alex.browne@peacearchnews.com
California Beach Boys
White Rock’s Blue Frog Studios is launching the Sea Festival weekend with a perfect beach-themed choice – Mike Amaral‘s California Beach Boys – Friday, July 29, shows at 7 and 9:30 p.m.
A tribute to the good-time party music and clean-cut style of the original Beach Boys (Brian, Dennis and Carl Wilson, Mike Love and Al Jardine), the group’s members grew up in the ’60s and are steeped in the music of the era from playing on stage with such surf music legends as The Ventures, The Surfaris, The Sunrays and The Rivieras.
The California Beach Boys promise to bring back all the precise harmonies – and congenial attitude – of the originals with spirited performances of such classics as Fun, Fun, Fun, Good Vibrations, I Get Around, Kokomo, Little Duece Coup, Surfin’ USA and California Girls.
Also coming up at Blue Frog are a two-show evening, Aug. 5, with The Timewalkers (multi-talents Ron Irving, Michael Vincent, Eli Bryan Nelson and Luke Isaac) marking the release of their new CD Brave New World.
The venue is located at 1328 Johnston Rd.; tickets are available at 604-542-3055 or through www.bluefrogstudios.ca
Sea Festival
There’s plenty of chance to catch music for all ages and tastes this weekend at the two outdoor stages of White Rock’s 2016 Sea Festival.
Headliners will be White Rock’s favourite blast from the past – Tom Lavin’s Powder Blues Band – Saturday (July 30) from 8 to 9 p.m. on the main stage between the White Rock and the pier.
At the Spirit Stage, at Semiahmoo Park’s band shell, there’s another chance to catch some of White Rock’s most promising up-and coming talent.
Sets start Saturday with Richard Tichelman (4:10 p.m.), Olin Brix (4:35 p.m.), Olde Mon (5 p.m.), Jodye (5:35 p.m.), Joe Q. and Kenny G. (6:10 p.m.), Jade with Skepasts (6:50 p.m.) and Hydro Boyz (7:30 p.m.).
The music picks up again at the stage on Sunday afternoon with Ava Carich (4:10 p.m.), Ben Dunnill (4:35 p.m.), Peach Pit (5 p.m.), Air Stranger (5:40 p.m.) and Hawking (6:40 p.m.).
On the main stage, music starts Saturday with a showcase for the 2016 Roadhouse Youth Talent Search finalists – including first-place winner Carich – (noon), Switch To Black (1 p.m.), Kristin Bunyan (2 p.m.), The Jim Black Collective (3 p.m.), Intoxicated By Nature (4 p.m.), Coldwater and the Bootleggers (5 p.m.), Wheat in the Barley (6 p.m.) and Jason Buie (7 p.m.).
On Sunday, main stage entertainers are Peninsula Arts Foundation grant recipients (noon), Beyond The Eyes (1 p.m.), The Escapes (1:30 p.m.), Fanny Starchild (2 p.m.), Ben Brown (3 p.m.), Harley Small (4 p.m.), Swamp City (5 p.m.), Heidi McCurdy (6 p.m.), Sarah Jickling and her Good Bad Luck (7 p.m.) and Terence Jack (8 p.m.).
Passion For Clay
Coming up this August in the City of White Rock’s Pop-Up Town space, 1459B Johnston Rd., will be A Passion For Clay – a working ceramics studio and gallery bringing together some 40 potters from the hosts, the Semiahmoo Potters’ Club and the Fraser Valley Potters’ Guild.
During the month-long collaboration, potters’ creations can be purchased, and on-duty members of the two groups will be happy to share information about future events, local class opportunities and studios.
Opening reception will be Aug. 5 from 7-9 p.m., and the gallery will be open on Wednesdays, Saturday and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Thursdays and Fridays from noon to 8 p.m.
For more information visit A Passion For Clay’s Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/events/1634917653491265/)
Meanwhile The Uptown Art Affair, a cross-disciplinary set of local artists, are winding down their tenure at the space this week.
The assemblage of talents has included artists-in-residence Sherron Fairbairn and Georgina Johnstone; photographers Geoff Milne and Joci Sirak; balloon and party embellishment artist Heather Crawford; and singer-songwriter Ron Fairbairn (for more information on the group, visit www.facebook.com/uptownartaffairwhiterock/).
Youth performers sought
Are you a young performer waiting for the opportunity to demonstrate your talent in public?
Peninsula Productions is looking for additional acts for its upcoming show NextGen Cabaret, Aug. 19, 8 p.m., at Coast Capital Playhouse.
But time for applications is limited, with the deadline this Thursday (July 28).
The summer theatre group includes young people aged 15-25.
More performers in that age group are needed for the cabaret, including singers (solo, duo or groups) in everything from classical idioms to alternative/pop/country/folk; plus dancers, comedians and actors to perform scenes and monologues.
Performances are volunteer only.
Those applying should send a short performance video of themselves to peninsulaproductionsnextgen@gmail.com
Due to time restraints, only those selected will be contacted.
Coast Capital Playhouse is located at 1532 Johnston Rd. For ticket information, call 604-536-7535.
Red Beans & Rice
The White Rock Traditional Jazz Society house band Red Beans & Rice – led by Ocean Park-based cornetist/leader Rice Honeywell – is keeping Club 240 (the Royal Canadian Legion Crescent Branch) jumping with a summer series for listeners and dancers, 2-5 p.m. each Sunday during the society’s hiatus.
Next session is July 31.
Red Beans & Rice also includes regular sidemen Ray Batten (trombone and vocals), Gerry Green (reeds), Peg Thomson (piano), Don Ogilvie (guitar), Casey Tolhurst (bass) and Scott Robertson (drums).
The band can also be caught some Fridays at 6:30 p.m. at Porter’s Bistro, in Langley’s Murrayville district (for more information, call 604-530-5297).
Admission to the Sunday shows is $10 for WRTJS and Legion members, $12 for everybody else.
The venue is located at 2643 128 St.
George Omorean
Peninsula photographer George Omorean likes to explore the many facets and forms of art photography, finding new ways to blend conventional film, alternative process and digital imagery in everything from abstracts to portraits and landscapes.
He’s also a camera collector, and his show at White Rock Community Centre – Half Camera Will Travel: Shooting From The Hip – explores the use of one of his finds, the diminutive, little-known “half frame” camera, which allowed photographers to experience the scenes they were photographing by being much closer to the subjects.
In a series of darkroom-printed, archival-quality silver gelatin photographs including both single frames and multiple sequences, Omorean uses the half-frame camera to create unique – and intimate – travel narratives.
For more information, call 604-541-2199.
Swing City
Peninsula-based band Swing City – in partnership with Legion 240 Crescent Branch – is presenting a series of summer dances for ballroom enthusiasts.
Upcoming dates are Aug. 12 and Aug. 26 from 7:30-10:30 p.m.
Formerly known as the Blue Echoes, Swing City boasts a wide repertoire of fox trots, waltzes and Latin numbers and has built up a following of ballroom-style dancers over the last 20 years.
Admission (at the door) is $15 per couple and $8 for single participants. The venue is located at 2643 128 St.
Concerts at the Pier
The TD Concerts at the Pier series continues on Saturday nights throughout July and August as the city and the White Rock Business Improvement Association strive to build the city’s reputation as a destination for live music fans.
Thanks to sponsorship from the TD Bank Group, the series will offer a further three evenings with name headliners from the BC music scene, plus rising local acts and a few international artists, in open air performances.
On Aug. 6, the program includes CBC Music Searchlight winner Desiree Dawson and Roadhouse Live Talent Search winner Ava Carich, Jordan Klassen and Dustin Bentall & The Smokes.
On Aug. 13, opening acts Sean & The Strangers and Joshua Hyslop will lead into headliner Dave Jacobs-Strain.
The series wraps Aug. 20 with Richard Tichelman, JP Maurice and Harry Manx.
Fibre art
Work by fibre artist Thelma Newbury is featured to the end of July at the Arnold Mikelson Mind and Matter Gallery, 13743 16 Ave.
Always involved in creative crafts, including sewing, knitting and crocheting, Vancouver-born Newbury is now a full-time artist after retirement from a career in accountancy.
Working primarily in fabrics and fibres, her stylized representational compositions – on subjects that include landscapes and birds (ranging from cardinals to the mythic phoenix) – are celebrations of vibrant colour.
The gallery is open daily from noon to 6 p.m.
For more information, call 604-536-6460 or visit mindandmatterart.com
Volunteers needed
There’s an immediate opportunity for those seeking volunteer work – and valuable experience – in the arts throughout the summer, as Outside the Box, ‘A Celebration of Fibre – Plus’ gears up for its 2016 citywide festival in September.
Artistic director Alicia Ballard says OTB is looking forward to expanding the festival this year to include all forms of artistic expression – including mixed-media, 3-D and the culinary arts.
Volunteers are needed for positions in public relations and marketing, acquisitions and sponsorships, media and information technology and videography, as well as volunteers at large, she said.
Organizers are also extending an invitation to all local eateries, cafes and other businesses in the city to get involved, and encouraging new participants.
Those with enthusiasm and appropriate qualifications are asked to contact Ballard at studiogaleria@gmail.com
Artists interested in being involved should visit http://outsidetheboxwhiterock.blogspot.ca
Beach House Theatre Society
Online sales are open now for the return of summer theatre to Blackie Spit (Crescent Beach) in August, as Beach House Theatre Society readies another short season for its state-of-the-art tent theatre.
The community-based group’s fifth season will feature the contemporary comedy The Foreigner, by Larry Shue, directed by Candace Radcliffe and Rick Harmon, Aug. 9-14 (8 p.m. performances). The Foreigner stars Beach House regular James Walker – recently returned from studies at New York’s Circle in The Square Theatre – as Charlie Baker.
A shy British proofreader seeking respite from his troubles, Charlie comes to a fishing lodge resort in rural Georgia, adopting the persona of a ‘foreigner’ who doesn’t understand English.
Among familiar faces to local audiences will be Michelle Collier (Lady Bracknell in last year’s The Importance of Being Earnest) as Betty, Charlie’s friendly but naive landlady; Rebekah MacEwan as Catherine Simms, a young heiress; and Jacob Hildebrand as Ellard, Catherine’s inhibited and underestimated brother.
The Foreigner is presented with a warning of some coarse language and themes of intolerance.
Also offered by Beach House this year is a fun adaptation of Aesop’s Fables – directed by Courtney Shields and geared to children and family audiences – Aug. 10-14 (11 a.m. performances) and starring Claire Pollock, Bethany Stanley, Matt Falleta and Steven Masson.
For tickets and information, visit www.beachhousetheatre.org
Sunshine at night
There’s something special about open mic evenings – not only are you likely to hear a variety of music that most venue programmers can’t present, but you might just catch an early performance by a rising star, or a surprise appearance by an established performer trying some new material.
Semiahmoo Peninsula open mic king Dennis Peterson – a man with a good eye for White Rock and South Surrey’s growing pool of experienced and developing talents – is offering a regular show, 6-9 p.m. most Saturdays at The Good Day Sunshine Cafe, 100-2950 King George Blvd.
With dinner, drinks and dessert also on the menu, it’s a good venue to settle in for an evening of unexpected musical treats.
Morrison Music Nights
Morrison Cafe’s Morrison Music Nights, is a regular monthly dinner/concert series in Ocean Park, offering a three-course fine-dining-with-music experience in the licensed venue.
On music nights, dinner is served from 5 p.m., followed by the concert, from 7-9 p.m.
Tickets for the monthly presentations ($40) are available at the cafe, at 12855-16 Ave.
The series is being co-ordinated by well-known musician Randy Schultz, who said it fits in with his long-standing objective of developing local venues capable of providing viable showcases for chronically under-valued professional musicians, rather than simply offering the more usual ‘open mic’ opportunities.
For more information, call 604-531-3636 or 604-721-0872.
Young actors auditioned
There’s still a chance for young actors to audition for a highly-regarded theatre company.
Susan Pendleton’s Young People’s Theatre Company of Surrey (SYTCO) has opened up a few spots for boys and girls in grades 7-10.
Contact sytco@shaw.ca for audition information.
Orchestral recruits
The White Rock Community Orchestra has openings for double bass players and string players – especially violinists and violists. New woodwind and brass players are also welcome. For details, call Don Miller at 604-807-0560 or email papadon1812@hotmail.com, or visit http://whiterockcommunityorchestra.org
Call for symphonists
Now celebrating its 30th concert season, the Fraser Valley Symphony is seeking new members in the violin, viola and percussion sections, but also welcomes inquiries from other interested professional-calibre musicians.
Performing alongside world-class instrumental and vocal soloists, the orchestra provides an opportunity for auditioned musicians to present a variety of music to audiences throughout the region.
Rehearsals are held on Monday evenings, in Abbotsford.
Contact info@fraservalleysymphony.org or call 604-859-3877.
