Local party bands Bralorne and The Killbillies are the co-headliners at a fundraiser dance this weekend at the Treasure Cove Casino.
It is a networking event where ordinary, average folks are being called out for some fun to meet some other ordinary, average folks. It is a person-to-person response to the social media world where relationships and interactions largely happen via computers instead of face to face.
Hell Yeah Prince George is sponsoring the event.
"Imagine an event that showcases all Prince George has to offer," said a Hell Yeah description of the night. "(You'll get) local musicians playing, appetizers made from locally-sourced fare, and beer and wine from our brewery and winery. (It's a) chance for all of us to throw on our dancing shoes and have an amazing night."
It was that love of going out to dance and have some casual socializing that sparked the invention of this event in the first place.
"I actually started this thing," said Killbillies band member Steve Smith, amazed at how it expanded. "I did it because there are very few opportunities for cover bands these days so I wanted to try this. I approached Bralorne about doing a dance and then I approached the casino about doing a dance. Amanda (Chandler, events co-ordinator at the casino) came up with the idea to include HYPG and 'wham', an event is born."
Chandler said, "Steve came to me and talked about the lack of venues for bands like his to play, and the lack of opportunities to go out and dance, and I agreed, and this seemed like a good way to fit all that together, but we wanted to add a different spin than just holding a regular ol' dance. We teamed up with Hell Yeah because they have such a great focus on the community, and both bands want to play their music, but they also want to support their city, so Hell Yeah helped us come up with some ways to make this into a charity event, too."
The ticket price is one way to support the charity. Admission is $30 each or two for $50 for the whole experience with food, beverages, live music and good company.
The second way the event helps out charity is also a celebration of art and of our community. One of the central themes of Hell Yeah Prince George is quality photographs of definitively local landscapes, buildings, wildlife and human activities.
"We wanted to give an opportunity to show off that art in a different sort of setting," said Chandler. "So people who have posted an amazing photo (on the Hell Yeah Facebook page) can bring in a printed 4x6 copy, drop it off here at the casino with a brief description, and we will display them at the dance. Then people will vote on their favourites, paying $1 per vote. There is a winner that comes from the voting process and a local charity wins because they get all the vote money."
The charity has yet to be named.
The event happens Saturday at 6 p.m. (doors open) with heels kicking up at
8 p.m.
Tickets are available in advance at the casino front desk and for more information contact Chandler at 250-561-2421 or [email protected].
