The Being Small is Convenient Trio is becoming less convenient
January 28, 2026 9:17 AM
A small Antigonish group is no longer content to enhance the art appreciation experience. The Being Small is Convenient Trio, best known as the compact group that plays on opening nights at the campus art gallery, are expanding their stage presence to their very own show this Friday, and again next weekend in Halifax, Feb 6, at the Jazz East headquarters, 1313 Hollis St. Both shows are to raise money for the international development charity Oxfam.
The creative jazz group is made up of three StFX jazz students: saxophonist Andrew MacKelvie, third year, of Pictou, NS, guitarist Jessica Ackerley, fourth year, of Airdrie, AB, and drummer Steve Wilton, third year, of New Waterford, NS.
This weekend is the trio’s first show independent of a gallery opening. “We’re nervous, because people are actually going to be listening to us,” explained Jessica, “We can’t just be noise in the background.”
However, they are excited as well, since, as Andrew put it, “we’ll get to do lots of things we don’t usually get to do when we play at the gallery…. Expect it to get loud.”
As far as any plans go to grow in membership, thus becoming slightly less convenient, the trio is interested. “We’ve been talking about it, we just haven’t done it yet,” said Jessica.
Aside from venue possibilities and membership, the group is growing in other ways, too. The three members allow all of their influences in when working through songs: “because we’re spontaneously playing on the spot, we don’t have any formal structure in terms of jazz standards or rock tunes,” explained Jessica. “Our most creative outlet at school right now is this group.”
As part of the Antigonish music scene, the trio is experiencing the same claustrophobia as many local musicians. Jessica echoed a sentiment expressed by Mike Dalton earlier this year: “[A] lot of these other musicians playing in Antigonish are getting these gigs at the local venues, and we could potentially be playing at [those gigs] too, but we are so segregated.”
Andrew agreed, but insisted that the chance is there for those who would take it: “in Antigonish, you have to make opportunities.”
Antigonish may be hurting for venues, but whether or not the space exists, the Being Small is Convenient Trio is one group to look out for in tight spaces.