Jim Byrnes, Paul Pigat band together for St. James Hall

Chuck Berry is considered by many to be the "Father of Rock n' Roll."

Bluesman Jim Byrnes grew up blocks away from guitar legend, and remembers seeing Berry driving around the streets of St. Louis.

"I met him when I was 10 years old," recalls Byrnes, who went on to work with him over the years.

Decades later, Byrnes is paying tribute to Berry's 90th birthday, and his label, Chess Records, with a concert to help St. James Hall, one of his favourite venues in his adopted home of Vancouver.

"They're dying like flies," said Byrnes of live music venues like St. James. "It so great to have something we can hold onto and call our own."

The former church has been used by the Rogue Folk Club since 2004, and is part of a larger community space known as St James Community Square. Last year, the City of Vancouver bought property after the original owners considered selling it, raising fears the Kitsilano property would give way to development.

The Saint James Community Square Society now has a long-term lease from the city, The not-for-profit society is responsible for raising funds for renovations to the aging wood structure. The Rogue Folk Club put together tonight's fundraising concert, which pairs Jim Byrnes with guitarist Paul Pigat.

"Chuck Berry and Chess Records are really important to me, and so is the hall," said Pigat. "So it seemed like the perfect storm."

The concert — which starts at 8 p.m. PT — is the first in a series of fundraising concerts planned by the Rogue Folk Club for the renovations. At the top of the list is a new floor and ventilation system.

With files from The Early Edition

To listen to the audio, click on the link labelled Jim Byrnes, Paul Pigat band together for St. James Hall