With guitar in hand, Shaun Verreault, frontman for popular Canadian band, Wide Mouth Mason, sits on a stool in Andy BriggsB次元官网网址� living room and scans the eager faces before him.

ItB次元官网网址檚 Saturday night and about 40 music lovers have gathered for another concert in BriggsB次元官网网址� Fernwood home.

By day he is a financial controller, but by night he has been bringing well-known solo artists, bands and their fans together since 2007, as part of his Victoria House Concert B.

B次元官网网址淚 get my (music) fix from these house concerts,B次元官网网址� Briggs says.

House concerts, though still largely underground and advertised through word of mouth, are gaining in popularity in Canada. Some artists even travel from home to home on house-concert circuits, says Verreault, who performed his first in BriggsB次元官网网址� home last August.

B次元官网网址淲hat this guy has done is unbelievable,B次元官网网址� the Vancouver resident, who has performed with his band in front of 60,000 people, tells tonightB次元官网网址檚 crowd. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 like the punk scene was in the B次元官网网址�70s.B次元官网网址�

Driven by a love of live music, Briggs has hosted more than 50 shows in his home, featuring the likes of Jay Semko from The Northern Pikes, Acres of Lions, Vince Vaccaro, Steph Macpherson, Jon and Roy, Snailhouse, The Autumn Portrait and Barney Bentall, among others.

The intimate live shows allow artists to try out new music on appreciative fans, as well as share stories about themselves and the songs they perform.

B次元官网网址淵ou can hear a pin drop, and thatB次元官网网址檚 why itB次元官网网址檚 so amazing,B次元官网网址� Briggs says. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 like being back stage for everyone.B次元官网网址�

The venue gives Verreault the chance to connect with fans, answer questions between sets and perform where there are no distractions. For these reasons, the artist says Briggs is a true B次元官网网址減atron of the arts.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a well-connected guy whose arranged it so people can come see an acoustic performer play without a P.A. (system) and neon signs crackling in the background, and without a pool table and without a hockey game on TV,B次元官网网址� Verreault says. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 just a musical, warm place.B次元官网网址�

Fans pay $20, every penny of which Briggs passes on to the artists.

B次元官网网址淚 got my moneyB次元官网网址檚 worth when he (Shaun Verreault) walked by and shook my hand,B次元官网网址� says Steve Archambault, seated three rows back where BriggsB次元官网网址� living and dining rooms connect.

B次元官网网址淭his is 10 times the intimacy because theyB次元官网网址檙e right there,B次元官网网址� says the Esquimalt resident, who first heard about Victoria House Concert B two years ago. B次元官网网址淭his is bringing back music the way it should be. It doesnB次元官网网址檛 get any better than this.B次元官网网址�

For details check out Victoria House Concert B on .