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Saturday, September 27, 2025
PHOTOS: Porch is the place to be as musicians play for their neighbours
As the sun sets over 2 Raina Dr. in Virgil, DR MARS plays out the end of summer for their neighbours, friends and family. Band member Stacey MacIntyre says they try to host their porch concert every year.
As the sun sets over 2 Raina Dr. in Virgil, DR MARS plays out the end of summer for their neighbours, friends and family. Band member Stacey MacIntyre says they try to host their porch concert every year. DAVE VAN DE LAAR
Members Mel Coté, Stacey MacIntyre and Aimée Claxton provided the vocals, while Donavon LeNabat played piano, Ross MacIntyre was on bass guitar and Robin Claxton was on the drums.
Members Mel Coté, Stacey MacIntyre and Aimée Claxton provided the vocals, while Donavon LeNabat played piano, Ross MacIntyre was on bass guitar and Robin Claxton was on the drums. DAVE VAN DE LAAR
The band played until 9 p.m. on Friday, with dozens of neighbours gathering to watch the outdoor show on Raina Drive.
The band played until 9 p.m. on Friday, with dozens of neighbours gathering to watch the outdoor show on Raina Drive. DAVE VAN DE LAAR
Elsewhere on Four Mile Creek Road, this band of local musicians and friends had a similar idea to DR MARS: they hosted a porch concert of their own for Play Music on the Porch Day, at the Applewood Hollow's back porch. From left, performing here are Peter Jellard, Ann Marie Saunders, Colleen Wilder and Brian Andres.
Elsewhere on Four Mile Creek Road, this band of local musicians and friends had a similar idea to DR MARS: they hosted a porch concert of their own for Play Music on the Porch Day, at the Applewood Hollow's back porch. From left, performing here are Peter Jellard, Ann Marie Saunders, Colleen Wilder and Brian Andres. AMBER FARRINGTON
Colleen Wilder sings along with Brian Andres, who's playing acoustic guitar, and Jane Andres, seen in the background on the accordion.
Colleen Wilder sings along with Brian Andres, who's playing acoustic guitar, and Jane Andres, seen in the background on the accordion. AMBER FARRINGTON
Curtis Thomas jams with the rest of his bandmates, who are all part of the Caribbean Workers Outreach Project's music team. He's accompanied by Ezekial Samuels on keyboard, Jason Moodie on conga drums and Richard Palmer on bass guitar.
Curtis Thomas jams with the rest of his bandmates, who are all part of the Caribbean Workers Outreach Project's music team. He's accompanied by Ezekial Samuels on keyboard, Jason Moodie on conga drums and Richard Palmer on bass guitar. AMBER FARRINGTON
Niagara Now

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There’s no shortage of artistic and creative spirit in Niagara-on-the-Lake, and this past weekend, it was spilling out from porches across town.

On Friday, local band DR MARS, a band formed during the COVID-19 pandemic, reunited for an evening porch concert at 2 Raina Drive in Virgil.

The band played for two hours as the sun set from 7 to 9 p.m. for an audience of about 100 people.

Members Mel Coté, Stacey MacIntyre and Aimée Claxton provided the vocals, while Donavon LeNabat played piano, Ross MacIntyre was on bass guitar and Robin Claxton was on the drums.

Stacey MacIntyre says that the band tries to host the porch concert annually as a love letter to their friends and neighbours.

Coincidentally, Saturday was Play Music on the Porch Day, an internationally recognized day hosted on the last Saturday of August — it’s a movement that instructs its participants to get out on their porches and share their music with their neighbours.

While DR MARS’ concert wasn’t held as part of this worldwide event, MacIntyre said, some in NOTL did recognize the special day.

Over at 2230 Four Mile Creek Rd., another group of local musicians played music together on the porch, with Peter Jellard and Ann Marie Saunders each playing the fiddle, Colleen Wilder on vocals and accordion, Jane Andres playing the fiddle and the accordion and Brian Andres on vocals and guitar.

Alongside them, a band of musicians from the music team at the Caribbean Workers Outreach Project played Caribbean music, with Curtis Thomas on vocals, Ezekial Samuels on keyboard, Jason Moodie playing conga drums and Richard Palmer on bass guitar.

Jane Andres said they had a good turnout from neighbours who came to hear them play.

Plus, she said, their music was accompanied by a chorus of sheep in the valley next to them.

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