Jul 06, 2009 - 08:45 AM

By Jeff Hayward

UXBRIDGE -- Ron Beer has been singing since the age of 15.

The seasoned musician, now 51, just released his third CD and is receiving FM radio play in Australia, said the Markham native. He has played at popular Toronto venues including the Rivoli and Hugh's Room.

But what brought him, and other veteran award-winning musicians, to the quiet town of Uxbridge?

In Mr. Beer's case, it was merely chance. He was tipped off about "a great coffee shop" -- Harlow's Wine Bar and Grille on Brock Street in Uxbridge -- while playing a gig for patients at the Markham Stouffville Hospital, he said."I just walked in (to Harlow's) one day with my guitar," said Mr. Beer of the 'audition' to play there, following up with a live 'by request' performance on June 6.

Meanwhile, big-city names in the music world, including Ron Sexsmith, Jenny Whiteley and Stephen Fearing, all three Juno award winners, have seized the opportunity to play in Uxbridge and the surrounding area. Mogens Galberg, co-founder of the Greenbank Folk Music Society, said it was surprisingly easy to book those acts into Centennial Hall on Hwy. 12 in Scugog. Mr. Sexsmith first played in Greenbank in 1996, shortly after the release of an album, said Mr. Galberg.

"He was hungry for gigs," said Mr. Galberg. "A lot of musicians will seek us out because we have a reputation."

Ms. Whiteley, who also offered a free songwriting workshop in Uxbridge last year for aspiring musicians, has a local connection in Vanessa Slater, director of the Uxbridge Youth Centre. Ms. Slater said she and Ms. Whiteley met in high school in Toronto, then went to university together.

Rik Emmett, formerly of platinum-record winning rock band Triumph, is another example of a star landing in the north through a common denominator. Uxbridge's Chris Wilson said family pal Scott Crockatt, also of Uxbridge, helped bring that act to town, with the award-winning guitarist first performing in Uxbridge about a decade ago.

"(James Amundson) and I had just promoted Spirit of the West, and a friend of my family caught the show," said Mr. Wilson, adding Mr. Crockatt also knows Mr. Emmett. "He put me in touch with Rik's agent."

Meanwhile, while established acts are coming into the area, Uxbridge residents are diving head-first into the music scene. Two examples are Lauren Christoff and Leah Speers, both performing outside township borders.

Ms. Speers credits local groups for shaping her career, first joining the Uxbridge Youth Choir at the age of seven, then moving on to the Uxbridge Musical Theatre.

"That's where I caught the performing bug," she said of the latter organization.

Ms. Speers was also a 2005 recipient of an Uxbridge Music Scholarship, helping her study music at a college level.

"I have been so blessed to have had the support of many local teachers," she added.

Meanwhile, Ms. Christoff's first single, Won't Stop, went top 40 in the country last year, according to Alex Arnold of her label, Northern Heights Records. The young star is gearing up for a cross-Canada tour in July, hitting 20 cities in 21 days, said Mr. Arnold. According to Ms. Christoff's fan page at myspace.com/laurenchristoff, that tour includes a July 10 stop in Toronto.