Live music is proving a popular pairing at Marionette Winery.

Along with a passion for wine making, Jamie Smith, who operates Marionette with partner Amanda Eastwood, is perhaps equally enamoured with live music. A singer/songwriter himself, Smith over the years has developed a particular appreciation for small, intimate venues where musicians can connect with fellow music lovers.

鈥淚n the 鈥�60s, like Greenwich Village in New York where Bob Dylan started 鈥� I鈥檝e been reading that Greenwich Village was really places like this, small, intimate cafes run by beatniks鈥�,鈥� said Smith. 鈥淚 feel that鈥檚 where you can have something where you can gather a community of people who are amazed by songwriting and sort of embrace it.鈥�

This is the feeling Smith wanted to capture with live music nights in Marionette鈥檚 lounge. The fairly new addition to the business鈥� tasting room can be described as an intimate, warm space, with a small number of wood tables that can accommodate groups of four or more. A corner to the left of the wine bar is the designated space where musicians, particularly singer/songwriters, are welcomed to perform.

鈥淚 am really surprised and encouraged by the reaction that we鈥檝e had here, of people just being really excited to come and hear, not a specific person, not a person that鈥檚 a friend of theirs or somebody that works with them 鈥� they鈥檝e started to come because it鈥檚 a place where they know there鈥檒l be a songwriter even if they don鈥檛 know that person鈥檚 songs,鈥� said Smith.

Musicians who share Smith鈥檚 love for that intimate connection with an audience are discovering Marionette, where increasingly that corner space is being occupied by performers on Saturday evenings, and even some weekdays.

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鈥淚 feel like the word of mouth got out to musicians long before the public started coming,鈥� said Smith, noting musicians from out of town are also starting to plan stops at the winery. Last summer, Ojibway singer/songwriter Mitchell Makoons, from Manitoba, performed at Marionette and Smith said he plans to return this summer.

On Fridays, if a live performance isn鈥檛 lined up, Marionette will host a vinyl lounge night, where people may come in, put on a record, choose a board game, order a beverage, a charcuterie platter or other food item, and have fun.

Curated by Smith, the vinyl collection offers a variety of contemporary classics, indie faves and some rarities.

鈥淚 remember as a kid, you鈥檇 go to your friend鈥檚 house, you鈥檇 go through their record collection, and 鈥榃hat the heck鈥檚 that?鈥� You鈥檇 put it on and be like, 鈥榃ow, I hate that,鈥� or 鈥楾hat鈥檚 a really good album!鈥� That鈥檚 what鈥檚 great about vinyl in a way, is being able to look through somebody鈥檚 collection, and that鈥檚 sort of the charm of this.鈥�

Over the summer, live performances move outdoors, where guests鈥� ears are treated to music and their eyes to the impressive view.

For more information about Marionette Winery, visit marionettewinery.com. For upcoming concerts, vinyl lounge nights and more, visit the winery鈥檚 page on Facebook.

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Marionnette Winery