POWNAL – After moving to Pownal from Austin, Texas, in September, Wren and Jamie Pearson began to look for ways to involve themselves in the creative community of the tri-town area.

Combining their passions for music and art, the couple decided in December to host a monthly gathering at Fuego Diablo, the art gallery space they created in their home on Loring Lane. The Pearsons said the event, which they describe as free-range music and art, is part hootenanny, part community potluck supper, and part creative forum. It’s an “open mic’ without a mic,” said Wren Pearson, and takes place literally in their living room. The Pearsons do not charge for admission.

“We were looking to build a base of people who needed an outlet here in town,” said Jamie Pearson, 36, a native of Thirsk, a small town located in the Hambleton district of North Yorkshire, England.

Before moving to Texas three years ago to be with Wren, Jamie Pearson, who records his music under the name Mr. Bear, was a touring musician in the United Kingdom, where he played in numerous bands specializing in ska, a form of early reggae steeped in Caribbean mento, American blues, calypso, and jazz. As the British ska revival of the 1990s died down, he found himself tired of the constant gigging.

“My bandmates and I were all working full time, too. It was a case of finishing work, loading gear into a van and driving 50 miles to play for a room of not very interested people,” he said. “We barely made petrol money, it got tiresome.”

To continue his career but without the hassles of touring, Pearson began experimenting with electronic music through his laptop and a portable four-track recorder. After meeting Wren online and moving to Texas to be with her, Pearson continued to participate in open-mic nights in Austin and was hooked on the free-form, no-rules environment of the gatherings. After the couple briefly lived in Bradenton, Fla., he brought his generous musical spirit with him when Freeport-native Wren wanted to return home to Maine.

“It was great to show up with just a guitar and jam,” said Jamie Pearson. “The camaraderie and connection with other musicians was wonderful.”

The 47-year-old Wren Pearson said the couple was also inspired by the annual South by South West music conference in Austin. The event traditionally draws 1,000 or so bands that descend on the central Texas city for a weeklong celebration of music.

“Because of the sheer number of bands, performances would be staged in unconventional places like people’s back yards. Jamie and I figured we could do something similar here, even if we didn’t have a traditional stage,” she said.

The “stage” at Fuego Diablo is a corner of the couple’s living room. Built with locally sourced wood from a sawyer, the room has the feel of a comfortable log cabin with good “creative bones,” said Wren Pearson. The house is filled with instruments and the walls decorated by Wren’s art, primarily folksy, primitive paintings of animals, fish and other inspirations from the great outdoors. Two strings of red and white lights flank the performance area to create the look and feel of an authentic folk club.

So far, the monthly gatherings have enticed a wide range of musicians who play everything from bluegrass and folk to modern rock. Jamie Pearson informally leads the proceedings, but does not impose rules or a specific song structure.

“Luckily, the jams take on a life of their own and I don’t have to be bandleader for three hours,” he said. “It’s an open stage for anyone, including poets, comedians or actors.”

For Pownal resident and multi-instrumentalist Rod Pervier, the monthly event provides a safe and informal outlet to workshop new material.

“It’s a very unique environment. Jamie can play anything and has such a huge musical vocabulary,” said the 56-year-old Pervier. “I’m interested and excited to see what the event evolves into.”

Through word of mouth, the event has grown in popularity and introduced the couple to many like-minded souls in the area.

“For such a small area, Pownal has a great deal of amazingly creative people,” said Wren Pearson.

If the momentum and interest continue, the Pearsons will move the gathering outside in the summer.

“It’s just been great, especially in the dead of winter,” said Jamie Pearson. “Hopefully, we can give the community and ourselves something to look forward to every few weeks.”

Wren and Jamie Pearson inside Fuego Diablo, their art gallery/home in Pownal. They host a monthly gathering of musicians, artists, and poets they refer to as a free-range music and art evening.