Back by popular demand, the Cariboo Gold Dance Band from Williams Lake will be returning to 100 Mile House on Oct. 22 to perform at the 100 Mile Community Hall.
The 15-member band was here in January 2011, and it had people dancing all night to their mix of classic big band music, with waltzes, jazz, Dixie, rock, blues Broadway hits and Latin beats.
“You don’t have to be a big band fan to enjoy them,” says Rob Fry of South Cariboo Community Concerts, which is co-ordinating the show.
“We had people in their twenties up and dancing last year. This band appeals to everyone – young and old.”
Ingrid Mapson from 100 Mile House is a vocalist with Cariboo Gold and she will be performing with the band that night. Band director Rocco Catalano is also expected to belt out a few tunes, says Bill Crook, musician and band business manager.
“The music we play will really be dependent on what the crowd likes because we try to appeal to a wide audience. Our biggest thrill is to see everyone dancing and smiling. It happens time and time again.”
Crook says band members are a mix of professionals, business people, teachers and retirees who all have a passion for music and a desire to always be sharpening their skills. They have performed at many black-tie events and Crook calls Cariboo Gold a black-tie band.
“We’re a good bunch of people who have been together for years and the main thing about us is that we love to entertain.”
The group first came together around 1980 with six or eight musicians whose common tie was a love for swing music of the 1940s and ’50s. It didn’t take long for the numbers to increase and for the group to evolve into a classic big band with a repertoire of more than 400 tunes.
They’ve played all over the Cariboo, including Williams Lake, Quesnel, 100 Mile House, Barkerville, Big Lake, Horsefly and many times in Prince George.
Crook says the band is looking forward to performing in 100 Mile House again.
“100 Mile is a beautiful place to play. It’s a delight to see the crowd because there are many people there who have a real love of music and we feel appreciated.”
Tickets for Cariboo Gold are $25, and are available at Donex, Didi’s and Work n Play, 108 Supermarket and at the door. Doors for the show open at 7 p.m. and music starts at 7:30.
