Long Needed Dance Bar Returns to Cornwall

Shooters Pub and Nightclub is a great spot in the West part of Cornwall, Ontario, close to the ruins of the former Domtar Plant, and Riverdale neighbourhood. The club has had a long story, it’s been an adult dance bar for most of its history, before it was converted into Roadhouse Pub. It was briefly a Joey’s restaurant too.

Now, the place is under new branding, Yogesh Patel; who owns 2 East Side Mario’s, as well as Mexi’s located downtown, near the Cornwall jail museum; amongst other businesses in town, and beyond. I had the honour, and privilege, of being the DJ at the venue over the summer of 2024. It was a retro themed night, a mix of Afro, and European dance from the 1980s. Many good friends turned out to show their support. I have become a regular, and strong, unofficial promoter, ever since. The food is good, pool is free, and the kitchen is open late. They have tacos, nachos, fish and chips, burgers, loaded fries, appetizers, pizza. The specials are really awesome too, and cost saving!

The staff are warm, and friendly; always smiling. Fridays, and Saturdays are packed with dancers. It really becomes a nightclub around 11-2am. I’ve even been here at full capacity sometimes; which is amazing to see, especially with how different, and ever changing the bar scene has become. I miss dance bars, glad to see them start to return. During the day, it tends to be quieter, and feels more like a restaurant. There’s a couple of slot machines if you want to try your luck.

Sundays at 7pm-11pm my good friend, and fellow DJ Glōm, hosts karaoke nights. They are always a good time, and the sound system is incredible. Some of our favourite duets include; Video Killed the Radio Star - The Buggles, as well as Barbie Girl - Aqua, to name a few…I couldn’t recommend a cooler place to spend your free time, than Shooters Pub and Nightclub. There’s a growing turnout, with people from as far as Morrisburg, and Winchester, coming down to sing.

The venue is located at 830 Second St W, Cornwall, ON, Canada. I look forward to meeting you all in person, for a pint or two at some point. Good friends, good music, good fun.

 

Hopefully I can do some more shows there soon. I’ve been so busy working around town. If you’d like to book me for a show; be it live singing, or DJ mixing the boards, please get in touch through booking forms on this website.

Until next time, don’t ever stop trying in art, business, or life…

James

Looking for Me?

Last summer, was a big leap in my transition, from a mostly studio based artist, into a live setting again. Whilst it is true, that I’ve performed live, I had never toured around with it the way I am doing now, the last performances I had done, of my own original music, prior to 2023, were back in my high school days!

2020, during the whole national closing down ordeal, that all Canadians went through, I spent that time continuing my second album, a project at that point in time that was going to be called ‘Corrupted’, but would eventually become ‘Rescue Me’, as we know it today. All I did during those days was work my full time job, at a local tire warehouse in Cornwall, Ontario, Canada, then headed home, to work on my craft in my free time. I was able to collaborate with some surprising people, from all over the world, as well as closer to home. I’ve mentioned these folks in previous blog articles. From Cape Town, South Africa/Old Orchard Beach, Maine/Ottawa, Ontario.

By the time 2023 rolled around, things had started to calm down a bit, and places had reopened fully, as it was before the lockdown. I was able to go out to bars, and began to sing regularly at Rendezvous Restaurant, in Cornwall. It was there I met my friend Rodney Rivette, owner of Rockstar Party Productions, who runs the karaoke nights on a Wednesday, Saturday, every week (as of writing this) starting at 8pm. During my fun, and sometimes wild nights at that great venue, I was able to meet, and sing alongside some wonderful talent. Typically, I would drink 0% beer, which would allow me the freedom to drive wherever I wanted to after, say if I wanted to sing karaoke at another bar, I would not be limiting my transportation options.

That’s where I would meet Jonny Yumang, a highly talented, respected, and seasoned performer who even made a cameo appearance in my music video shot that summer, called ‘Señorita Por Favor’. I look forward to working with him, as well as the other great performers that I’ve had the pleasure of dancing, and crooning beside. No windows broken by our voices yet, and believe me we’ve tried…

Whilst singing karaoke, I met a fan of mine Bertha, who asked if I would be able to perform for the White Knucklerz RC, a local riding club that raise money for children with life threatening illness, and help them get their dream toy. I agreed to meet up with them, and on July 15th 2023 I had my first original live show. It was lots of fun, but a very hot and humid day, I would quickly discover. After that I went on to perform again, for the Martintown Grist Mill on that same month. The crowd was small that day, perhaps 10 people or so, and it was sweltering with heat, but I still managed to pool in $80 in tips, as well as sell one of the bracelets that my friend Mel had made for me to sell to fans.

Pictured: Rescue Me album opened up, it was a CD in a vinyl record style.

Later that year I created my CD versions of both ‘Wine’ (my 2017 album), and ‘Rescue Me’ which I released at that moment. I sold the pair $10 for Wine, and $20 for Rescue Me. In total by the end of the year I’d sold over 30 copies! I sign each copy for my fans. A print shop in Summerstown, close to the local small airport, called P&L Printing, helped me create my labels, and cover cards, I duplicate the CDs myself using a tower.

Pictured: My new album merch has arrived, ‘Rescue Me’ shirts have been selling nicely too. I’m in the process of ordering more as of writing this article.

So as it stands now, if you scroll to the bottom of my homepage on my official website: www.jameshardiment.com

You will find a contact form, which allows you to book me for a live event this 2024 season. My base rate is $250 and that price will increase by $100 based on how many extra performers or crew that I’d require. That base rate is based on a show that lasts up to 4 hours with intermission. I will do charity shows, if I approve of the organization, for free, I just ask that I am allowed to set up a merch table to sell my CDs, and Shirts, etc. to support myself (15% of proceeds will be donated to the host and their charity).

You can also just email: jameshardiment@outlook.com

I look forward to this new season, and can’t wait to engage, and connect with more of my incredible fans!

Until next time…

James

Mixing Things Up…

So for those new to my blog, my name is James Hardiment, I’m a British born, Canadian singer/songwriter based near Cornwall, Ontario, Canada. I’ve been back in the area for many years now. I invested a lot of money this summer on speakers, mixing boards, microphones, and more so I can finally perform my original music to a live audience.

My style, as I have mentioned in previous blog posts, is a combination of pop, rock, alternative, dance, and Italo Disco. I was lucky, and honoured, to perform in front of audiences this past summer, both in Martintown, Ontario, and also a charity event in Cornwall, Ontario, Canada. I have more shows in the works, but I spent the rest of my summer trying to finish mixing my album myself. I had about half of it mixed up in Ottawa, by the super talented sound engineer, Josh Hart, who mixed my first album. It’s not my first time mixing music, however I liked to get a second pair of ears on the project, I was also lacking the equipment to do so for awhile.

I finally bit the bullet, and invested significant amount of personal funds into a new laptop, mixing software, plug-ins, video editing software, and more gear to improve the overall quality of my work. Now that’s finally starting to pay off in a big way. The album is complete, as of last week, and the CDs are made, a process in which I was heavily involved in the creation process. I had an awesome local print shop, based in Summerstown, Ontario, print my CD labels, and cover artwork, onto a nice glossy paper. P&L Printing, and I couldn’t recommend them more! The turnaround time was close to lighting fast, and the end result still gives me tingles! As of writing this I’ve sold over 10 copies in the first few days. Which for an indie artist, that does almost all of his marketing by himself, is a pretty awesome achievement.

Special thanks to Yafa Goawily, and Modern Primitive Cornwall Square, in Cornwall, Ontario, Canada, for allowing me to sell my CDs, and photography at their Open House Event on Saturday November 4th 2023. It was really fun showcasing some of my work to the shoppers that passed by.

I spent the better part of an evening burning my CDs one at a time using a vinyl style of disc last week on a Thursday evening. It took about 6 hours to create 40 CDs with one burner, I set up in a quiet corner of Jack’s Pub in Williamstown. A great little restaurant, and bar, which I hope to write a piece on soon, a lovely spot nestled just outside of Cornwall. Their food is so good, the staff so warm, and friendly, and it doesn’t seem as dramatic as the city bars can be sometimes, which is a nice change of pace.

It feels good to finally complete this album, another accomplishment to be proud of in my life, which I try to make the most of while I still can. So many people I have known over the years are no longer with us anymore, some unfortunately younger than myself. I try to work on my passions, dreams, and help others with theirs along the way.

‘Rescue Me’ album interior of the CD, I went with a retro vinyl style for my discs. ‘Cute 4 Ya Height Records’, was a name inspired by a drunkard fellow I encountered at the bar once who was measuring girls with a tape measure, telling them that they were “pretty cute for their height”, it was rather bizarre and amusing at the same time. The same fellow once gave my friend an Asian pear as she was working, tried to give me a block of caramel straight from his jacket pocket in no packaging. Keep in mind I did not know who he was either. That’s part of the fun of entering the nightlife of your local town!

“Wine” CD is currently selling for $10

“Rescue Me” CD is currently selling for $20

Contact me if you would like a copy, on social media, or email, all the links to my socials are at the top of my website as buttons. Be sure to like, follow, share, and subscribe to my channels.

Thanks again fans, for your continuing support,

James

A Walk into Cornwall...

It was a gorgeous, clear, golden morning, a few weeks ago. I had woken up early, after a night of karaoke fun, now safe from the craziness of the bar, at my house in Long Sault, Ontario, Canada. It’s not in the town of Long Sault, closer to the 401 Highway if anything. I often walk or bike in the summer time when I can do it, just one of the many activities I enjoy doing. It gives me a great opportunity to keep my photography, and videography skills as sharp as possible.

I took a stroll down Headline Rd. which is a less densely populated street just outside of Cornwall, surrounded by farm fields, and also forest. It eventually crosses the 138 Highway which leads to the 417 to get up to the nations capital city, Ottawa. I was starting at the other end of the road, close to Power Dam Drive, which heads into Cornwall southbound, and up to the roads that take you to St. Andrews West, and the town of Long Sault. As I got closer to the 138, there are 2 trails, one on each side of the road, known as the South Stormont Recreational Trails. For those that don’t know South Stormont is one of the counties in our province of Ontario, in which the bike paths are located. One walkway leads to St. Andrews West, which is a tiny picturesque village, located at a crossroads of the 138 highway. There is an impressive historical stone church, as well as a great little restaurant called Quinn’s Inn built in 1865 by John Sanfield MacDonald, who would later become the First Premier of Ontario from 1867-1871 according to their official website.

I wasn’t heading up to St. Andrews West that day though, I was headed to Cornwall, to the place I commute through every day. Instead of by car, I was on foot, instead of working, I was exploring, and appreciating the nature which surrounded me at the same time. The bike trail was filled with cool DIY birdhouses, with lettering on them, as well as rocks painted with inspirational quotes. I snapped a few photos to show you below. I thought some of the messages were rather nice compliments, and encouraging words. Perhaps the idea is someone going on a solo walk can be cheered up a bit if they are going through some hardships in life?

Pictured: A friendly baby deer took a peak at me on a previous walk on the trails last summer! Thought I would share to brighten someones day I hope.

You can park your car close the entrance to the trails on the road if you aren’t a local. Both trails are nice but I prefer the one that takes you from Headline Rd. to St. Andrews. I find that one winds a bit more and is a little more interesting visually. I headed to town instead though, stopped by my favourite bar, Rendezvous to charge my phone up for a bit, have a cup of coffee, and an afternoon beer, before heading down to Lameroux Park in Cornwall to check out the St. Lawrence River. When the weather is nice I love to be outside, walking, biking, driving, sometimes I’ll head out with my headphones on to listen to a mix of a song, to make sure it sounds good. As I’ve mentioned before there are plenty of great biking trails in the area, and this is no exception to that. Sometimes you spot some interesting animals too, but in the summer months bug spray is a must!

For those that don’t know I am a singer/songwriter that moved back to the area from Ottawa in 2019. I work full time driving forklifts Monday-Friday 8-4.30pm, then I sell Men’s suits, and shoes, various evenings 5-9pm. The music is more of a hobby, but I do make some money from it, from time to time. I’m hoping to do more live shows in the coming months which will get my name out there more in the area. I have been building an online presence for years, one of my music videos, for a song called “Wine” has over 45,000 views on YouTube which I am happy for.

I hope to do more exploring on foot this summer, as well as by car, discover what I miss on a daily basis by taking the time and seeing what I can. Be sure to follow my social media pages for updates on upcoming music shows, and more! Just scroll to the bottom of the home page, all of my socials should be there.

Well that’s all for now folks,

James