Sometimes, music lovers will pull up socially-distanced lawn chairs, hang out and just listen.

It all began as a response to COVID-19. Musicians could not play concerts, and even playing indoors without an audience became an issue. What was a passionate fiddler or guitarist to do?

Take it outside.

The idea was Paul Gitlitz’s. The local musician, songwriter and music teacher lives near the park, and saw it as an opportunity and a good spot to play with musician friends. They really had nowhere else to go, except online; and any musician will tell you it’s next to impossible to play together in a synchronized manner on Zoom or Google Meet.

The jam concept began when Gitlitz was on the board of the Northern Lights Bluegrass and Oldtime Heritage Society, which had a regular camp at the Ness Creek site. He was involved on the outreach committee and wanted to get people together to jam.

His particular interest was in the old-time, while another committee member handled the bluegrass jams. They happened upstairs from Brainsport on Tenth Street near Broadway, and “they were happy to have us, and we were happy to be there.

“It was all fun, although it posed a little bit of a problem because of the staircase. Not everyone was able to attend, and it was quite a long way up the stairs. It was difficult to bring a good double bass or even a bass guitar and amp. It was just a lot to haul.”

The bluegrass jam organizer conspired to get them into Amigos and it was working out . . . until COVID hit.

“That kind of put the kibosh on everything. We didn’t do anything over the winter. Come summer (2020), I got people outdoors. It was my idea that we could be socially distant and meet in the park.”

When winter came again, he moved the jam online but lost almost everyone who lives locally.

“They just weren’t interested in doing it online.” On the other hand, “I ended up meeting friends from all over the world who now attend my online session.

“When the weather got warm again, I thought well, let’s go back to the park. I moved the online session to a different day and resumed the (jam) we had originally on Sunday afternoon (at one o’clock).”

All of the musicians play strings, including guitar, mandolin, banjo, fiddle and bass — the oldtime instruments and bluegrass instruments as well.

“I do it because I love playing and I love getting together with friends, and live music is 100 per cent better than playing to a record or playing online. Although, we’ve constructed some interesting, funny things to do online.”

He’s also teaching in the park, where most of his students now meet him.

“It’s a benefit and a cost. Some of them are shyer in public and more easily distracted by kids playing . . . but at the same time they’re also getting to be aware of performing as opposed to being on their computer where they could be staring out the window.”

Gitlitz performs solo and with bands Gopher Broke, While Rome Burns and Storm Warning. He plays and teaches fiddle, mandolin, guitar, bass, Irish tenor banjo and octave mandolin. He has also composed more than 400 songs, including Flying Home to Shelley, which has been recorded by more than 20 bands.

Even when restrictions are lifted, Gitlitz expects he and his friends will keep going to the park. They love doing it, and it’s even “good advertising.” Still, he can’t wait to return to actual performing, and that will happen soon.

“Two of the people (who play in the park) and I have a band together, and we have our first gig in two weeks at an old folks’ home and all of us will have had two shots — both the audience and us. That’s kind of exciting.”

Of course, Gitlitz and friends are not alone. For example, jazzman and Sheepdog dad Sheldon Corbett has been hosting Pandemic Pals concerts from his front porch; and occasionally you’ll hear musicians like Kelly Read playing at Ambros’ Shoe Repair on 33rd Street West.

Watch and listen for the musicians in your neighbourhood.

-Joanne Paulson