Fiddler April Verch comes to Ashcroft
Winding Rivers Arts & Performance Society is very excited to present Ottawa’s April Verch on Nov. 9 at St Albans Hall in Ashcroft. It promises to be a fiddling-and-stepdancing good time when Verch takes to the stage.
Her clear soprano voice sounds like a mix of a young Olivia Newton-John and a younger Dolly Parton. From traditional roots tunes, bluegrass melodies to jazz-influenced compositions and country-tinged vocals.
On her eighth CD, That’s How We Run, Verch is exploring Southern traditions from the Appalachian mountains, side-by-side with Canadian tunes – all in the spirit of her love of music.
Verch, 33, is a past winner of the two highest Canadian honors for fiddling, the Grand Masters and the Canadian Open. She is an acknowledged master of the Ottawa Valley school of fiddle–playing – it’s a fusion of Scottish, Irish, French and Appalachian music, performed full–tilt and high–energy – and a champion stepdancer.
“That’s part of who I am,” she says of her dancing prowess. “The traditions go hand in hand for me.”
The April Verch Band includes Clay Ross on guitar and Cody Walters on upright bass and banjo.
Verch is one of Canada’s best–known and most–loved folk musicians – she made her first TV appearance at the age of 10 – but celebrity, she says, holds little interest for her. It’s always been about the music.
The dessert concert is at St Albans Hall, 501 Brink Street in Ashcroft starting at 8 pm. Get your tickets in advance and get a discount. Advanced tickets are now on sale on the Winding Rivers website via paypal (www.windingriversarts.ca) or locally at the Ashcroft Bakery and Natures Gifts in Ashcroft. For more information call (250) 453 9100.
They left them in a daze
There is an element of magic that fills a room when visual and theatrical elements are combined with outstanding musicianship. The effect, they left the crowd in a daze. “They” are non other than Vancouver’s Maria In The Shower who performed a few Saturdays ago in Ashcroft.
A foursome of pinstripe-vested, bowler hat-clad young men, difficult to pigeonhole into any genre. What followed was one of the most amazing and innovative shows I’ve ever seen.
The band incorporated a variety of traditional sounds including accordion, trumpet, guitar, energetic stand-up bass and even some trombone. We could have been in New Orleans rather than Ashcroft, from the sounds of all the cabaret styled fun.
What struck me most was the visual elements that drew me and the rest of the more than 60 entertained audience members. They even added a touch of gospel thanks to a song about Jesus being their Valentine. The stand up bassist then stood on his bass, slapping out a rockabilly groove. Yes, they put on quite a show.
Then Jack, the group’s lead singer and trumpet player, got up on the Bass again while he was blowing a fantastic solo during St. James Infirmary Blues. Maria In the Shower know how to put on a show – and showed up!
They showed off some exceptional vocal harmonies especially at the end as enthusiastic audience members wouldn’t let them off the stage, calling for an encore, which they granted with a very cool a cappella number to end the show around 10:30 pm.
Reports are that a few return engagements are being talked about. Hopefully at next summer’s Desert Daze in Spences Bridge and possibly for Music In The Park in Ashcroft are in the works. Don’t miss them!
Winding Rivers would like to thank all the Volunteers and the many folks of Ashcroft who came to enjoy the show.
Cache Creek Family Halloween fun!
A Family Halloween Dance is planned on Friday, Oct. 28 at the Cache Creek Community Hall.
Celebrate October Fest
Come celebrate October Fest at the Ashcroft Legion on Friday, Oct. 28. A fun night presented by the Ladies Auxilary. Dinner starts at 6:30 pm and the Bargain Basement Bands starts at 8 pm. Costumes encouraged – for more info 250-453-2423.
Skary-Oke Club crawl – a ghoulish singers dream
Every Halloween, The Log Cabin in Spences Bridge holds a Skary-Oke Party. Co-owner John carves the jack-o-lanterns and the pub is decorated with a fabulous Hilltop Gardens display of giant pumpkins, fancy gourds and broom corn.
Join in on the fun – costumes encouraged and get your best ghostly vocal chords in order for lots of monster Skary-Oke songs for Oct. 29 starting at 8 pm at the Log Cabin, located at 4857 Chucker Crescent in Spences Bridge. For more info call 250-458-2215.
Ashcroft’s River Inn will also be holding a Skary-Oke on Oct. 29 with Tracie Model to help you howl out some ghoulish songs into the witching hour. Costumes encouraged – the fun starts after 8 pm.
Salutes, funny bones and Christmas cheer
The Packing House in Spences Bridge presents some great live music for in the month of November.
On Nov. 5, Dixie Lynne and her Singing Salute to the Ladies Of Old Country will perform.
On Nov. 25 and 26, be sure not to miss the incredibly funny, and talented Tim Brecht.
Head’s up for a special Christmas show on Dec. 21 with Dave Lang and the Black Squirrels. Dinner shows start at 5:30 pm. To make a reservation, call The Packing House at 250-458-2256.
