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MUSIC, PERFORMANCES, and EVENTS

Filberg Festival, 2011

LunchAllens

Lunch at Allen's

This group of solo artists has been playing together for nine years. I went to their show because I’m a fan of Cindy Church and Murray McLauchlan, but now I’m a fan of Marc Jordan and Ian Thomas as well. Their on-stage banter was very funny and I laughed almost as many times as I tapped my toes. Cindy moves her hands when she is singing and it is like she is playing an invisible instrument. McLauchlan played his signature “Dusty Old Farmer”, and you would recognize many of the songs Ian Thomas and Marc Jordan have written for stars such as Rod Stewart and Santana. The group is a prime example of the saying “the sum is greater than the parts”.

The Marigolds are another group of solo performers who have joined together and sing some wonderful harmonies. Gwen Swick, Caitlin Hanford and Suzie Vinnick write many of the songs for the group and Randall Coryell backs them up on drums and percussion. My favorite song in the set was Inchworm and they explained that their name is taken from that song.

Marigolds

The Marigolds

 

July 13, 2011
Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

VirginiaWoolf
This production by the Blue Bridge Repertory Theatre starred Meg Tilly and Andrew Wheeler as Martha and George. It was a three-hour play and the actors had already had a matinee performance. The acting was brilliant and I don't know how the actors were able to put that level of emotion into each performance. I was drained just watching them.


June 17, 2011
Good Timber

GoodTimber

The Other Guys Theatre Company from Victoria (with the Royal BC Museum) brought us this lively musical depicting life in the logging camps of BC. With backdrops of film and old photographs they set the poetry of Robert E. Swanson to music, as well as incorporating some original pieces. Their instruments included guitar, violin, and banjo as well as a couple of saws and an ax head.

November 19, 2010
Whoop-di-Doo (An Evening of Storytelling for Grown-ups)

WhoopDiDoo The evening started with a Bob Dylan song performed by Albert Hackett, a local performer from Sliammon. This was followed by a very funny account from Susan Young de Biagi of the trials and surprises of living with a marine biologist who, it would seem, collects almost any animal, reptile or insect - living or dead. The final local storyteller was Geeteechin, who told several stories that he earned from the elders. The stories may have been old, but he managed to put a modern twist on all of then. The star performer of the evening was Skeena Reece and, although her performance seemed less like storytelling, it was a powerful presentation of her emotions as she deals with the very recent loss of her father.

October 30, 2010
Bill Bourne (Laughing Oyster)

Bill Bourne
This concert was billed as a Beggar’s Banquet. The hosts at the Laughing Oyster paid Bill’s expenses and a minimum performance fee; the audience were asked to contribute to the fund if they were enjoying the music. From the look of the “Tips” jar Bill was very popular. I don’t know any of Bill’s work, but there wasn’t a song in his performance that I didn’t like. He is promoting his new CD, Free Radio Dance Band, and he played several cuts from the album. Bill has promised to return to Powell River and, if at all possible, I will be in the crowd.

October 29, 2010
Stuart McLean and the Vinyl Café
Stuart’s tour, promoting his new book, The Vinyl Cafe Notebook, played to a sold out audience. I’m a regular listener to the Vinyl Café on CBC Radio, and have always been fascinated with Stuart’s storytelling talents. To see him perform his stories on stage was a whole new experience. His animation and gestures while telling the stories are something that just doesn’t come across on the radio. His musical guest, Matt Anderson, is from the East Coast. He is an award-winning musician, with his big voice and wonderful guitar playing. He tours often so see him if you can.

Stuart McLean

Stuart McLean

Matt Anderson

Matt Anderson

Dave Newberry (Manzanita Restaurant)
The Manzanita is a small, restaurant located in Townsite in The Old Courthouse Inn. It is quickly becoming one of our favorites, particularly since we have discovered they host many local performers. The food is as good as the entertainment. We caught both of Dave Newberry’s sets when he appeared there this month. Dave was one of the participants at Artswells (the workshop and festival we attended in Wells, BC last summer). Dave has some new songs, and he seems to spend most of his time on the road performing at venues large and small.

Summer Muse Garden Concert
This fundraiser for the Botanical Gardens was a wonderful surprise – and within walking distance of our home. We saw only the evening portion of the entertainment but I’ll certainly be going back next year when we can further enjoy the beautiful gardens and more of the music. My favorite performers were Devin Hanley and Jill Barber – but there were many more talented folks from the Powell River area performing.