acknowledges technology has made music much more accessible and paying money to see live music isn’t as popular as it was in the past.
“You can go on your phone and listen to your favourite songs and artists at any time. It’s very accessible. But there is definitely something different about the experience of coming out, having a good meal, sitting with a lot of other people who are also enjoying it and seeing it live. I think that is what people will pay the extra money for,” Bonner said.
She said the spontaneity of a live performance is also one of the attractions.
“Once you have experienced live music and what it is like sitting in the room and seeing the instruments and hearing the stories that come along with it, it becomes more of an experience.”
To view information on upcoming shows and purchase tickets, go to theunionstreet.com and click on the music tab or phone 902-538-7787.
