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Creative Current - Deck the Halls with Christmas music

Nadine Davenport's bi-monthly roundup of arts and theatre in the local area.
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WRAPS’ Santa Claus Parade float: Nadine Davenport

A Cache Creek Community Celebration with ringing and singing in the Season

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. 13 at the Cache Creek Community Hall (1270 Stage Rd).

This not to be missed seasonal event for all ages will feature live local Christmas music including;

The Desert Bells Handbell Choir, the recorder duo of Carmen Ranta and Wendy Coomber and a Community Sing Along.

Plus, the Cache Creek Beautification Society will also be recognizing local residents and companies for their Winter Light displays. Doors open at 7 pm with live music starting from 7:15pm on, with the awards at 7:30 pm and the Desert Bells Handbell choir performing at 8 pm.

A concession will offer free hot beverages and goodies. Event admission is free, but the Handbell Choir will have a donation jar out as they are trying to raise money to purchase their own handbells. For more information, call (250) 457-9119.

Bell Choir, Sage Sound Singers and an Ashcroft Community Sing-Along Dec. 15 & 16

The Sage Sound Singers and The Desert Bells Handbell Choir invite the surrounding Ashcroft/Cache Creek Community for another special evening presented by Winding Rivers Arts & Performance Society. Don’t miss the Seasonal Choral Performance of the Season by our two local choirs on Saturday, Dec. 15 and Sunday, Dec. 16 at St Albans Hall (501 Brink St.) in Ashcroft.

Doors open at 7 pm, with the Saturday evening concert beginning at 7:30 pm. Doors open at 1:30 pm for the 2 pm Matinee performance on Sunday. Come early for coffee, tea, hot chocolate and desserts. The evening will feature The Sage Sound Singers and The Desert Bells Handbell Choir, an 11-piece Bell Choir - plus, lots of surprises. Beautiful harmonies and sounds will fill the room as the night also encourages you to join in on a Community Sing-Along to close out the evening. Admission is by donation.

The Sage Sound Singers are a 23-piece choral group, conducted by Carmen Ranta with accompaniment by pianist Dimiter Terziev.

Their 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 a medley from the Ma Ma’s and Pa Pa’s, Bridge Over Troubled Water, Christmas Kum Ba Ya, and many more.

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

A special feature to celebrate the Season, will be a performance of ‘Hear The Bells of Christmas Ringing’ for SATB Choir, Handbell Choir and piano. This piece will only be performed at the concert Dec. 15 and 16 with Sage Sound Singers. The Bell Choir has 11 ringers who ring three and a half octaves of bells. They are an intergenerational handbell choir, with members from age 9 to senior, and practice weekly through the fall and spring at Cache Creek Elementary School.

Bring the whole Family for a festive traditional Community gathering - sure to get you into the holiday season! Free Desserts, Coffee & Tea during intermission. Happy Holidays! For more info call (250) 453-9100.

Holiday Train this week with Doc Walker!

Canadian Pacific’s food bank fundraiser rolls into Ashcroft at 8 pm on Dec. 16.

This year the many train lights and stage lighting will bring us their full cheer as the train arrives in the evening this year in Ashcroft. So get decked out in your red & white and come on down to this fun community event!

For the 14th year, two specially decorated freight trains will launch their unique journeys across six Canadian provinces and eight U.S. states. The CP Holiday Train’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.

About 140 cities and towns on both sides of the border will be able to join the Holiday Train spirit and magic, with all food and money raised at each stop staying in that community for local distribution.

Headlining the musical spirit of the season from a specially designed stage on the Canadian Holiday Train is Doc Walker and Miss Emily.Doc Walker is a Juno Award winning country trio from Portage La Prairie, Man. The band is hopping onto the train in Whitemouth, Man., for the western end of the tour.

Making the entire cross-Canada trip is Kingston, Ont., singer Miss Emily. She is a truly gifted singer and her voice is rich and soulful. She has been compared to Adele and has performed with The Tragically Hip, Sam Roberts and The Trews.

Music makes a great gift

The last two remaining Desert Concert are in the New year which may make a perfect gift for family or  friends. Coming in March on Friday, March 22 is a man and wife duo with some old-time sweet harmony: Pharis & Jason Romero reside in Horsefly, BC, where Jason makes his own guitars and banjos.

You can expect some beautiful, striking duet singing with acoustic and National guitar and banjo on originals and well-loved songs from others.

For the final show of the Season, on Apr. 27, you can look forward to Vancouver-based sextet, Company B Jazz Band. They are a vintage vocal harmony swing band in the style of the Andrews and Boswell Sisters plus other renditions of classics from the 1920s through 1950s.  Loaded with personality, the harmonies of the female vocal trio are well-complemented by an instrumental trio of clarinet/sax, guitar, and upright bass.

These concerts are held in the comfortable and relaxed venue of the St. Albans Hall (510 Brink St.) You can purchase them ahead of time at the following Ashcroft businesses: The Ashcroft Bakery, Natures Gifts or The Ashcroft Liquor Store or give Nadine or Andrea a call at (250) 453-9100.

Jam Night at the Log Cabin in Spences Bridge

Get yourself down to Spences Bridge where the Log Cabin Pub hosts a Jam Night. You never know what you’re going to find at our jam sessions on Wednesday nights, says Lori and John.

Check out a great array of armature and professionals every Wednesday night from 8 pm on. There’s a full drum set always waiting for a drummer, next to the Hammond organ (also waiting). There’s a PA system, too! Bring your music maker and help fill the room with harmony or just sit and take in the tunes.  For more info call (250) 458-2215