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Creative Current - Christmas music every which way you like it

Nadine Davenport's bi-monthly column of arts, theatre and music in the local area.

Spaghetti Dinner/Fundraiser tonight in Ashcroft

The Ashcroft branding committee is hosting another great Spaghetti Dinner and Fundraiser tonight, Thursday, Nov. 21 in the Ashcroft Community Hall. Doors open a 5 pm, Supper starts at 6. Sit down to a great meal  with neighbours and friends and feast on a delicious all-you-can-eat meal of spaghetti, garlic bread, salad and dessert. There will be spaghetti sauce for both meat-lovers and vegetarians.

A Silent and Live Auction will take place with all proceeds going to next summer’s Ashcroft Wellness Festival - July 18-20, 2014. Tickets available at Community Futures and the Ashcroft Bakery. Discounts for families.

The Riv Tiki Lounge Open Mic this Friday

Come on down and show your talent at the Tiki Lounge Open Mic night! Are you a Musician, Comedian, Singer, Guitarist, Juggler? The Tiki Lounge is back with an ‘Open Mic’ with your host, Nadine Davenport this month on Friday, Nov. 22.

The Tiki Lounge at The Riv also presents another great ‘feature’ night on Nov. 29 with local singer Nadine Davenport. The stage will be shared by local guest musicians and singers. Expect some familiar originals, cover tunes and maybe even.. yes, Christmas carols!! Come support some great live local music...why not come down early and order dinner or appetizers from The Riverside Restaurant. Pass the hat donations encouraged. For more info and to sign up call (250) 457-1145 or visit them on Facebook.

Every year, The Riv also plays host to Ashcroft’s’ Alumni ‘Homecoming’. Join your old high school friends and families on Saturday, Dec. 23 - don’t miss your chance to meet up and catch up on old times during the holidays. The night features Karaoke with Dj Tracey Model starting at 8 pm.

Bring your baskets

Spences Bridge New Horizons for Seniors and Elders presents an All-Community Pot-Luck and Festival of Baskets on Wednesday, Nov. 27 from 5:30-7:30 pm.

BYOB = Bring your own Baskets - share stories from 6:30-7:30 pm. All welcome!

Community Christmas Choral Concert and Sing along Dec. 14

The Sage Sound Singers Community Choir & the Desert Bells Handbell Choir will be performing a very special Community Christmas Choral Concert and Sing Along. Come and enjoy an array of beautiful harmonies and sounds. Plus, join in on a Community Sing-Along to close out the show.

This year, the performance will be a matinee on Saturday, Dec. 14 at the Ashcroft Elementary School. Doors open at 1:30 pm and concert starts at 2 pm. Admission is by donation at the door. Look for posters around town.

The Sage Sound Singers is a 21 piece choral group, conducted by Carmen Ranta with accompaniment by pianist Dimiter Terziev. Its Musical Director, Michelle Reid has selected a mixture of popular and seasonal pieces that will surely get you into the holiday spirit. From contemporary folk, traditional and Christmas standards to an old rock roll medley and much, much more.

The event will also include the duo of Carmen Ranta (saxophone) and Dimiter Terziev (piano) and a solo set from Dimiter, who just released a solo CD of classical works entitled Anger and Hope.

Tickets will also be available for his Concert Series performance in the New Year with a quartet of amazing classical musicians – the Paws & Tales Ensemble (piano, flute, clarinet and opera vocal) in February at St Albans in Ashcroft.

The Desert Bells Handbell Choir which is also under the direction of Carmen Ranta, will be performing a variety of lovely Christmas Carols.

The Desert Bells Handbell Choir will also be performing at: the Cache Creek Elementary School on Thursday Nov. 28 at 2:15 pm; in Kamloops, at the United Church on Saturday Nov. 30 with the Kamloops Handbell choirs at 2 pm and at the Cache Creek Community Hall Thursday Dec. 19 at 7 pm.

The Bell Choir has 12 ringers who ring three and a half octaves of bells. They are an inter generational handbell choir, with members from age 9 to senior, and practice weekly through the fall and spring at Cache Creek Elementary School.

Holiday Train features Matt Dusk & Melanie Doane

The CP Holiday Train will be stopping in Ashcroft on Saturday, Dec. 14, with a wonderful show of lights and fabulous live entertainment. as well as much needed support to our local Food Bank. The train is scheduled to arrive at 9 pm and Melanie Doane and Matt Dusk will perform. Mark your calendars now to attend this annual event.

For the 14th year, the CP Rail Holiday Train will journey across six Canadian provinces in it’s goal is to throw the focus on the important job of local food banks, and to support local leaders in fighting hunger in their neighbourhoods. All food and money raised at each stop staying in that community for local distribution.

Since 1999, the CP Holiday Train program, powered by an army of employee volunteers, has raised $5.6 million and generated close to 2.5 million pounds of food donations for local food shelves.

Each Holiday Train is about 1,000 feet in length, with 14 rail cars decorated with hundreds of thousands of LED Christmas lights.

Cache Creek Christmas Sing Along and Concert

The Cache Creek Beautification Society invites all members of the Cache Creek community and surrounding areas for a good old fashioned Community Sing Along and Concert on Thursday Dec. 19 at Community Hall (1270 Stage Rd.)

This second annual not to be missed seasonal event for all ages will feature live local Christmas music including; Desert Bells Handbell Choir, a Community sing along, plus the Beautification Society will also be handing out Winter Lights Appreciation certificates for residential Christmas light displays. Nominate your neighbour or your own house! Doors open at 7 pm with Appreciation Awards presented at 7:30 pm and live music starting at 8 pm. Free hot beverages and snacks available. Admission is free. For more info call (250) 457-9119.

Nadine Davenport