Canadian blues goddess Rita Chiarelli comes to the Civic Centre on October 11, kicking off the first of the Live Kicks concerts over the fall and winter.
Each year, Kicking Horse Culture carefully selects artists to play in Golden, and executive director Bill Usher has worked hard to bring in a full season of music once again.
“It’s trying to find people that are coming down that highway at the right time, on a certain day of the week or time of year. It’s so many balls juggling in the air,” Usher said. “Pretty much once we start, it’s every two weeks throughout the winter and into April. We can’t start any earlier because people are still outside, and we can’t go any later because once we get into April, unless it’s a blockbuster show, people are active outside.”
The Live Kicks entertainment also includes the annual Snow King Festival, held each year to welcome Lady Spring back into the Valley, and a Christmas concert, which Usher says is always popular.
Chiarelli was born and raised in Hamilton, Ontario, and began her musical career performing in the 1980s, and had her debut album out by 1992. Chiarelli has put together an all-female rhythm and blues band that she brings to Golden.
“[Chiarelli] has been here before and blew everybody away,” Usher said. “She’s a great, sassy woman up on stage, and she’s bringing an all-woman band this year. They’re all really fine players.”
Kicking Horse Culture worked with a similar outfit in Cranbrook to bring Chiarelli to B.C., and since then she has been booked on a 14-gig tour. The band is expected to perform classic covers and evocative originals.
Chiarelli and her band begin the season of music at the Civic Centre on October 11 at 7:30 p.m.
Just over two weeks later, Kicking Horse Culture introduces Jim Byrnes, who is described as a soulful performer who has put his stamp on everything from gospel to rockabilly.
“Jim Byrnes is somebody we wanted to bring in for a long time,” Usher said, adding that he has played roles on TV as an actor as well. “He’s been in Canada for many, many years now, and he’s just a really fine storyteller.”
Kicking Horse Culture has a number of events lined up already for the cold months.
The I Like it Anonymous art show begins on November 16, featuring work from many artists in the community.
Vendor applications are being accepted for the Christmas Craft Faire until October 5, and the fair will take place at the Mount 7 Rec Plex on November 23 and 24.
To get a kick of culture in between the live music shows, Film Kicks presents The Wife on Thursday, October 18 at 7:30 p.m. at the Golden Cinema.
The full list of events, and the lineup up Live Kicks is available at www.kickinghorseculture.ca.
