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Creative Current - Comedy and laughter, music and romance

Nadine Davenport's bi-monthly wrap up of music and entertainment in the area.

WRAP Society presents Improv Nights

Last week’s first Drop In Theatre & Comedy Improv night at Shelley’s Place in Ashcroft saw about a dozen brave souls working together to create the magic of ‘improv’. The night consisted of some great improv sketches revealing many new skills and some polished tricks of the trade they had all learned from last month’s workshops. The new material scratched out on cue cards was a hit - well done everyone! Thanks to the 25 plus people who were there to support everyone.

The nights continue through February and are hosted by WRAPS Committee members Actress and Director, Mavourneen Varcoe-Ryan and stand up comedian, Tracey Knihnitski. There are three nights remaining to strut your stuff! Wednesday nights at Shelley’s Place (301 3rd St. in Ashcroft) from 7-9 pm on Jan. 30 and Feb. 6 and 20. Free Admission, kids, teens and adults welcome. For more info (250) 453-9100 www.windingriversarts.ca

House Concert with Tequila Mockingbird Orchestra

Tequila Mockingbird Orchestra will be returning to the Ashcroft area for a House Concert on Tuesday, Feb. 12 hosted by Creative Cow House Concerts (Nadine and Andrea) in Barnes Lake, just 12 minutes from downtown Ashcroft. Call it folk, call it fusion, call it gypsy roots tango afro psychedelic soul - the harmonic and toe-tapping tunes of Tequila Mockingbird Orchestra will no doubt be entertaining.

The ska-folk-funk-rockers have been making tunes since 2008. From Victoria, the boys are supporting their newest record Follow My Lead, Lead Me To Follow (released last November). Tequila Mockingbird Orchestra have toured across Canada, played a variety of festivals over the 2012 summer and zipped their way across Europe.

The show starts at 7:30 pm and the house location is at 3820 Barnes Lake Rd., just past IG Machine. Call Nadine or Andrea at (250) 453-9100 to reserve your seat. Hope to some new faces at this very enjoyable community event - coffee, tea and sweets provided.

Take your sweetie to a Valentine’s Dance

The Ashcroft ‘Wellness Awaits You’ Branding Committee invites the Community for a romantic Valentine’s Evening (Thurs., Feb. 14) at St Albans Hall. There will be Dancing, Appies and Dessert, a Cash Bar and Live Auction of four fabulous “Getaway” packages for two! Doors open at 6 pm, appies served from 6:30 pm. Only 60 tickets available, so get yours soon at The Ashcroft Bakery or Sun Country Community Futures. All proceeds support the 1st Annual Ashcroft Wellness Festival scheduled for this summer on July 19-21. Everyone 19 and over welcome!

Old-time mountain music at Dessert Concert

Winding Rivers Arts & Performance Society hosts another fabulous Dessert Concert in downtown Ashcroft on Friday, March 15 with the husband and wife duo of Pharis and Jason Romero. The performance is at St Albans Hall, doors open at 7 pm with music starting at 7:30 pm. Tix in advance at The Ashcroft Bakery and the Ashcroft Liquor Store.

Pharis and Jason reside in Horsefly, where Jason also makes his own guitars and banjos. You can expect some beautiful, striking duet singing on originals and well-loved songs from others.

Close your eyes and their sound is like they’re sitting on the front porch of some Appalachian cabin, kicking back with a banjo and guitar and some sweet tea. Rooted in the old-time mountain music of Virginia and Tennessee, their approach is an unpretentious and simple with one single microphone between the two.

Writing songs about ageless characters, hard living, loss and love, Pharis’s songs have been played on radios around the world, and she was called a “historical treasure” by the BC Folklore Society.

They also spend much of their year teaching at music camps and workshops including BC Bluegrass Workshops, Fiddle Tunes, Voiceworks, Fiddle Works, 108 Mile Bluegrass Camp, Georgia Straight Guitar Workshop, and others.

Nadine Davenport