By Katie Kershaw
Special to The NEWS
Two Vancouver Island high school students had the incredible opportunity to open for the sensational Alice Francis last Thursday night.
Grade 12 student Kyle Gorenko from KSS and Connor Stewart, a home-schooled student from Nanaimo, formed an all-star swing band with four esteemed musicians and called themselves the Conn Stewart Hot Seven.
They pumped out some great tunes before Alice and her band took to the stage with their amazing electro-swing 20’s vibe. The Queen’s was packed to listen to Alice and her band who hail from Cologne, Germany. They’ve been doing music for several years now and have a successful album out called St. James Ballroom. It’s their first time in Canada, with Nanaimo being one of three stops along the way.
Next on their tour they headed to Cumberland and then Whistler. Francis said at the concert they’d really been enjoying their time here.
“There are mountains, there are forests, there is the sea – all in one place! It’s paradise,” she said.
Funds raised from this Roaring Twenties formal affair will benefit the Vancouver Island Crisis Society youth suicide prevention programs.
Kudos to Tina Coldwell for organizing this amazing event and to The Queen’s for giving young, emerging artists a venue to showcase their talents.
