This year’s line up for Performances in the Park summer concert series in Williams Lake rocks, say organizers.
Local and provincial performers will light up the stage in Boitanio Park each Thursday evening from July 5 to August 16.
From 5 – 6 p.m. performers will be or will cater to children and youth, and from 7 – 8 p.m. acts, oriented towards adults, will be family friendly. The line up includes rock and roll, jazz, bluegrass, dancers, theatre and more.
Youth acts are diverse in genre and capture the attention of young and old alike. Local teenager, Robyn Ferguson, will kick off the series at 5 p.m. on July 5 with her renditions of country and soft rock.
Later at 7 p.m., Doug Koyama will take the stage and captivate the audience with songs of life, love, peace and truth, yet by listening to his lyrics one would never know. He uses looping, a capella and improv to create music to the ears.
The series unfolds to reveal some of the musical talents of Williams Lake, the surrounding villages and countryside, and the province of BC.
Acts include Horsefly duo Carmen and Dena who, on July 26, will mesh their voices into beautiful harmonies while singing of love loss, self discovery and friendship.
On August 9, the members of Big Twang Daddy will gather together from the Cariboo landscape to create folk and rock that will get your toes tapping and your body moving.
On July 19, another Horsefly favourite, Pharis and Jason Romero, share their passion and adeptness for roots, folk, early country and old time music with beautiful harmonies.
Local bluesy jazz sensation, My Wife’s Quartet takes the stage July 12 following a performance by an incredible Chilcotin youth, the Magical Jesaja.
He has already taken the Quesnel Farmers Market by storm and will perform at ArtsWells on the August long weekend as a part of Potato Dreams.
A version of this play, Potato Dreams, will take the stage at 5 p.m.. on Aug. 2, featuring Likely Gold, a dramatic group of youths directed by Venta Rutkauskas. These young actors will open for the always entertaining, dance inspiring Maria in the Shower. This Eastside Vancouver foursome shifts with ease from uptempo swing to sensitive folk ballad, or energetic samba to subtle waltz.
Prepare to dance up a sweat while taking in their captivating performance.
Mill Girl Follies, a collective of Can Can dancers from throughout the province, but mostly from Clinton, will take you back in time at 5 p.m. on July 26.
Energetic and talented, they will make you want to join their troop. Other youth oriented openers include the local Uke Tuba Trio whose fun music is entertaining and reining from Hope.
On August 9, the Ta Daa Lady brings her mesmerizing charms. Tap dancing, puppetry and singing are just aspects of her presentation.
To keep everyone on their toes, the Aug. 16 concert format, the series finale, is a little bit different. Big Lake youth Sam Tudor mingles his musical talents with the likes of Marin Patenaude and Drum & Bell Tower in two sets of great music starting at 5 p.m. and again at 7 p.m.
Performances in the Park is presented by the Central Cariboo Arts and Culture Society, the City of Williams Lake and the Cariboo Regional District.
Please check out www.facebook.com/PerformancesinthePark or www.centralcaribooarts.com for updates, details, and pictures from the summer Performances in the Park concerts.
For more information or for interviews please contact Beth Holden at performances.wl@gmail.com or 250-305-5014.
