The paintings of Erica Hawkes are on display now at Groop Gallery. The Prince George painter, now living in Kelowna, has broken into the ranks of professional artist. She has her first hometown exhibit, now on display at the downtown gallery.
Local singer-songwriter Jeremy Pahl (member of Black Spruce Bog) will be at Shiraz Cafe for a solo concert tonight. Pulling inspiration from 1920's & 30's ragtime blues as well as old time country, he has been described as having the intensity of Son House, the songwriting of Woody Guthrie, and the voice of Slim Whitman. He does this while weaving words that reflect where he comes from: the unceded lands of British Columbia. No cover charge. For Reservation call 250-596-7397
It is open mic night at Cafe Voltaire. Led by local guitarist and music host Eric Tompkins, this is a free session for anyone who wants to hear local music from emerging artists to old favourites. The event launches at 8 p.m. Come early for a refreshment and get your name on the list.
The Robson Valley Music Festival starts tonight and runs through Sunday in Dunster (near McBride). In addition to the artisans village, healing arts, food vendors, kids zone, and workshops there is also a list of acclaimed music acts like Digging Roots, Jack Garton & the Demon Squadron, Kinnie Star, Scott Cook, Aurora Jane, Bottoms Up Barely Burlesque, and many more.
Prince George's second annual "youth-led, non-profit, outdoor concert" event The Sound of Summer happens at Fort George Park on Saturday starting at 6:30 p.m. Family-friendly free activities included.
On Saturday night, popular local Persian-jazz band Navaz will lay down their eastern/western fusion sounds at Shiraz Cafe. Comprised of Neda Jalali on vocals, Eric Tompkins on guitar, Curtis Abriel on bass, Justin Gendreau on drums, and special guest Jose Delgado-Guevara of the PGSO on violin.
Kootenay singer-singwriter Windborn will set up a tour base in Prince George this week. He performs Monday night at Nancy O's, then down Highway 16 for shows between here and Prince Rupert, then back again for another appearance on Aug. 24 at Shiraz Cafe and Restaurant.
Dana Beeler from Halifax will be live at Nancy O's on Tuesday night. This singer-songwriter has country shades with some folk and pop. Dana has opened for the likes of Kathleen Edwards, Gordie Sampson, Amelia Curran, Jenn Grant and Irish Mythen, while getting a Country Album of the Year nomination for her package The Long Goodbye last year at Nova Scotia Music Week. She is a mainstay on the club and festival dates on the east coast and is now making her name in the west. Tickets are $5.
Jimmy Baldwin will be live at Nancy O's on Aug. 22. Baldwin is a unique modern guitarist, singer and songwriter born and raised in northern B.C., but now calls Vancouver home. His music has been called "country soul" with single Big Eyes featured on his debut album Changing Time. Cover charge is $5. Showtime is 9 p.m.
Local author Susan B. Thompson is one of 21 writers who have had their inscriptions included in the book Heartmind Wisdom: An Anthology of Inspiring Wisdom By Those Who Have Been There. She will be in person Aug. 23 at Cafe Voltaire (inside Books and Company) at 1 p.m., free of charge. Organizers said the book "will give you insight into abundance, inner peace, love, hope, happiness and heath."
Craig Cardiff is doing "two shows in one night" at Nancy O's on Aug. 23. His last three shows at the PG watering hole have been sold out. This Juno Award and Canadian Folk Music Award nominee has become an audience favourite for his project Love Is Louder (Than All This Noise) Part 1 and 2, a collection of songs based on the inspiration and heartbreak found inside his Book Of Truths, a notebook he passes around his audience each show, getting people to pen in a true story for him to read. His latest double-bill will happen that night at 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.
Music On the Mountain echoes from Murray Ridge Ski Centre on the Aug. 22 - 24 weekend. Acts on the bill include Scott Dunbar, Raghu Lokanathan, Joey Only, Zahirah Middle Eastern Belly Dancers, Doug Koyama, Sarah Elizabeth (remembered as Sarah Towle by local CBC listeners), Black Spruce Bog, and those are just some of the ones connected to P.G.
Pineview Summer Festival swings for the fences on Aug. 23 and 24. The rural neighbourhood on the doorstep of the city (the airport area) holds their annual slo-pitch tournament, lawn volleyball, loggers sports, the Pineview's Got Talent showcase and a concert/dance featuring local country star Rick Stavely. Information at www.pineviewhall.ca.
Acoustic swing/blues duo Sabrina Weeks and Mike Hilliard bring their Maple Blues Award-winning show to the Senior Citizens Activity Centre (4th and Brunswick) on Aug. 23. Showtime is 7:30 p.m. Advance tickets are $15 at Studio 2880.
The Two Rivers Gallery hosts a pair of new exhibitions for summer, by artists from both sides of the country. Ontario photography artist Andrzej Maciejewski's exhibition entitled Garden of Eden and Prince George artist Phil Morrison's solo exhibition of sculptures entitled Heaven. Hunger. Heart. are on now for the duration of the summer.
On Aug. 27, Nancy O's is host to Dinner and A Show with singer-songwriter Erika Callewaert. Showtime is 6 p.m. and there is no cover charge.
Westwood Pub hosts a set of live acts on Aug. 28. Ninjaspy is the headliner, with support by Mediocre Minds, Bindles and Bombs, The Backseat Collective and other features. Tickets (ages 19-plus only) are $10 in advance from Home Sweet Home.
For some risque fun, The Generator is the home of Vintage Carnivale on Aug. 28. This multi-talented night features the music of Scott Dunbar and Raghu Lokanathan plus a burlesque review. Tickets are $20 at the Generator door, or in advance from Nancy O's.
Nudity has never been this funny. The Comic Strippers have announced a Prince George date on their tour schedule, coming to Prince George Playhouse on Sept. 26 and 27. Tickets are $35 or $30 each for groups of six-plus, available at Studio 2880.
This is, the cast stressed in a written statement, "A fictitious male stripper troupe, played by a cast of some of Canada's best improvisational comedians...Gentleman, not to worry, this is definitely a parody of male strippers. Some of the performers have what's called 'Comedy Bodies' - they will make you look good by comparison."
It's a little bit of The Full Monty without a script, a little of Magic Mike on magic mushrooms, this show is called a "sexylarious improv" comedy show. The cast includes Chris Casillan, Ken Lawson and Roman Danylo. If you Google them, you'll discover they are all actually highly decorated comedians who are prone to keep their clothes on no matter how suggestive the jokes might get.
But just to be on the safe side, only those 19 and older may attend.
The Community Arts Council (CAC) has Summer Day Camps for children ages 6 to 11, each week a different theme.
Thanks to BC Hydro's sponsorship, each week has two spots available for free if your child attends Harwin, Ron Brent, Nursdeh Yoh, Quinson or Van Bien schools. If interested, contact Wendy by email: executive@studio2880.com. This will be first come first served. Each camp has a capacity of 20 children so to register your young people, log on to www.studio2880.com or come by the CAC at 2880 15th Avenue.
The Two Rivers Art Gallery now has the paintings of local artist Jos Delgado-Guevara on display in their Rustad Galleria. More famous as the concertmaster for the Prince George Symphony Orchestra, Delgado-Guevara is also an accomplished visual artist, as demonstrated in this exhibition entitled Animism. On Thursday, he will be on-hand for a reception and artist's talk at 7:30 p.m.
God Save The Queen is touring the world, one of the few tribute acts that get star status. On September 12, Prince George bites the dust.
This extravaganza of Queen, one of the most flamboyant and best-selling rock acts of all time, is a spectacle unto itself.
God Save The Queen is billed as "an astonishingly accurate replication of the performances staged by Freddie and Queen, down to the light cues, the costumes and even a replica of the Red Special, the guitar Brian May used."
Phil Murphy (Queen's Tour Manager), described God Save the Queen: "They are as good as the real thing".
Bill Heckle, of Liverpool, England's, Mathew Street Festival said, "They are the best tribute band of all the tribute bands in the world!"
A true music industry A-list talent is coming to CN Centre on Oct. 5. Country superstar Brad Paisley is hot with his newly released single The River Bank to go along with his mega-selling hit list like Alcohol, Me Neither, Whiskey Lullaby, I'm Gonna Miss Her (The Fishin' Song) and many more. He has won Grammy Awards, been inducted into the Grand Ol' Opry, has performed for President Obama, and his duet partners are a who's who of the music world.
He's known for cars and crushing guitars. Danny "The Count" Koker is the proprietor of celebrity hot rod shop Count's Kustoms which super-restores vintage vehicles. It's the set of the hit TV show Counting Cars.
As well as star cars, Koker is also the frontman for classic rock power group Count's 77 along with former Britney Fox frontman Tommy Paris, past Blue Man Group drummer Paul Disibio, Rock Of Ages bassist Barry Barnes, and the twin guitars of acclaimed blues session players John Zito and Stoney Curtis. Count's 77 plays a cabaret show at CN Centre on Oct. 18
Popular children's characters Toopy and Binoo will be live in P.G. on October 23 at the CN Centre. Tickets go on sale June 6 at CN Centre box office, Studio 2880 and Ticketmaster online.
Toopy and Binoo were born on the pages of books by Dominique Jolin, then became television stars starting in 2005. Now the live stage show is touring western Canada for the first time.
The Doobie Brothers come rockin' down the highway into Prince George for an Oct. 24 concert at CN Centre. One of the most popular classic rock bands ever, The Doobies have rung up a glittering track record including three multi-platinum, seven platinum and 14 Gold albums. Their Best of the Doobies (1976) has sold more than 11 million copies - a rare "diamond record." The Doobies propulsive roots-based, harmony-laden, guitar-driven style has sold more than 30 million albums overall and their set list is the soundtrack to the 1970s and '80s including Black Water, What a Fool Believes, China Grove, Takin' It to the Streets, The Doctor and many more.
Sarah McLauchlan shines on. The ethereal singer-songwriter has been called a national treasure and a hero for women in music. She has a long list of hits, she has carved her persona into popular culture, and she is touring the world on the strength of her latest album Shine On. She performs at CN Centre on October 25.
