TD Concerts at the Pier
The finale of this year’s TD Concerts at the Pier event hits the stage next to the White Rock Museum and Archives this Saturday (Aug. 19).
Platinum Blonde, legendary Canadian band of the 1980s, will wrap up the series at 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 19, with opening act Spirit at 7 p.m.
Platinum Blonde, fondly remembered for such hits as Standing In The Dark, Doesn’t Really Matter, Situation Critical, Crying Over You, Somebody Somewhere and Hungry Eyes, includes original members Mark Holmes (vocals and guitar), and Sergio Galli (guitars) with drummer Dan Todd.
TD Concerts at the Pier series, now in its third year, is presented by the White Rock BIA – in partnership with TD Canada Trust, the City of White Rock and REMAX.
Elvis tribute
Steve Elliott, popular, award-winning Elvis tribute artist, will bring the classic Presley style and rock n’ roll sound to the Crescent Legion’s Club 240, Saturday, Aug. 19 at 8 p.m.
“If you like Elvis, you will love Steve,” said Club 240 co-ordinator Doug Milne.
Those who arrive early also have an opportunity to have their photo taken with Elliott and his big pink Cadillac, Milne added.
The Legion is located at 2643 128 St. Tickets $20 at the door, or at brownpapertickets.com
Canada 150 shows
The City of White Rock, Semiahmoo Arts and Canada 150 are co-presenting two exhibits this summer highlighting both established and emerging artists, curated by Melanie Watts.
The second exhibit, Our Future, runs until Sept. 16 at the Pop-Uptown Gallery, 1459 B Johnston Rd.
It features new artwork by Debbie Westergaard Tuepah with Roxanne Charles, plus work by Christine Leviczky-Riek, Diane Roy, Tom Douglas, Bev Ellis, Robert Wakefield, Mallory Donen, Molly Gray, Uryel Cho, Tony Wilson, Chrystal Johnston, Linda Bickerton-Ross, Brandy McLean, Rachel Kirkpatrick, YoungHwa Cha Hach, Lesley Tannen, Jevon Greco and Frazer Cole.
Subtitled Sagas, Narratives – and Selfies, the exhibits began with the Our Past exhibition, which is still running at White Rock Community Centre, 15154 Russell Ave.
Among special events planned for the Pop-Uptown show are a talk and discussion on “art as life” by writer/artist Cole (Aug. 23, 6-8 p.m.); and guest artist Diana Robles will share her collection of hand-made garments (Sept. 2-3, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.). Also on the way are a showcase of new work by textile artists Gloria Villamil (Sept. 9-10, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.); and a ‘plant pounding’ workshop with Bobbie Hammersley (Sept. 17, 6:30 to 8 p.m., $10, pre-registration required at 604-536-8333)
Closing reception Sept. 16, 7 to 9 p.m. will include live music, storytelling and light refreshments. The new exhibit is open Wednesdays through Sundays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Blue Frog
More summer evenings with both local and internationally noted musicians are on the way at White Rock’s intimate concert venue, Blue Frog Studios.
Upcoming shows include Byrd Dawg, Joel Dietrich and Wayne Rempel‘s ‘ultimate tribute’ to the enduring appeal of ’50s-’60s duo the Everly Brothers, Friday, Aug. 18 (still tickets for the 9:15 show).
On Aug. 24 at 7 p.m. it’s the Afro-Cuban style music of multiple Juno Award-winning flautist, saxophone player and pianist Jane Bunnett and her current ensemble Maqueque.
This group of five young Cuban women – each an instrumentalist and composer in her own right – perfectly compliments Bunnett’s ongoing exploration of the universality of music while highlighting the rhythms and culture of Cuba.
The venue is at 1328 Johnston Rd.; tickets are at 604-542-3055, or visit www.bluefrogstudios.ca
Trad Jazz
Popular White Rock Traditional Jazz Society season of house band Red Beans & Rice, led by cornetist/pianist Rice Honeywell Sr., continues its 13th summer season of Dixieland-style jazz, offering regular dances on Sundays (2-5 p.m.) at Club 240 (the Royal Canadian Legion Crescent Branch). Featured on drums is Bob Aitken.
The band holds sway every Sunday afternoon until Aug. 27.
Red Beans & Rice can also be seen Friday, Aug. 25 (6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.) at Porter’s Bistro, 21611 48 Ave., Langley (reservations recommended, 604-530-5297).
Admission (at the door) is $10 for WRTJS members and full-time students, $12 for everybody else.
Sea Of Stories
Peninsula Productions’ long-awaited Sea Of Stories – a historical musical tribute to White Rock coinciding with Canada 150 celebrations – runs until Aug. 26 at Coast Capital Playhouse, 1532 Johnston Rd.
Produced in partnership with the City of White Rock, with funding from Heritage Canada, Sea Of Stories combines an original book by Shawn Macdonald and songs by musical director Dominik Heins, helmed by Peninsula Productions’ artistic director Wendy Bollard.
A fictional framing narrative – Anita and her 14-year-old son Jeffrey have moved to White Rock to help Anita’s mother transition into a retirement home – provides the hook for real-life characters and events in White Rock history, including the 1912 to 1957 period of town-building, but also exploring the area’s Indigenous culture and the people of the Semiahmoo First Nation (artist Roxanne Charles was a consultant during development of the script).
Cast members include Sam Bob, Matthew Budd, Jessie Chan, Nancy Ebert, Paige Gibbs, Miranda Gilbert, Anthony Goncharov, Cory Haas, Theo James, Kirsten Kwong, Tegan Verheul, Cathy Wilmot and Andrew Wood. Choreography is by Keri Minty; set, lighting and projection design by Alan Brodie and costumes by Ines Ortner.
Performances are at 8 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays, with 2:30 p.m. matinees on the weekends.
Tickets ($27, $22 seniors and $13 students) are available from 604-536-7535 or www.peninsulaproductions.org
