Tammy Weymoth needs music like a fish needs water.

So living in Merritt, which boasts such a vibrant music scene, is just about perfect for her.

Weymoth had a secret dream she kept to herself mostly, and that dream was to one day find herself on stage, belting out a tune onstage at the Yale in Vancouver.

So imagine her surprise a few weeks ago when she found herself doing just that.

“I never thought I would get to sing there,” admitted Weymoth. “And it was strange because it was Plenty of Fish night (an online dating service by that name) at the Yale. My husband and I went to Vancouver two years ago just to listen to the blues and we thought the Yale was a really cool place to go. So I was pretty surprised, stunned really, when I was asked to get up on stage at the Yale when we were down there for the CCMA’s (Canadian Country Music Awards) a couple of weeks ago.”

Weymoth chose to sing a tune Bonnie Raitt does, a John Prine-written song called Angel From Montgomery.

“It went great,” said Weymoth. “I felt very comfortable and the band was fantastic.”

Weymoth herself is modest and pretty laid back about her music, yet serious, too.

“Aw, I play a bit of tambourine here and there, plus the odd set of pots and pans, you know the kitchen utensils,” she joked. “We have a lot of kitchen parties, so I fit right in.”

Well, that’s not quite true. Weymoth has recorded some songs in Kelowna with Kenny Byrka (Sled Dogs), with whom she will be appearing Nov. 6 in Kelowna during the Interior Music Awards.

“I like a mixture of music, but it’s starting to get serious now,” she admits.

Merritt is an ideal place for serious musicians because there is a fully-equipped and functional recording studio in town, called the Iron Mountain Music.

Weymoth has performed at Iron Mountain  Music for the past five years and the Capital Sound Stage for the past 18 months.

She has been featured in Thompson Life magazine and the best may be yet to come.

On Nov. 10, Weymoth will be playing with Tribal Funk in Merritt, along with Keith Emerson of the famed Emerson Lake and Palmer musical group. They’ll be on stage during the Okanagan Film Society’s gala.

“Growing up, I was influenced by a lot of people,” said Weymoth. “I liked Patsy Cline at first, then I liked the Judds, Rascal Flatts, Celine Dion, Amanda Marshall. There’s lots.”

She even got to meet some of her idols during various Merritt Mountain Music Fests over the years.

“My favourite?” she asked. “Oh, that’s hard. There’s so many. Reba McIntire comes to mind. And Martina McBride was wonderful. I was overwhelmed at the CCMAs this year when she got up and sang. I was just overwhelmed. She stole the show, I thought.”

Weymoth sees a difference between the young stars today and a lot of the older, more established stars.

“The young ones, they seem to want to talk and mingle,” says Weymoth. “The older ones, some but not all, want to come in, perform, and get out. It’s just business to them. They’ve seen it all before. But people like Reba and Martina, they’re special, just wonderful people. I just love to get up and sing. As long as I have music, I’m happy.”