Local Arts

The Tiller's Folly, that most quintessential of Canadian West Coast acoustic bands, combines an amalgam of Celtic, bluegrass and folk laced with a touch of country and rock to become Canadiana roots music saturated in deep Pacific brine.

Coast resident Gwen Abram sought tranquility when she visited friends on the Sunshine Coast in 1963. As a girl, she had lived through the wartime bombing of London and had nearly been killed three times.

Over the past few months, torch singers, jazz-rock groups and blues have dominated the Coast jazz scene. The Bayou Jazz Band with their spontaneous Dixieland style has not been heard from since the Pender Harbour Jazz Festival last September.

When they open the envelope at the Lieutenant Governor's B.C. Book Prizes gala in Vancouver tomorrow night (April 30), there are two excellent chances that Sunshine Coast authors will take home honours.

Robert Silverman is a consummate communicator, entertainer and educator - and he's no slouch as a pianist either.Montreal-born Silverman first played in Elphinstone Secondary School's cafeteria Oct. 18, 1979.

Unsolved mysteries - writers love them. There's something kind of sexy and intense about the idea of a train robber, Bill Miner, having a secret love affair with an iconic poet and performer, Pauline Johnson.

Ever wonder what's the deal with young people in B.C.? If so, an exciting and entertaining film festival is coming to the Coast to help answer those questions. The B.C.

As I was enjoying the Coast String Fiddlers concert at St. Bart's Church last Sunday, I was struck by what other fiddler fans must have noticed long ago. They're all grown up.

The war in Iraq greatly disturbed Pender Harbour artist Helen Broadfoot, especially when she heard President Bush talk about collateral damage, the death of civilians and children in the course of fighting. "It stuck in my craw," she says.

A Blast from the Past was a fun trip to a musical era full of blue suede shoes, bobby socks and poodle skirts. The extravaganza, written by Lynne Dickson and directed by Tracey Lloyd, gave two performances at Chatelech Theatre on April 10.