Bob Seger tribute at MITP
Winding Rivers Arts & Performance Society presents ‘Music in the Park’ Outdoor Concert on Wednesday Aug. 12 with Sabrina Weeks and Mike Hilliard. Opening set starting at 6:30pm features Local Singer/Songwriter Nadine Davenport.
Sabrina and Mike will be presenting a special show called ‘Reflections of Bob Seger.’ The night will be a celebration of the music Bob Seger. Sing along. Dance all night, Take a stroll down memory lane...
Sabrina’s voice is a ménage à trois between Etta James, Fae West and Doris Day writhing beneath black satin sheets. Add Mike Hilliard who is by far one of the most underrated yet insanely talented guitar players in Canada and you have something exciting and fresh.
These popular evening Concerts on Railway Ave are held throughout the Summer in June, July and August and are every second and fourth Wednesday night from 6:30 - 9:30pm. Bring your family and friends, a comfy lawn chair and a blanket and prepare to enjoy wonderful live music in a relaxed, family friendly venue. Admission is free, but pass-the-hat donations are encouraged.
Desert Daze Music Festival this weekend
Spences Bridge is gearing up for its sixth annual Desert Daze Festival Aug. 7-8. Two days of music and workshops, shopping, and fun and games!
Friday kicks off at 2 pm with the Siska Drummers. This group of Indigenous drummers opens the festival with a prayer and a welcome song.
Some highlights of the music schedule include Merritt-based Bobby Garcia and Six More Strings, who played at the fall dance in Spences Bridge last year, and also graced the stage at this summer’s Music in the Park in Ashcroft. Bobby Garcia and Six More Strings is playing on Friday night and will have you singing along and dancing to their country style. If country isn’t your thing, Bluesfoot from Kamloops will close off Friday night with rocking dancing favourites! Bluegrass anyone? The Honkey Tonk Dilettantes hail from Vancouver and this bluegrass trio pluck and harmonize some of the good old tunes. Murfitt and Main, also from Vancouver, have played in this region before, and their country harmonies are not to be missed. For something completely different, Kara Kata! This is a 15 piece Afro Beat band not to be missed – with horns, backup singers, drums….sure to be a lively jumpin’ set!
Closing the festival Saturday night is George Leach and his amazing blues trio. Leach is a Juno award winner, and hails from Lillooet; his blues guitar style of playing is amazing and not to be missed!
Of course our little festival would not be complete without our very talented local musicians; Spiritus Mundii, Flat Busted, John Kidder, Jennifer Ferguson, Nadine Davenport and more!
You can find links to theses musicians’ websites or YouTube on our website in order have a listen to them.
Vendors and volunteer are needed for this event; please go to the website for details www.desertdaze.ca . It’s also on Facebook.
Beside from the canning and pickling workshops there will be a drumming workshop facilitated by Dave Dumont, so bring your djembes, hand drum, rattles and shakers! Yoga yoga! with that the very talented yoga instructor Maya Nadine. There is a workshop with “Doug the Hug” the quirky guitarist! as well as an Indigenous traditional art workshop with local Indigenous artist Carolyn Lytton.
Tickets are very reasonable for a weekend pass! For further information please go to www.desertdaze.ca or call 250-458-2282
Moonlight Movie features Big Hero 6
Interior Savings presents Ashcroft Moonlight Outdoor Movie featuring Big Hero on Wednesday, Aug, 26. The event starts at 7pm with concession and activities. The movie starts at dusk which is roughly 8:30pm. Admission is by donation. All donations are going to Desert Hills Tri Club.
Big Hero 6 is an animated movie about the special bond that develops between plus-sized inflatable robot Baymax, and prodigy Hiro Hamada, who team up with a group of friends to form a band of high-tech heroes.
Tequila Mockingbird Orchestra Dinner Concert
The Grand Central Station will co-host a Dinner Concert featuring the fabulous gypsy folk six-piece band Tequila Mockingbird Orchestra on Thursday, Aug. 27. Doors open at 5:30pm with music starting at 7:30pm. Tix are available for the Dinner/Show or just for the Show and are available now at UniTea Tea Room and The Grand Central. Look for posters around town.
TMO has cycled through far-flung influences and youthful forays into sounds from all over, finding new vistas of creativity that bring them closer to their own beginnings, to the people and places that have shaped them. Discover Tequila Mockingbird Orchestra for yourself Thursday, Aug. 27 here in Ashcroft.
Kids summer Arts Camp returns
Winding Rivers Arts and Performance Society is pleased to announce that this year’s Fine and Dramatic Arts Summer Camp will be bigger and better. It is designed for students entering Kindergarten through to Grade 12. Elementary students will sing with Sabrina Weeks and Mike Hilliard, paint with Jo Petty, play music with David Dumont and act with Mavourneen Varcoe-Ryan.
New this year: High school students will have the opportunity to work on a special week-long project with Gareth Smart.
The camp will be held at Cache Creek Elementary School Aug. 17-21, where classes run from 9:30am-2:30pm. Register by phone, email, or online by Aug. 7. Phone: 250 453-0036 or e-mail windingriversarts@gmail.com for costs and information.
Lytton River Festival – Labour Day Weekend
Each year the Lytton River Festival pays tribute to the Thompson and Fraser Rivers and celebrates Lytton’s vibrant community and First Nations culture. This free, family-friendly three-day event is the largest of its kind in the canyon with live bands and street dances, children’s activities such as face painting and a climbing wall, farmers markets, organized hikes into the Stein Valley, First Nations artisans, and a traditional Pow Wow.
For a complete list of the weekend’s activities, visit http://riverfestival.ca/events/
Friday morning kicks off with a stroll along the Fraser at 8:30 am after meeting at the Visitor Centre. The Farmers Market opens at 10 am Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Visit the Museum at 3 pm for story telling - Lytton Legends. Have dinner at the Legion, 5:30. The Pernell Reichert Band takes to the stage at 5:30 and starts off an evening of music, capped off by Ritchie and the Fendermen at 9 pm.
Start Saturday morning off with a Pancake Breakfast at the Parish Hall. 8-10:30 am. At 10 am the Festival officially opens with a Lytton hand drum welcome. The Welcome Booth opens at 10:30 am and signals the beginning of many activities including live music, new geo caching releases from Gold Country, the Two Rivers Art Show (11-6), Mr. Bubbles the Clown (noon-3 pm), Circus West performances, magic shows and workshops (1-3:30 pm), and the climbing wall (2-4 pm). Spiritus Mundii takes the stage at 5 pm, followed by Ten Souljers at 7:30. They’ll stop for the Fire Dancer performance at 9 pm and resume playing at 9:30.
Sunday is a little more laid back: the local First Nations artisans conduct workshops and demonstrations starting at noon and First Nations cultural performances take to the stage, first with the Tuckkwiowhum Heritage Inerpretive Village (1-2:30 pm), followed by Kevin Loring’s Savage Society perform “Songs of the Land” (2:30-4 pm), the Interactive First Nations Experience (4-5 pm), ending with First Nations blues performer, Gerald Charlie from 5-7 pm.
