Stirling Musical Instrument Lending Library

05/28/2026

And YOU
could UKULELE Too...!

The Stirling MILL Ukulele Group (SMUG) that meets Fridays 10-12 in the Art Gallery is having an Open House and Concert on Saturday, June 13th from 10:30-12 in support of the Stirling Musical Instrument Lending Library. Drop in to sing along or try a ukulele! Everyone welcome!

Free will offering for the Stirling Musical Instrument Lending Library.

04/27/2026

Love the autoharp, or curious about picking one up? This one's for you.

Join us Saturday, May 2nd (11 am–1 pm) at the Stirling MILL for a free 2-hour workshop with Libby Hortop of Ottawa Autoharps — musician, teacher, and Autoharp Tech to the Kemptville MILL.

You'll learn how to repair broken strings and worn felts, tune your instrument (even when it's badly out of tune), and play in flat and upright positions.

No registration needed — just show up. Bring your own autoharp or borrow one of ours.

Join us at the Stirling MILL, Upstairs in the Stirling-Rawdon Public Library on 43 West Front St., Stirling, ON K0K 3E0 · Saturday, May 2 · 11 am–1 pm
343-367-4002 · [email protected]

04/03/2026

HOLIDAY HOURS at the Stirling MILL.
● CLOSED Saturday, April 4th.
● OPEN Tuesday, April 7th

Check our website for more information: www.stirlingmill.ca
Have a good weekend, we look forward to see you back at the MILL on Tuesday afternoon.

Your Music Community Access to musical instruments and music opportunities for Rural Residents, Villages, Small Towns and Urban Centres alike! Welcome! Lots of info here about the Stirling MILL: who…

12/26/2025

HOLIDAY HOURS at the Stirling MILL...

OPEN Tuesday, December 23rd
CLOSED Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and...
OPEN Tuesday, December 30th

Wishing you all a VERY Happy Christmas and Holiday time.

For more info on the Stirling MILL and our instrument lending program, please check our website: https://stirlingmill.ca

PS - (Ref. 'Letter from Santa') If YOU would like to pay us NOT to lend YOUR CHILD a Drum Set...
Or otherwise contribute a few bucks to help us run the MILL's instrument lending program...
Your GIFT can be made by cash, cheque or e-Transfer to [email protected]
Charitable Receipts may be requested for Donations of $20 or more.

12/15/2025

NEW dedicated MILL Phone

We have a new dedicated phone number*! You can now reach the MILL Staff directly at 343-367-4002.

Please Note: Because we are a volunteer-run organization, this line is staffed only during our open hours (Tues 3:00–6:30 PM & Sat 10:00 AM–2:30 PM).

• Need a quick answer during open hours? Give us a call!
• Calling off-hours? Please leave a voicemail, and we will return your call during our next open shift.
• Need a faster response? Email is still the best way to reach us at [email protected]

(*the Curator may still be reached directly at 613-661-6183 or [email protected] )

And, as always, please check out our website. You can request an instrument loan, put through a loan renewal, update your annual Patron registration... All of this and more, online at

Your Music Community Access to musical instruments and music opportunities for Rural Residents, Villages, Small Towns and Urban Centres alike! Welcome! Lots of info here about the Stirling MILL: who…

11/11/2025

The Stirling MILL is CLOSED today, in respect for our Remembrance Day, November 11th.

For those who served and never came home, for those who came home terribly damaged. For those who have seen and been part of such hideous things; for those who have suffered such things done, and for all those suffering still today. Please take 2 minutes (or more) and pause to remember.

The MILL will be open again in Stirling tomorrow, Wednesday afternoon. Come visit us then from 3 - 6:30 pm.

Song von Eric Bogle

09/02/2025

"WE WARNED YOU about MUSICIANS WITH HATS (it's where the $ goes)...
Now, how do you feel about CURATORS WITH BUCKETS...?"
(an exciting moment at Blue Moon 2025)

Please enjoy the video. Many thanks to Sophie, Joel and Torbic for their very able support on stage. (Video credit: A. Nielsen)
..AND for those who were not able to join with us last Saturday evening, if you would also like to contribute a buck or few to Sophie's bucket, the Stirling MILL can certainly use the additional $ support. You may e-Transfer donations to: [email protected]

Only $30 a year to borrow instruments from the Stirling MILL (as many as you like, one after another, all year long...) And it does cost more than that (per Patron) to operate our instrument lending program. We deeply appreciate the generosity of our neighbours and friends of the Stirling MILL, across all the communities we serve.

And now, the video... (MONEY... Let it roll!)

08/25/2025

Blue Moon 2025
Live music, music and more music on stage...
Saturday, August 30th, from 4 – 10-ish (maybe later...?) here on the farm, northeast of Stirling

Jesse Greene – https://www.thejessegreeneband.com – Jesse Greene is THE top new Blues Guitarist and Vocalist on the Toronto music scene. Playing roots and blues all her life, Jesse harkens to the musical styles and energy of Bonnie Raitt, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Janis Joplin and Bessie Smith.

Torbic Kagmire – Madman with an accordion & beat box, “It’s Rock’n’roll!” (And it’s here to stay...) Back again by popular demand, to prance, dance, and entrance and enhance the evening concert...

Joy and the Silhouettes – Vintage soul, soft pop, folk and country. Young up and coming local band! Highly recommended by our VERY discriminating MC*

Jerry Whyte – Solid tunes, favourite & familiar; Jerry catches your feet tapping. A favourite wherever he goes on stage, Jerry is a VERY classy act indeed.

Plus Anissa Nielsen and one or two other friends of the Stirling MILL

Our MC* is Joel Molloy (and that’s a whole act in itself!)

NEW This Year – Afternoon Workshop!! – 4 PM

Kazoo U – Hosted by Joel Molloy and supplied with a (not quite) bottomless bag of FREE kazoos (thanks L&McQ), Kazoo U introduces the gentle (and sometimes not so much) ‘Art of the Kazoo’ to those not previously initiated, while offering those happy ones already afflicted an opportunity to polish up their tunitality.

Corn Boil and Potluck starting up at 5-ish with an open stage before the main acts kick in for the evening.

Wanna share a tune? Bring your instrument and audition for quick couple of songs at the mic! We have 2 or 3 quick spots available to open the stage show and fill between acts. (There’ll be a full-size Roland piano on stage.)

There’ll be music, potluck and community while we raise a few dollars for the Stirling Musical Instrument Lending Library.

Sweet corn... There will be sweet corn (your RSVP will help ensure there’s enough for you), butter and salt and paper towel to wipe the butter from your fingers. Other than that, it’s pretty much BYOW (‘W’ = Whatever). Feel free to bring something picnicky/potlucky to share. There will be serving tables (with compostable plates & cutlery) close to a firepit down near the stage. (That’s where we cook the corn; along with hot coals and barbeque space for those who wish to grill.)

Please don't forget a chair (the ground is more level near the stage) or a blanket for sitting on the hill.

Note: This is my own private party (by invitation). There are no tickets or a cost to attend. We will be 'passing the hat' and invite those who are able to contribute a few bucks to benefit the Stirling MILL: $5s, $50s or whatever, all contributions appreciated & used well.

There is camping available from Friday for ‘outatowners’.

Contact: James at 613-661-6183, [email protected]

The Jesse Greene Band, music, show times, merch and the latest news.

08/25/2025

THIS SATURDAY (afternoon and evening)...!
Heads up neighbours...
Friends...
and Patrons of the Stirling MILL. Please come out and join us. This will be good.

Blue Moon 2025
Live music, music and more music on stage...
Saturday, August 30th, from 4 – 10-ish (maybe later...?) here on the farm, northeast of Stirling

Jesse Greene – https://www.thejessegreeneband.com – Jesse Greene is THE top new Blues Guitarist and Vocalist on the Toronto music scene. Playing roots and blues all her life, Jesse harkens to the musical styles and energy of Bonnie Raitt, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Janis Joplin and Bessie Smith.

Torbic Kagmire – Madman with an accordion & beat box, “It’s Rock’n’roll!” (And it’s here to stay...) Back again by popular demand, to prance, dance, and entrance and enhance the evening concert...

Joy and The Silhouettes – Vintage soul, soft pop, folk and country. Young up and coming local band! Highly recommended by our VERY discriminating MC*

Jerry Whyte – Solid tunes, favourite & familiar; Jerry catches your feet tapping. A favourite wherever he goes on stage, Jerry is a VERY classy act indeed.

Plus Anissa Nielsen and one or two other friends of the Stirling MILL

Our MC* is Joel Molloy (and that’s a whole act in itself!)

NEW This Year – Afternoon Workshop!! – 4 PM

Kazoo U – Hosted by Joel Molloy and supplied with a (not quite) bottomless bag of FREE kazoos (thanks L&McQ), Kazoo U introduces the gentle (and sometimes not so much) ‘Art of the Kazoo’ to those not previously initiated, while offering those happy ones already afflicted an opportunity to polish up their tunitality.
Corn Boil and Potluck starting up at 5-ish with an open stage before the main acts kick in for the evening.

Wanna share a tune? Bring your instrument and audition for a couple of songs at the mic! We have 2 or 3 quick spots available to open the stage show and fill between acts. (There’ll be a full-size Roland piano on stage.)

There’ll be music, potluck and community while we raise a few dollars for the Stirling Musical Instrument Lending Library.
Sweet corn... There will be sweet corn (your RSVP will help ensure there’s enough for you), butter and salt and paper towel to wipe the butter from your fingers. Other than that, it’s pretty much BYOW (‘W’ = Whatever). Feel free to bring something picnicky/potlucky to share. There will be serving tables (with compostable plates & cutlery) close to a firepit down near the stage. (That’s where we cook the corn; along with hot coals and barbeque space for those who wish to grill.) Please don't forget a chair (the ground is more level near the stage) or a blanket for sitting on the hill.

Note: This is my own private party (by invitation). There are no tickets or a cost to attend. We will be 'passing the hat' and invite those who are able to contribute a few bucks to benefit the Stirling MILL: $5s, $50s or whatever, all contributions appreciated & used well. There is camping available from Friday for ‘outatowners’.

Contact: James at 613-661-6183, [email protected]

The Jesse Greene Band, music, show times, merch and the latest news.

07/01/2025

🇨🇦 Canada Day 🇨🇦
We're on holiday! (Just like you.) 🙂
The Stirling MILL will be OPEN on WEDNESDAY, July 2nd from 3 - 6:30. We look forward to see you then.
Have a safe and happy Canada Day celebration!

Your Music Community Access to musical instruments and music opportunities for Rural Residents, Villages, Small Towns and Urban Centres alike! Welcome! Lots of info here about the Stirling MILL: who…