Commotion by the Ocean is an outdoor music concert held on Gambier Island every summer as a benefit to fund community projects.
The concert on Sat-urday, Aug. 1 will support the Gambier Island community as well as the local Army, Navy and Air Force Veterans organization. The ANAVets provide the licensed beverage service, while the Community Centre volunteers time at the barbecue. Visitors from the Coast are warmly welcomed; they can take the 10-minute passenger ferry run from Langdale to New Brighton and return following the concert.
The Honeywell family from West Bay generously donate their time, talent and hospitality and represent the heart of the concert. The Honeywell brothers' band, Sibling Rivals, will perform, and this year Nearly Neil will also perform with his full stage band. The ninth annual concert starts at 3:30 p.m. on Aug. 1. Admission is by donation. Bring a lawn chair or picnic blanket, sunscreen and cash for the refreshments and raffles, and be prepared for a great family fun event. Information is at www.commotionbytheocean.com or 604-886-1555.
Quintessential Jazz
Quintessential Jazz Band will present a free community jazz concert on Sunday, July 26 at 5 p.m. at the Rockwood Pavilion in Sechelt. Vocalist Chelsea Crawford will be a special guest providing a set of her own music.
Quintessential, a Van-couver-based group, has been playing together on the West Coast since 2004 and has released two CDs, Almost Live and Quintessen-tial Christ-mas. The free community concert is part of the SonShine Celebration community event, a fun day at Rockwood hosted by Crossroads Community Church. For more information, see http://xroadscc.ca or call 604-741-7568.
Sea Cav entry
The Gibsons Public Art Gallery children's painting classes will end on an exciting note: the children will paint a canvas to be part of the GPAG entry in the Sea Cavalcade parade this Saturday. Watch for the display of young people's art on the bright blue truck. Next set of art classes for children begins Aug. 10. Phone 604-886-0531 for information and to register. The last day to see the art of Wesley Lowe at the GPAG is July 27.
Jazz era
On Thursday, July 30, the Jordao PhotoGraphic Studio Gallery at 626 Shaw Rd. in Gibsons hosts jazz favourites J.J. Wagler, John Rule and Paul Steenhuis for a Jazz Era Night. This event is geared towards raising funds for the maintenance of the gallery and for the continued support of musicians and artists who showcase there. It's an ages 19-plus event. Doors open at 8 p.m. Tickets for $10 are available at MELOmania. Phone: 604-740-2380 for more.
Battle of Bands
Battle of the Bands starts on Wednesday, Aug. 5 at Packratt Louie's Grill in Sunnycrest Mall, Gibsons. Got a band? Sign up in advance at the restaurant.
Tour trail
Percussionist and soundscape design musician Barry Taylor has sent a note from Vilnius, Lithuania, saying that his concert tour is going very well. He's travelling with Dark Blue World, a Vancouver-based band that writes songs of musical and literary integrity. The leader of the band, Elizabeth Fischer, is an old friend of Taylor's from Hungary so the music has quite a dark European edge.
Artisan markets
Many of the farmers markets taking place during the summer feature local arts and crafts. The Pender Harbour Farmers & Artisans Market is open Sundays through July and August, rain or shine, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Crossroads Grill, Highway 101 and Garden Bay Road. Phone 604-885-8483 for more info.
Item for Artbeat? For this week only email your news to editor Ian Jacques at [email protected] as I'm away next week.
