The Tony-award-winning musical Newsies hits the stage at Chatelech Secondary School Theatre for its first set of performances this weekend. A dramatization of the historic 1899 newsboy strike in New York City, this spirited production has a student cast of nearly 60, with live music accompaniment. It’s on again Friday, Feb. 28 and Saturday, Feb. 29 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, March 1 at 2 p.m., with more performances next week. Tickets $10 at Strait Music and online at www.share-there.com.
Voices and guitars
The Artesia Café on Friday, Feb. 28 has a lineup that includes the family folk trio Bits of String, guitarist Bradley Wells, poet Shelley Harrison Rae, the four-part harmonies of men’s quartet Sh-Boom with guitarist Sascha Fassaert and drummer Barry Taylor, plus special guest singer Maddy Weber. Take in the sweet treats by Trish and the provocative Maurice Spira art exhibit during the break, in the Doris Crowston Gallery at the Arts Centre in Sechelt. Doors at 6:45 p.m., show at 7:30, p.m., $15 at the door.
Astrocolor
Victoria-based Astrocolor brings its fusion of jazz, funk and electronica to the Sunshine Coast for the first time on Saturday, Feb. 29 at Roberts Creek Hall. The five-piece band centres on DJ Neil Cooke-Dallin who generates the foundation, while the group’s sax, guitar, bass and drums provide layers of groove. “Their unique sound ranges from dreamy atmospheres to funky infectious rhythms that are sure to have you dancing.” Tickets are $25 at The Kube, MELOmania, Strait Music and www.share-there.com.
Standing with the Wet’suwet’en
The Kube in Gibsons is hosting “an evening of film, education and music” on Friday, Feb. 28 from 6 to 9 p.m. in support of the Unist’ot’en legal fund. The film Invasion will be screened, plus there’ll be music from locals Charlie Birch, Clay Hepburn and Matt Hughes. Admission is on a sliding scale, $5 to $25.
Ephemere
Dominque’s School of Dance presents Ephemere on Friday, Feb. 28 at 8 p.m. and Saturday, Feb. 29 at 3:30 p.m. at the Heritage Playhouse in Gibsons, $15 to $20.
Shoutout
Congratulations to High Beam Dreams of Gibsons, which has won the Best Immigrant Entrepreneur award at the Small Business BC Awards, presented in Vancouver on Feb. 21. Owners Vineet Miglani and Nidhi Kamboj have put their hearts and a big investment into converting the one-time United Church on Glassford Road into an entertainment and event venue plus arts shop, all while retaining the adjacent local daycare centre.
The Guilty
For a small country, Denmark puts out some big hits in film and television, like the series Borgen, and The Killing. The award-winning Danish film The Guilty is the next feature screened by the Sunshine Coast Film Society. It’s the story of a police officer put on 911 duty while awaiting a disciplinary hearing. The suspense torques up as he takes a call from a kidnapped woman. Will he again break protocol to take matters into his own hands? Saturday, Feb. 29, 2 p.m. at Raven’s Cry Theatre in Sechelt, and Monday, March 2 and Tuesday, March 3, 7:30 p.m. at the Heritage Playhouse in Gibsons. The society’s AGM follows the Monday screening.
Kids’ art fun
Vancouver-based children’s illustrator, writer and book designer Christina Leist visits Sechelt Public Library from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 29, for an event for kids five to ten years old. “This interactive visit will include stories, imagination and doodling exercises, costumes and drawing requests from the audience.” It’s free but registration is required at 604-885-3260.
Summer music opportunity
If you’re a solo musician or have a small group, there’s an opportunity for a paying gig at the Sechelt Summer Music Series 2020. There’s a callout for ensembles of up to five players to perform on Saturdays in July and August. Concerts are at noon and at 1 p.m. on the covered Sechelt Library Lawn Stage. It pays $100 for a 45-minute set. Start the application process by emailing Ross Powell at [email protected].
More music
• Vancouver’s rock ‘n’ roll cowboy surfers The Modelos ride into the Roberts Creek Legion on Friday, Feb. 28 at 8 p.m. $8 members, $15 non-members at the door.
• Charlotte Wrinch plays guitar and sings covers and originals at Gibsons Public Market Saturday, Feb. 29 from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.
• Tapworks Brewing in Gibsons is celebrating its third birthday with an all-day taco and beer party on Saturday, Feb. 29. The Salt & Swine truck brings the food, and Grant Olsen and Sam Pulpo provide music, 2:30 to 9 p.m.
• There’s a house concert in Roberts Creek on Saturday, Feb. 29 at 7 p.m., featuring New Brunswick folk/roots singer-songwriter Brent Mason. Admission $20. Call 604-740-8094 or 866-925-6889 for the location.
• Zonolite will get you up and dancing at the Lighthouse pub Saturday, Feb. 29, starting at 8 p.m.
• The Gibsons Legion has the Lorne Jones Band in for some Saturday night grooves starting at 8 p.m., $8 members, $12 non-members at the door.
Submissions
If there’s an event you’d like considered for Art Beat, please let us know by 11 a.m. Tuesday at [email protected]. Space is limited and, regrettably, we can’t list everything. Also check Coast Reporter’s Coast Community Calendar for more music and events.
