Sound Addiction is one of the city's best loved power-pop groups. Tonight they rock it up but power down at Cafe Voltaire (inside Books and Company). It is an encore performance for lead singer Jol Kress who did an unplugged solo show there in the past, and had such a good time she is bringing the whole band for a similar experience.
"We call them Sound Addiction Lite," said a cafe spokesperson.
Kress's strong vocals hardly need microphones even in a concert hall, so she will have no problem hammering out the hits in the bookstore venue. Showtime is 8 p.m. and there is no cover charge to attend.
On Saturday, bring your positive plaiditudes and beards (if you've got one) to a live music show that is also part beard contest and part grand opening of a new store in the artistic upstairs realm of Artspace (top floor at Books and Company). The band is Crones doing their first appearance of 2015 and the store is Plaid making its first appearance ever. It's a retail shop that touts itself the place to find cool even before it's cool. The open house starts at 7:30 p.m.
On Saturday night, get your dance freak on at Nancy O's Restaurant. Siab, Afreakwent, Dave Smook and Nelos are the DJs bringing down the funk, disco, hiphop, house, drum-and-bass, and other booty bouncing beats. Tickets are $5 at the door (must be 19+ to attend).
Film fans can see the exclusive screening of the movie Force Majeur at Cinema CNC (showtimes at 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.). Directed by Ruben stlund, this Swedish film won awards at critical acclaim at the Cannes Film Festival. It's the story of a disaster that looked like it was about to happen, didn't happen, but reactions did that put a family's foundations on shaky ground.
Shiraz Cafe hosts the ever-popular and always engaging singer-songwriter Raghu Lokanathan at 7 p.m. Reservations are recommended.
Are you the owner or manager of a downtown business? Want extra profile and support the arts community during the Canada Winter Games? Call the Community Arts Council and sign up for the Artnerships Program, where local creators will be paired with downtown stores and offices to showcase the art and bring in the customers. The relationships it builds could last a lifetime, as a business legacy and a personal connection. Go to www.studio2880.com or visit the CAC at 2880 15th Avenue for more information.
The Yalenka Ukrainian Dancers proudly celebrate Malanka - Ukrainian New Years - on Saturday night at the Hart Community Centre. Enjoy ethnic food, traditional dancing, live band, and silent auction for humanitarian aid. Call Deb McConnell at 250-964-8877 for tickets ($45 members, $50 for non-members, kids 6 to 10 are $20, age 5 and younger are $6).
Radio station CFUR (UNBC's campus station) hosts the Malcolm MacLean Band at Riley's Bar located in the Days Inn. This Alberta roots-country troubador will be joined by local singer-songwriter Joey Only as opening act. Showtime is 8:30 p.m. and the $10 ticket gets you both acts and all the dancing you want.
Shiraz Cafe hosts singer-songwriter John Rogers on Jan. 23 at 7 p.m. Enjoy the food and get this night of folk music as a bonus. Reservations are recommended.
The great bard of Scotland is celebrated annually. All nationalities are invited to the Jan. 24 Robbie Burns Dinner at the Hart Community Centre. Doors open at 5 p.m., dinner at 6:30. tickets are $30 for adults, $10 for kids 10 and younger. Kilt or no kilt, come out and toast the haggis and share a Burns verse or two.
A free workshop to learn Tahitian and hula dancing is being offered in Prince George. The introduction to Tahitian dancing happens at 6 p.m. and hula's introduction happens at 7 p.m., both on Jan. 26 at the Spruce Capital Elders Recreation Society (3701 Rainbow Drive). To sign up for either of these one-hour classes, call 250-617-0076.
The Top Drawer Yarn Studio is venturing into double entrendre territory on Jan. 30. They are combining their passion for knitting with their passion for storytelling, with the help of author Sylvia Olsen.
Olsen, who has written many popular knitting books, such as Working With Wool, Knitting Stories, and other titles. Join her and the Top Drawer proprietors at 7 p.m. for the next installment of Top Drawer's "Yarn Socials" and chat with Olsen and friends about yarn, knitting, writing and everything in between. There is no charge to attend; Olsen's books will be available for sale. Top Drawer is located upstairs and Books And Company in the Artspace complex.
Writer Ed Zaruk - author of the award-winning book Altar And Throne, Falklands Deadline, Ontario Central Airlines-The Kenora Years, etc. - is coming back to Artspace to lead his 4th Annual Writers Workshop.
On Jan. 31 (from 1-4:30 p.m.) participants will work on fiction writing, discussing characters created from the story arc and plot, as well as dialogue, literary writing, with a little advice about the world of self publishing mixed in. Then on Feb. 7 (again, from 1-4:30 p.m.), Ed will focus attention on nonfiction and historical fiction.
Cost to attend each Saturday session is $20. Sign up at Books and Company or at Zaruk's website.
Come out to the Cowboy Ranch for classic rock, P.G. style, on Feb. 7. Local trio Miss Guided takes the stage at 8 p.m. Cover charge is $5 at the door.
Tickets are on sale now to the opening ceremonies of the 2015 Canada Winter Games. The event happens Feb. 13 at CN Centre starting at 6 p.m. It kicks off 18 days of sports and culture all hosted by Prince George on a national stage.
Opening ceremonies tickets are available ($105 plus service charges) at the CN Centre Box Office and Studio 2880.
Theatre For Living (formerly Headlines Theatre) has announced northern dates for the return of provincially popular play Maladjusted. The group led by pioneering Theatre Of The Oppressed director David Diamond will bring the performance to this region on the following dates:
Feb 13 - Burns Lake
Feb 14 - Fort St. James
Feb 16 - Prince George (at Westwood Church)
Feb 17 - Mackenzie
Feb 18 - Chetwynd
This is the remount of the 2013 premier tour of this play that "explores the mechanization of the mental health system and how stigmatization of mental health issues happens inside the system itself."
For audience information in Prince George call 250-564-8644 x201.
The City of Prince George's 100th birthday will be celebrated by the nation's most beloved storyteller. Stuart McLean is coming back to our city with his Vinyl Cafe Roadshow. For the first time in his years of performances in Prince George, McLean and his company of fellow performers will take the stage at CN Centre for this auspicious occasion. The show is March 3. Tickets go on sale Monday at Studio 2880, the CN Centre box office and online at Ticketmaster.ca.
This Prince George show will be taped live, and will be heard on CBC Radio three times in the next two years - a birthday party that will reach 6 million people at least based on the massive audience for McLean's weekly CBC Radio show also named The Vinyl Cafe.
One of CN Centre's most requested shows will be coming back for an encore performance. The Very Best of Celtic Thunder returns to the CN Centre on March 14 for a very special evening.
Drawing material from Celtic Thunder's nine Public Television Specials, 11 albums and DVDs, and eight North American tours, The Very Best Of Celtic Thunder aims to combine all Celtic Thunder classics, fan favorites and hit songs into a formidable stage show.
Tickets go on sale Sept. 26, at 10 a.m. at the CN Centre box office, Studio 2880, or online.
Classic rock legends Lynyrd Skynyrd come to Prince George on March 16. The band that brought us Free Bird, Sweet Home Alabama and define the southern rock sound will bring their roadshow to CN Centre. Showtime is 7 p.m. for this Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame group.
Rock music's favourite antihero comes to CN Centre on March 31. Marilyn Manson, the godfather of goth, brings his The Hell Not Hallelujah Tour to Prince George, along with past hits like The Beautiful People, his famous version of Sweet Dreams Are Made Of This, Dope Show, No Reflection and many others. He has been nominated for four Grammy Awards and five MTV Music Awards over the years.
