Canby’s locally owned source for musical instruments, supplies, repair and lessons will once again host its anniversary block party this summer, offering free food, live music, giveaways and fun for the whole family.
The party will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, June 18, at Canby Music, 590 Northwest 2nd Avenue, to coincide with the 14th anniversary of the store. Family, friends and community members of all ages are welcome to enjoy kid-friendly fun, free food, tours of the store and other goodies.
“It’s a good time,” Canby Music owner Brian Haines said. “We’ll have a huge block party with a bouncy house, hamburgers, hot dogs and soft drinks. Live music on the porch, performed by all the people who work here and a lot of our friends.”
The yearly anniversary celebration is something Haines started when he first opened Canby Music at its original location in June 2008, but the tradition lapsed after a while. He and the team brought the idea back last year at the new store, and it was a hit.
“We had really good turnout, better than we expected, and everybody had a good time so we decided to do it again,” Haines said.
The new store is located in a nearly century-old home that Haines and his crew renovated and remodeled. It features sweeping porches on two sides, which Haines said he always envisioned as being perfect for laid-back outdoor concerts in the summertime.
“It was actually something we always wanted to do at the old location, but there was no room,” he said. “Now that we finally have the space, we’re making it happen.”
Haines jokes that when he started the store 14 years ago, the nation was entering the Great Recession, the historic economic downturn field by the bursting of the U.S. housing bubble — then moved to the store’s new and much larger location in 2020, when life for most Americans was upended once again by the global pandemic.
“Don’t worry — I’m not moving again,” Haines said with a laugh.
Despite school music programs entering the summer break, Canby Music stays busy through the summer month repairing instruments and doing lessons. The store actually has a wait list for lessons right now and is looking to hire local musicians who may be interested in coming on as instructors.
“There are a lot of people who are musicians who don’t think they can teach,” Haines said. “I know because I used to be one. But when I started the store, a lot of people were asking if I do guitar lessons. I just said, ‘Yes,’ and the rest is history.
“If you’re interested, and you have a passion for music, give us a call. You’d be surprised at how different it might be from what you think.”
And Haines, like many Cabyites, is excited about the return of the traditional Canby Independence Day Celebration and parade, in which the store plans to participate with its usual mobile concert hall.
Haines has not yet finalized the store’s setlist for the event, but party favorites like “Walking on Sunshine,” “More Than a Feeling,” “Uptown Funk” and “Shut Up and Dance” are strong contenders.
“Last year, we were in Wait Park because there was no parade but I really like being on the float,” he said. “It’s fun to go around town and play music on the back of the trailer.”
Canby Music is located at 590 NW 1st Avenue in Canby. For more information, call 503-263-2263 or visit canbymusic.com.
