Coldsnap Music Festival will be in full swing next week with the Boom Booms, Dear Rouge, Miss Quincy & the Showdown, the Harpoonist and the Axe Murderer and many more headliners.
The festival organizer, the Prince George Folkfest Society, knows how important it is to make this kind of event accessible and offers free workshops so everyone can enjoy the artists' talent.
"Workshops are a key component for any music festival because it lets artists work together and interact with the audience," said Sue Judge, artistic director of the Coldsnap Festival. "Workshops allows the musicians the opportunity to get some feedback and answer questions."
Community involvement is always uppermost in Judge's mind.
"So each workshop is hosted by a different organization in town," she added. "This gives the community ownership of the workshops. We're very excited about the workshops. They are very important to us."
It also gives the organizations a chance to promote their causes, as well.
"It's all about community and inclusivity," said Judge. "During the festival, we try to offer different genres to appeal to as much of the population as we can and the workshops just add to that because of their accessibility. The workshops are presented in partnership with Integris Credit Union so we're able to make a donation to some of the societies, pay for the venues and provide refreshments."
The schedule:
Friday, Jan. 24
CBC Radio One presents Livin' in the VLA Friday from noon to 2 p.m. at the Youth Around Prince office, 1160 Seventh Ave. This is a special session focusing on life in the VLA of Prince George, discussing issues and potential solutions facing Prince George's low income neighbourhood. The Boom Booms will perform and talk about their experiences of reaching out to low-income communities. Also performing will be local singer-songwriter Derek Joyce, who lives in the VLA.
Saturday, Jan. 25
The Prince George Public Library is celebrating Family Literacy Day with Munsch Mania 2 Saturday from 1 to 3 p.m. There will be many Munsch memorable moments throughout the library, and in the Keith Gordon Room, CBC Radio One staff will be on hand to read Mortimer. Coldsnap local performers will sing a few songs and help children make basic percussion instruments (noise makers) to help emphasize the 'clang clang rattle bing bang' bits in the story.
Sunday, Jan. 26
Positive Living North hosts a Song and Story Swap Around the Firepit, with special guests Moon Road at the Firepit Cultural Drop-in Centre. All story tellers are welcome. Bring instruments to the workshop at 1120 Third Avenue, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Sunday Afternoon Blues Jam takes place at the Seniors Activity Centre, 425 Brunswick St. from 2 to 4 p.m. Prince George Blues Underground will host Miss Quincy and the Showdown and the Harpoonist and the Axe Murderer.
Monday, Jan. 27
CFUR, radio station of UNBC, is hosting a Roundtable Songwriting Discussion with Royal Wood and Catherine MacLellan. The workshop will be held at the NUGGS Event Centre between 1 and 3 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 28
The Student Ambassadorship & Leadership Program of the department of International Education at the College of New Caledonia will host David Myles for A Lifetime of Exploring Musical Genres, to discuss his lifelong exploration of music and what it has meant to his unique style of music. The event will be held in the CNC Auditorium from noon to 2 p.m.
Wednesday, Jan. 29
In preparation for the first-ever Coldsnap Poetry SLAM to be held Wednesday night at the Canfor Theatre at UNBC, there will be a workshop hosted by the UNBC English Students Society at the NUGGS Event Centre. Facilitated by Brendan McLeod, the workshop will give participants the opportunity to practice their spoken word and slam skills and sharpen their words. Bring prepared material if you have any. The workshop will be open to the public. Participation is encouraged but not mandatory - everyone is welcome to just come down and see what it is all about. The workshop will be between 1 and 3 p.m. Registration for the workshop is not required, but you must be registered to participate in the Spoken Word Open Mic or the Poetry Slam event on Wednesday night. To register, or for more information, please contact Trina Johnson at the UNBC English Students Society [email protected].
Friday, Jan. 31
Long & McQuade will host an intimate workshop featuring Jerron 'Blind Boy' Paxton, and Peter Lang on Friday at 356 George St. for the DNA of American Music. These instrumentalist masters will provide dazzling examples of their unique styles and acoustic virtuosity. The workshop will be held between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 1
The Latino-Canadian Association and the Kiwanis Club of Prince George invite you to Come In From the Cold to learn how to dance. Live bands, Andino Suns and Rumba Calzada will entertain and share perspectives to celebrate diversity. Basic Latino dance steps will be shared, while a children's Zumba class will get hearts pumping. Familias de Prince George, "Vengan y bailen con nosotros!" Prince George families, "Come dance with us!" Juice and snacks will be provided by the Prince George Kiwanis Club at the Connaught Youth Centre, 1491-17th Ave. on Saturday Feb. 1 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Coldsnap workshops are free and to see the Coldsnap Music Festival shows tickets are on sale at Books & Co., 1685 Third Ave., Studio 2880, 2880-15th Ave., or online at
http://www.coldsnapfestival.com/tickets/.
