The ska/funk/rock band Butler in the Hey! (butlerinthehey.com) is proud to announce the pre-release of its new seven song EP, Greetings Earthling, on Saturday, June 24 at 9 p.m. at a concert and celebration at the Roberts Creek Legion, featuring the performance of the entire CD as one of their sets. The band will give away hard copies of the CD free with every admission. Also featured will be sets by DJ Cronnelocotpus, who has been rehearsing with the band for live interactive jams and accompaniment. Recorded in the band’s hometown of Roberts Creek at Strait Sound Studios, the songs are an upbeat mix of ska, funk and reggae. Pre-order the digital copies from June 24 onwards (iTunes, Bandcamp, etc.). Admission is $8 for members, $15 for guests.
This weekend
• Georgia Fats plays the Gumboot Café in Roberts Creek, this Friday, June 23, starting at 8 p.m. Donate $15 at the door and get a hit of the blues.
• Tea for Two with the legendary duo Gemini, musicians Julie and Valerie Rutter on piano, flute and recorder, at St. Bartholomew’s Church in Gibsons, on Saturday, June 24 at 2:30 p.m. Tickets for $20 (including tea) are at Laedeli in Sunnycrest Mall, Sechelt Visitor Centre and St. Bart’s Church.
Hawaiian theme
The Keia Papa Kaua dancers will be featured at a Hawaiian-themed dinner on Saturday, June 24 hosted by the Gibsons Seniors Society at Harmony Hall. Doors open 5 p.m., dinner at 6 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to wear their flowered shirts, leis and muumuus. Please bring a potluck dish (any nationality) to share. Tickets are $5 at the door.
Pride dance
Celebrate queer liberation at the Sunshine Coast Pride dance at Roberts Creek Hall on June 24 from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. Entertainment from DJ Busy B & DJ Rob Luv Dub. Tickets for $20 are available at Laedeli, Strait Coffee, 420 Hemp Shop, Laverne’s Grill and MELOmania, or sliding scale at the door if available. This is a 19-plus event. For information, see www.SunshineCoastPride.com
WordPlay
The Sunshine Coast Festival of the Written Arts is excited to present WordPlay in the Park, a free, family-friendly festival of music and stories on Sunday, June 25. All events take place in the Festival Pavilion, Rockwood Centre in Sechelt. Performers include Kung Jaadee, a Haida storyteller, drummer and singer; Rick Scott, a beloved singer, musician and storyteller (of Pied Pumpkin fame); Jillian Christmas, an international slam poetry champ; and Ronnie Dean Harris (aka Ostwelve), a multi-media/spoken word artist with roots in rap. Youth buskers will be sharing tunes on site and the amazing Captain Ampersand will be in charge of hijinks and shenanigans. The day gets underway at 11 a.m. You can find the schedule of events at www.writersfestival.ca. WordPlay in the Park is the Festival of the Written Arts’ 35th Anniversary gift to the community, offered with the support of the BC Arts Council (Youth Engagement Program) and the District of Sechelt. For more information, contact Jane Davidson, Festival producer, at 604-885-9631 or [email protected].
Playback
On Saturday, June 24 the classic rock band Playback takes on the Grasshopper Pub in Pender Harbour, at 8 p.m. So cool. Get there early – these guys always fill the room.
Jim Jam for PODS
The Ruby Lake Lagoon Society is proud to announce the first live concert in aid of the Pender Harbour Ocean Discovery Station (PODS) on Sunday, June 25, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Iris Griffith Field Studies and Interpretive Centre at Ruby Lake. This concert will be in memory of Jim Rossi and the launch of a fundraising campaign to help establish the Jim Rossi School of Diving. There will be a sizzling barbecue lunch and live music for four hours. Bands playing include: Almost Tight, four Sunshine Coast musicians who were first brought together by Jim Rossi and are “all the better for having played with Jim.” Kaeli and Friends hail from the Sunshine Coast, England and Vancouver. Monty Montego and the Rocksteady Crew play old school Jamaican music. The Song Butchers had their genesis over a decade ago leading the Sunday jam at a now defunct restaurant. They play a vast range of songs, popular and obscure. The Wood Duck Bus will run either from Pender Harbour Secondary School or Lions Park to avoid parking issues. Admission is free.
Slow Sundays
Slow Sundays in the Creek begins on June 25 and runs through Sept. 10, a family friendly event in downtown Roberts Creek, at the gazebo behind the Creek Community Library. See full story on page 26. For more information, contact Ed Lands at [email protected] and for market vendor info contact [email protected] or phone 604-399-8103.
Poetry reading
Poet Dorothy Stott will be reading from her new collection of poems, Simplicity, at Gibsons Public Library on Wednesday, June 28 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. It’s a free event, and goodies will be served. To register for this, call Heather at 604-886-2130.
History walk
Dale Peterson gives a historical walk and talk through Gibsons Landing on July 1. It’s a great way to start celebrating Canada 150 by getting to know the town’s colourful history better. If you have not experienced the mine of information that is Dale Peterson, you are in for a treat. The walk starts at 10 a.m. at Pioneer Park by the George Gibson statue and lasts about 90 minutes, by donation. Registration is not required, just show up and be prepared to be entertained and informed. More walks are planned for July 15, 16, 22 and 23.
Fibreworks
Fibreworks Gallery in Madeira Park presents its current show, Beyond the Basics, with Jackie Abrams and friends presenting interdisciplinary work. The show is up until July 23. See fibreworksgallery.com for more or stop by the yurts at 12887 S.C. Highway.
Call for submissions
The Gibsons Public Market is putting out its first ever call for submissions. The goal is to show off the talent on the Sunshine Coast to market-goers. The medium is two-dimensional work (photos, prints, paintings, quilts, etc.). All pieces will be juried and will hang for a three month period. Submission deadline is July 15. Email [email protected] for submission form or details.
MOA
The Museum of Anthro-pology at University of British Columbia invites you to see the new Gallery of Northwest Coast Masterworks (6393 Marine Drive, Vancouver). The new gallery opened on June 22 with an inaugural exhibition, In a Different Light: Reflecting on Northwest Coast Art. One of the most elegant and innovative exhibition spaces of its kind, the exhibition presents over 110 historical Indigenous artworks – including highlights from a recent $7-million gift – through the eyes of contemporary First Nations artists and community members.
Keep me posted
Please continue to send me your arts announcements, but note they will run in the newspaper one day to one week ahead only. My deadline is Tuesday at noon for next Friday’s paper. Email [email protected] or phone 604-886-4692.
