Nadine Davenport
“United in Music” in Lillooet
Back by popular demand is the fourth installment of a local talent presentation called “United in Music”, which promises to bring together top-notch eclectic local musical talent. The concert is on Saturday, Feb. 27 at St. Andrew’s/St. Mary’s Church in Lillooet.
Lillooet is blessed with enormously generous, skilled, and talented artists. This is an opportunity to shine the spotlight on Lillooet and area musicians. Pianists, drummers, singer-songwriters, fiddlers, banjo players, and guitarists guarantee an evening of unique musical expression, style, and delivery. Anyone interested in performing at this event, or who knows of someone who would be interested, should contact Lillooet Music at (250) 256-0614.
Bluegrass Quartet in Ashcroft
UniTea Tea Room presents a toe-tapping evening of great bluegrass music on Friday, Mar. 4 with The Tishomingo String Band.
Combining the drive of classic bluegrass with a notion to explore, the Tishomingo String Band keeps things lively and unpredictable, and is known for creating one heck of a hoedown. They’re a Vancouver band that has been serenading audiences in and around the Lower Mainland for more than 10 years. Combining upright bass, guitar, mandolin, and banjo, these guys are equipped with all the right gear to perform original and traditional material that runs the gamut from tender ballads to barn-burning instrumentals.
Doors open at 7:00pm, with the concert starting at 7:30. Tickets at the door, or reserve by phone at (250) 453-9345.
Concert for a good cause
Gospel-folk singer Steve Palmer will be in Ashcroft for a concert on Mar. 5 at St. Alban’s Anglican Church. The concert is a fund-raiser for the Refugees and Friends Together organization in Kamloops, which is supporting the needs of the Syrian refugees settling there.
Palmer has been touring for 40 years, and his concerts have been described as a toe-tapping mix of folk, Gospel, and country favourites, as well as original songs from Palmer’s four albums. Tickets for the concert are $15.00 per person at the door or two for $20.00 if purchased in advance. The doors open at 6:30pm and the concert starts at 7:00. For more information or to purchase tickets, contact Martina Duncan at (250) 453-9909 or by e-mail at mbaier34@gmail.com.
Music at the River Inn
The Riv Pub, at the River Inn in Ashcroft, presents Wicked Gun on Wednesday, Mar. 9. For more information call (250) 453-9124.
Varcoe-Ryan is Shirley Valentine
Hot on the heels of its enthusiastically-received production of My Fair Lady, the Winding Rivers Arts & Performance Society is excited to present the famous one-woman, two-act play Shirley Valentine this March.
The play will star award-winning local actress and director Mavourneen Varcoe-Ryan. This dynamo from Spences Bridge now gets to come from behind the scenes and plant herself squarely in the centre stage spotlight as she displays her formidable acting chops in this wonderful play. Written by Willy Russell, it premiered in Liverpool in 1986 to rave reviews. It was adapted into a movie in 1989 and starred Pauline Collins, who starred in the original theatre production.
The production will also feature the debut of Barbara Roden as director. The set design and lighting, stage management and costuming will again be undertaken by the same personnel that did such a fantastic job with My Fair Lady.
There will be two evening showings at the HUB (former Ashcroft Elementary School) on Friday and Saturday, March 11 and 12. There will also be a matinee performance on Sunday afternoon, March 13. Admission is by donation.
Beatbox poetry and R&B acoustic soul
UniTea Tea Room presents a mind-blowing evening of soulful music and beatbox poetry on Wednesday, Mar. 23, with a double-bill from C.R. Avery and Lexi Marie. Avery’s genius lies in many genres—blues, hip-hop, spoken word, and rock & roll—while Marie’s music combines the essence of folk and soul with a hip-hop sensibility.
Avery is an exemplary ambassador of Vancouver’s Commercial Drive melting-pot bohemian lifestyle. The beatboxing slam poet turned cabaret/blues/harmonica player has released well over a dozen albums, half-a-dozen hip-hop operas, and a few books of poetry. He doesn’t just bend genres; he twists them into funny balloon animals.
Lexi Marie is a prolific poet and vocalist currently based out of Lillooet, and combines the essence of soul and folk with an R&B kiss. When she sings it’s like a sunrise: something to look forward to, bringing light to even the darkest of days. Influenced by strong female artists like Mavis Staples and Lauryn Hill, Marie draws from her struggles and vulnerabilities, making a point of delivering bold and honest messages of strength and resilience.
Doors open at 7:00pm, and the concert starts at 7:30.
Crimson Rich Duo featuring Caroline MacKay
Winding Rivers Arts & Performance Society presents the Crimson Rich Duo featuring Celtic harpist and vocalist Caroline MacKay on Saturday, Mar. 26.
Celebrate the Easter weekend with the beautiful and transcendent music of extraordinary Celtic harpist and vocalist Caroline MacKay. She creates a space where the mystery of harp and the magic of voice become one. Tender Celtic ballads, soul-stirring spirituals, lively Latin rhythms, original works, and classical arrangements are all part of her diverse repertoire.
For 20 years, MacKay has played a multitude of venues, from great concert halls, cathedrals, and festivals to intimate house concerts, galleries, and chapels. Her tours have taken her through Canada, the U.S., England, Switzerland, and New Zealand.
Tickets will be available at Nature’s Gifts, The Jade Shop, Ashcroft Bakery, and UniTea Tea Room; for more info call (250) 453-2053.
2016 Desert Daze acts announced
The following acts have been confirmed to perform at the 2016 Desert Daze Festival in Spences Bridge on Aug. 12–13; and what a stellar line-up it is! Jan Schmitz writes “We’re bringing back some favourites from festivals past, plus some new names you’re sure to love. And we’re only getting started! We’re still in the process of finalizing the rest of the acts, but we’ll give you a taste of what to expect in Spences Bridge this August.
“We’re thrilled to bring back Magic Rooster, who rocked the joint in 2014, and Tanya Lipscomb, who impressed us immensely when she performed at Music in the Park in Ashcroft last summer. Rio Samaya is back by popular demand, as is guitarist extraordinaire Sean Ashby. New to the festival this year is Chicken Like Birds, and we welcome this fantastic duo to Spences Bridge.”
The Festival will feature music, workshops, First Nations demonstrations, local crafts and vendors, and a beer garden.