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When Jessica Wilson comes to the Welland Public Library (WPL), it’s not to check out books.
Instead, the singer-actress is there to belt out a few tunes, as she has been a fixture at the book repository’s Loud in the Library live music events.
“I’ve been to every one,” said the Welland native, who now calls Toronto home. “I think this is my fifth or sixth.”
Wilson was joined by Lucas Spinosa on drums. Together, the pair make up the duo AfterSchool. And on Jan. 5, the pair were playing alongside veteran Welland musician Ron Repovs when Loud in the Library made its return after a two-year hiatus brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.
While not your typical music venue, Wilson loves playing at the library.
“The acoustics are great,” she said. “It’s such a unique event for the area and it’s so nice that the city can provide it.”
For Repovs, it was his first time playing for library patrons and visitors just looking for a way to enjoy some live music without heading to a bar.
“It’s kind of exciting,” he said. “It’s definitely unique.”
Marla Bestward, co-ordinator of outreach services for the WPL, said the idea of hosting the concert events is to bring more people into the library and tear down some clichés at the same time.
“We just wanted to have an event that is fun and show that the library is not all quiet, all the time. It’s just a nice community event.”
It was also a relief to finally see Loud in the Library back in business, she said. The events are popular, typically drawing upwards of 150 people.
“We had our last one on Jan. 2, 2020,” she said.
In addition to the live music, attendees were also treated to free pizza and snacks.
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