Life is certainly fine in the Okanagan sunshine.
Wonderful weather like the recent stretch we’ve enjoyed reminds us why we pay sunshine tax to live in this part of paradise.
Tez and I were recently reminded how blessed we are to live here in the Okanagan Valley by spending a couple of glorious nights in a tent along the shoreline of Woods Lake. There is something magical about going to sleep under the stars and waking up to the serene sounds of Kokanee jumping in a lake next to your tent.
A canoe trip or two are next on the summer wish list.
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There are many other wonderful things to celebrate in the Okanagan this time of year, including a plethora of excellent concerts and shows featuring local musicians.
Tonight (Friday) if you hustle your sandals down to Kelowna Community Theatre you will hear the amazing sounds of local music legend Rann Berry.
Rann will hold his One Hit Wonder’s showcase and this will be a memorable, unique night of music definitely worth the price of admission.
Rann has thrilled Okanagan music fans for more than two decades with his guitar and vocal skills and of late has been playing with his own talented band.
He will lead music fans down memory lane with a continuous set list of great tunes by one hit wonder musicians.
Meanwhile, on Aug. 18, the very popular and talented Deb Stone Band will host a concert and dance at Kelowna Community Theatre.
Stone is an amazing singer with an impressive range and vocal diversity. She can jump from a Patsy Cline heartbreaker to Janis Joplin rocker in a heartbeat, and churns out a whole bunch of tremendous original songs as well.
Make sure and take your dancing shoes, as Stone is a wonderful entertainer with an equally superb band that gets you up and out of your seats.
Last, but not least, here’s a breaking bit of news.
Friends of talented musician Floyd Vedan have rallied around the fine fellow and formed a fundraiser set for Sept. 6.
Floydfest is set for the Kelowna Community Theatre, with doors opening at 6 p.m. and music starting soon after.
The fundraiser will include musicians such as Darby Mills, a reunion of Ten2Nine, Fields of Green, Leah West and many more.
Admission is by donation, with Rosie’s Water Front Pub playing host.
Vedan, a talented guitarist and singer and very popular in the Okanagan music scene was brutally assaulted last month and suffered significant injuries. He is still recovering from the attack.
Anyone wanting to donate items for the silent auction is asked to call Bernadette at 250-215-5777.
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Okanagan artists are starting to gather for another new interesting art related event.
Art at the Roxby is the initiative of the Uptown Rutland Business Association and sees area artists show their talent at Roxby Plaza in Rutland every Saturday.
The project is part of a goal of establishing an Artists’ Centre in the Rutland Town Centre, according to URBA executive director Deborah Guthrie.
Art at the Roxby is an opportunity for emerging visual and performance artists to introduce themselves to the public.
The event takes place at Roxby Plaza, (on Highway33 across from Plaza 33) every Saturday, from 11a.m. to 3 p.m. (depending on weather and artists preference.)
Visual artists are invited to set-up and display their art and performance artists are invited to take part and showcase their talents.
For more details and to register on-line, visit www.uptownrutland.com or call the URBA office 250-451-9861 or cell 250-470-8236.
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Speaking of fundraisers, here is a worthy cause being assisted by a local company.
The Canadian Red Cross—well known for responding and assisting others during disasters, is in constant need of volunteers and funds.
This summer the Southern Interior Regional office has already been extremely busy helping victims with floods, fires, and other local emergencies.
The Red Cross largely relies on donations from individuals and corporations in order to fund their programs–and one group has stepped up to the plate.
Wal-Mart is the largest corporate supporter of the Red Cross, and each August the company holds their annual fundraising campaign to support local disaster response activities.
“This year’s campaign runs from Aug 2 to 26. The national goal this year is an ambitious of $3.2 million. The financial goal in B.C. and Yukon is $346, 000,” said Jan Bowden, manager of fund development for the B.C. Southern Interior Canadian Red Cross in Kelowna.
The annual Wal-Mart campaign is now in its ninth year and their contribution in 2010-11 raised and donated over $3 million in Canada.
