The Mellowtones lost one of their own this week.
Beloved Ina Grafe, who sang with the group and with the smaller ensemble, The Ladybugs, passed away suddenly, leaving the group in mourning. They have decided to continue with their performance this Saturday, Nov. 27, in the Sechelt Legion hall as a benefit for the Legion and now a dedication. Along with the smooth sounds of the 'Tones you can also hear guest vocalist Trudi Diening and Vicki Beeman. Coffee and dessert are included in the ticket price of $22. Show starts at 7 p.m. Find tickets at Gaia's Fair Trade in Gibsons, the Legion and Visitors Info Centre in Sechelt, or call 604-740-0933.
Crowe's tidings
This Saturday, Nov. 27, at 8 p.m. Allison Crowe's Tidings Concert comes to the Heritage Playhouse in Gibsons. Expect plenty of holiday cheer, laced with overtones of Leonard Cohen, Joni Mitchell, The Beatles, jazz and more. Crowe performs with special guest, Vancouver Island-based singer-songwriter Ellisa Hartman.
Tickets are general $20, students and seniors $15 at Coast Books, Gaia's Fair Trade, Hallmark Cards (Gibsons); MELOmania (Roberts Creek); Sechelt Visitor Info Centre, WindSong Gallery (Sechelt); Copper Sky Gallery & Café (Madeira Park).
Three authors
Three well-known local authors will present their new books at the Gibsons Public Library, 470 South Fletcher Street, on Saturday at 2 p.m. Come and hear Rosella Leslie, author of the novel Drift Child, Jo Hammond, author of the memoir Edge of the Sound, and Betty Keller, author of the fiction-based-on-fact work A Thoroughly Wicked Woman, as they read from their work and talk about the making of their stories. Admission is free. Books will be available for sale and author signing.
House concert
This Saturday John Lussier is holding a house concert in Halfmoon Bay with blues/roots guitar great Lester Quitzau performing. He is also one third of the group Tri-Continental. In the past the house has seen some pretty big names in the Canadian music scene including many Juno winners: Shari Ulrich, Mae Moore, Rick Scott, David Essig. Tickets are $20 per person (suggested donation). Contact Lussier at 604-740-9944 or 604-740-2816 for more details.
Harbour art
The Harbour Gallery in Madeira Park is holding their famous Christmas Sale. Mark your calendars on Nov. 27, Dec. 4, Dec. 11 and Dec. 18 for great art bargains in the little gallery opposite the Performance Centre. Food Bank cards will also be available.?
French and English
Francophones may want to stop by the Woods store in Sunnycrest Mall this Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. psychic Natasha Rosewood will be happy to meet and chat about her two books. Then from 1 to 3 p.m. meet Jean Pierre Makosso, author of La Voix du Conteur, author Pamela Proctor with her book Honouring the Child, and Frank Proctor's WWII memoir.
Fundraisers
Some craft fairs this year have helpfully offered space to fundraising groups. At the Roberts Creek Craft Fair this weekend look for a raffle from the Avalon Recovery Society. Artist Aleisha MacNaughton has donated a hand-made, miniature house packed inside a Christmas box as a prize. Tickets are $5 for this treasure and proceeds go to the society. The Sunshine Coast Arts Council annual fair is also organized as a fundraiser for its many arts activities. Check out their Arts & Crafts Fair this weekend from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Seaside Centre in Sechelt.
Music Makers
Music Makers is holding their fall concert on Sunday, Nov. 28 at 2 p.m. at St. John's United Church in Davis Bay. The show features the kids' guitar gang, Suzuki violin students, family choir, adult choir, adult guitar gang, Definitely Diva and Reg and Lynne. Tickets are $10, available at the Sechelt Visitor Info Centre or through Music Makers.
Phoenix Singers
Coast Phoenix Singers upcoming concert, Music for a Sunday Afternoon, takes place at Gibsons United Church at 2 p.m. on Sunday. The choir is directed by Bill Bourns with piano accompanist Tom Kellough. This concert also includes invited guest instrumentalists Francois Koh, classical guitar; Douglas Hagerman, oboe; and Kelly Smit, flute. Tickets for $10 are at Gaia's Fair Trade, Hallmark Cards and Monkeychips. There is no charge for children under 12 accompanied by an adult.
Budzz return
Coast super group The Bluebudzz play their special brand of funky blues tonight (Friday), or be part of Gramma's Pub Grey Cup tailgate party in Gibsons on Saturday, Nov. 27. Mark Crissinger (guitar), Peter Vandeursen (keyboards), Sully Antonyk (bass), and Pat Haavisto (drums) will be happy to see you.??
Quebec film
The SC Film Society will screen The Necessities of Life, a Quebec historical drama from director Benoît Pilon in French/Inuktitut with English subtitles. This was Canada's entry for Best Foreign Film at the Academy Awards in 2009. It shows at Gibsons Heritage Playhouse at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 29.
Kids for Kids
Kids for Kids, a local grassroots NGO, will be presenting the documentary A Small Act. This movie tells the true story of Chris Mburu who grew up in a rural area in Kenya. He owes his life today to a stranger in Sweden who sponsored him through school. Now a Harvard educated lawyer who works for the UN, Mburu has started his own fund to help others through school.
The movie will show Monday, Nov. 29 at 7 p.m. at Christ the Redeemer Anglican Church in Pender Harbour and Tuesday, Nov. 30 at 7 p.m. at the Seaside Centre in Sechelt. Tickets are at The Daily Roast for adults $10, students $7 (some graphic content).
Black Cat film
Filmmaker Roger Nygard brainstormed the toughest questions he could think of about the meaning of life, and then travelled the world searching each of the world's philosophies, religions, and belief systems - interviewing spiritual leaders, scholars, scientists, artists, pizza chefs, and others who have influenced, inspired, or freaked out humanity. His film, The Nature of Existence, shows on Tuesday, Nov. 30 at the Roberts Creek Community Hall at 7:30 p.m. Admission is $8. More info is available from 604-886-2780 or [email protected].
Introductory talk
A lecture series entitled Understanding Contemporary Art Movements with Kristjana Gunnars, a noted author, teacher, translator and artist and now a Coast resident will be offered at the Gibsons Public Art Gallery on Wednesday, Dec. 1 at 7:30 p.m. The complete seven-part series begins in January, one Wednesday evening a month. For more info see: www.gibsonspublicartgallery.ca.
Green Team
On Friday, Dec. 3 at 7 p.m. at the Gibsons United Church, the Green Team is presenting Taking Root an inspirational documentary telling the dramatic story of Kenyan Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Wangari Maathai. Admission is by donation.
?Silent auction
The Gibsons Wildlife Rehab Centre holds their silent auction at the Sunnycrest Mall in Gibsons on Dec. 3 and 4. Great items, including donated art pieces, are offered with all proceeds to the centre to help care for injured and sick wildlife. For more info call 604-886-4989.
Let me know about your arts event, but keep it brief by email [email protected] or phone 604-886-4692 before 5 p.m. on Tuesday.
