Heritage Playhouse Productions presents Valdy and Gary Fjellgaard at the Heritage Playhouse, Gibsons, on Saturday, Feb. 20 at 8 p.m. Western Roots they call it – music that draws on all the aspects of life in the west. These are two experienced entertainers who know how to earn the respect of their audiences and deliver shows night after night that send people home with smiles. Together, Valdy and Fjellgaard are a near-perfect team – two memorable and endearing guys, two guitars, and two dozen songs or more. Tickets are $20 advance (at Laedeli Gifts and the Sechelt Visitor Centre) or $25 at the door.
Casino night
The Nutcracker ballet production at Christmas was a wonderfully huge success. However, even with full-capacity houses, the ticket sales cover only about 50 per cent of the Nutcracker budget, so Coasting Along Theatre is holding a fundraiser. It’s a Vegas Style Casino Night on Saturday, Feb. 20 at 7 p.m. at the Seaside Centre, Sechelt. Play poker, craps, roulette and blackjack with a cash bar, dessert bar and complimentary hors d’oeuvres (from Ty’s Fine Foods). And, of course, there will be raffles and silent auctions. Tickets are $25 per person with limited tickets available. Phone 604-989-6050 for ticket outlets.
Pottery day
Have you always wanted to throw a pot on the wheel, but never had a chance? Pat Forst is having a special workshop at her studio in Gibsons to give you a chance to get on the wheel and see what it is like on Saturday, Feb. 20 from 10 a.m. to noon. Fee is $20. To register for this class or to find out about other classes, contact Forst at 604-840-0304 or [email protected]
Ripple Illusion
On Feb. 20, Vancouver’s Ripple Illusion will be returning to Roberts Creek, bringing a night of rock, funk, and soul to the Roberts Creek Legion. The band is planning to bring new songs and higher energy to follow up on their packed house show last November. Tickets can be purchased at the door, $6 for members and $12 for non-members. Ripple Illusion is a fresh take on a retro sound, mixing together musical influences from a variety of different eras. Blending inspirations ranging from Motown to R&B and modern rock, the band has created a truly unique brand of piano-driven rock and roll.
Writers night
Open mike night for writers whether published or aspiring. Let your latest work take centre stage on Wednesday, Feb. 24 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Arts Building in Gibsons. This free event, led by author PJ Reece, is open to all levels and genres. Works-in-progress are welcome. Each writer gets five minutes to share their work. It’s a great opportunity to meet and network with other writers on the Coast. Light snacks, tea, coffee and juice are available, at no charge. If you would like to read, send an email to [email protected]. Sponsored by WOW! Art Café.
Playback
Join the guys from Playback for a dinner and dance at the Sechelt Legion #140 on Friday, Feb. 26 at 7 p.m. Dance to classic rock from the 1960s and ’70s. Tickets are at the door for $10, dinner $15.
Grantham’s fundraiser
Advance tickets for the Grantham’s Hall benefit concert, Feb. 27, at 8 p.m. at the Heritage Playhouse, are now available at Gaia’s Fair Trade and Laedeli. A great lineup includes w.b. fitzsimmons, Clay Hepburn, the Billy Hillpicker Band, David King, Wanda Nowicki, Anna Lumiere, Charlotte Wrinch and the Hundred Year Old Egg. The event will feature a silent auction of anything-but-silent art. Tickets are also available at the door.
Conservation dance
The Sunshine Coast Conservation Association holds their Celebration of Conservation fundraising dance on Saturday, Feb. 27 at 8 p.m. at the Roberts Creek Hall featuring the live local music of Matthew Lovegrove, the Knotty Dotters Marimba Band, and Brothers in Farms. Kids five and under are free. Tickets are $20 or $21.50 online (on the Sunshine Coast Share-There website), or at Gaia’s Fair Trade or the Sechelt Visitor Centre. To help as a volunteer, or donate items for the concession and door prizes, email [email protected]
Award-winning poet
Poet Philip Kevin Paul will read from his work at the Sechelt Arts Centre on Saturday, Feb. 27 at 8 p.m. Paul is a member of the Wsá,nec Nation from the Saanich Peninsula on Vancouver Island. His work has been published in BC Studies, Literary Review of Canada, Breathing Fire: Canada’s New Poets and An Anthology of Canadian Native Literature in English. He has worked with the University of Victoria’s linguistics department to ensure the preservation of the Sencoten language.
Paul’s first book Taking the Names Down from the Hill, won the Dorothy Live-say Poetry Prize (BC Book Award). His second, Little Hunger, was short-listed for a Governor General’s Literary Award in 2009.
Sponsored by Canada Council and Sunshine Coast Art Council, admission is by donation. Doors open at 7:30 p.m.
Sechelt banners
Drop by Sechelt’s Civic Square (Sechelt Public Library and Recreation Centre) and check out the 20 selects for the Sunshine Coast Arts Council 2016 Banner Project, now hanging in their outdoor gallery. This year’s theme was The Sunshine Coast: The Way It Was, and it encouraged elementary students’ perspective of a historical interpretation of the Coast. Over 300 banner entries were received from: Langdale, Gibsons, Roberts Creek, Davis Bay, West Sechelt, Kinnikinnick, Madeira Park and L’Ecole du Pacifique and a jury chose 20 designs. Hats off to this year’s banner selects: Callie Baptiste, Logan Biel, Ayden Biglow, Yvonne Cao, Izzy Chartrand, Emma Fawcus, Asha Ghag, Piper Goerzen, Rowan Goodsell, Carly Kennedy, Megan Kraus, Jack Marshall, Violet New, Alex Nicols, Isabella Paolozza, Maya Rodriguez, Arabella Rogers, Jon Schooner, Julie Sieben and Ruthie Stewart.
Banner painting had the sponsorship of Claytons Heritage Market. Check out www.sunshinecoastartscouncil.com or look on Facebook under Banner Project – Sunshine Coast Arts Council.
Taiko
Taiko drum workshops with Eileen Kage are offered by the New Moon Festival Society on Saturday, Feb. 27 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for beginners and on Sunday, Feb. 28 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for those with some experience. The workshops take place at Frank West Hall, Chaster Road, Gibsons. Fee is $50. For info and registration call Joyce at 604-740-8094.
Noon deadline
Send your notice of arts events by Tuesday at noon for Friday’s newspaper to [email protected] or phone 604-886-4692. Please include a contact person’s phone number or email in your notice – preferably not just a Facebook contact.
