whatsgoinon.ca » Arts & Entertainment

Colin Grant Band becomes Sprag Session, releases video, announces new album

Dave Mahalik — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +0000

(Sprag Session (l-r) Jason Roach, Donnie Calabrese, Darren McMullen, Colin Grant, and Merlin Clarke - photo: Corey Katz)

In a message sent out to fans today, it was announced that the Colin Grant Band has officially taken on the name Sprag Session: “Our big news for now is this: we are no longer Colin Grant Band, but Sprag Session – a dynamic ceilidh-funk-rock dance party that has begun living, breathing, bouncing, gurgling, tune-writing, and arranging as a team.”

Realistically though, it’s not so much a name change as it is an overdue naming of the band made up of Colin Grant (fiddle), Jason Roach (piano), Darren McMullen (mandolin, guitar, banjo), Donnie Calabrese (bass), and Merlin Clarke (drums). This lineup of players, each very well-regarded in their own right, was originally conceived to back up Grant on a couple of tunes for one of his records, and then they started playing shows together, and kind of by default ended up known as the Colin Grant Band. Now with a new record ready to launch and five heads full of ideas, it’s time to formalize the band’s identity.

“With our first band record ready to release in a few months’ time, and a new approach we’ve been taking to arrange our music collectively (rather than a ‘big band backing up a fiddler’ sound), the time is right for us to re-identify ourselves as a team,” said Grant in an interview with seaandbescene.com, explaining the new name. “We started jamming two tunes in my parents’ basement for my last solo album Fun For The Whole Family that motivated us to keep writing together, and in the two years since, a whole new repertoire of tunes has come bursting into the world, with tune-writing from Jason and Darren as well.”

In advance of the album, Sprag Session is offering up this video of their studio session recording “The Gwanwitcha” at Sonic Temple in Halifax, shot live off the floor by Darcy Campbell of Shot on Site Media.

Visit the band’s new website to preorder their debut album and for more information about Sprag Session.

Ukrainian community celebrates 100 years with exhibition and concert

WGO staff — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 22:24:53 +0000

(Ukrainian-American Bandurist Julian Kytasty will be performing Friday night at CBU Boardmore Playhouse with Cape Breton fiddler Colin Grant)

In 2012, the Holy Ghost Ukrainian Catholic Parish in Whitney Pier is celebrating 100 years of Ukrainian faith and culture in Cape Breton. A week of activities including workshops, lectures and a book launch, wraps up Friday night, February 3, at the CBU Boardmore Playhouse with a concert featuring Ukrainian-American Bandurist Julian Kytasty and Cape Breton fiddler Colin Grant.

Kytasty has taken his music around the world, from the Inuit lands to Patagonia. This Ukrainian-American composer/conductor/singer/flute-player/kobzar/bandurist began his musical career as a solo artist and bandura teacher. His original compositions are among the standard repertoire of bandurists world-wide today. He has created and conducted avant-garde music, lectured at Yale and Harvard, and recorded music both solo and in collaboration with international artists.

Julian Kytasty Plays the Bandura, Part One by Michal Shapiro.

On Thursday, February 2, Kytasty will explore music and authenticity, kitsch, culture-making and ways in which tourism may affect the expression of cultural traditions in a lecture/demonstration entitled The Unembroidered Bandura, taking place at CBU in Room CE327 from 11:30am-12:45pm. He will also discuss and demonstrate differences between North American and Old Country music cultures and experiences.

The Bandura Part 2, Tradition by Michal Shapiro.

At 4pm on Thursday, an exhibition entitled Mnohaya lita: Celebrating 100 Years of Ukrainian faith in Cape Breton will open at the Cape Breton Centre for Heritage & Science on George Street in Sydney with a blessing by Rev. Roman Dusanowskij and parish celebration led by Kytasty. CBC Mainstreet Cape Breton with Wendy Bergfeldt will broadcast live from the opening. Mnohaya lita means “many years” in Ukrainian and is a perfect greeting for the long celebrated history of the Ukrainian community in Cape Breton. The exhibition will run until November 2012 and focus on Cape Breton Canadians of Ukrainian descent, their music, dance and other important cultural traditions. As a joint effort of the Holy Ghost Ukrainian Parish, The Ukrainian community, The Old Sydney Society and Dr. Marcia Ostashewski, Monohaya lita will feature events and workshops on Ukrainian dance, food and music throughout the year.

The week of celebration wraps up Friday night, February 3, with Sea Winds & Immigrant Songs featuring Julian Kytasty and Colin Grant. The concert starts at 7pm at the Boardmore Theatre, Cape Breton University. Tickets are $12 / $10 (students and seniors) and are available at Holy Ghost Ukrainian Parish, 577-7929; Whitney Pier Pharmasave, 564-8250; Pharmasave Healthpark, 564-6500; and Pharmasave New Waterford, 862-7186. The concert is sponsored by Holy Ghost Ukrainian Catholic Church; Centre for Cape Breton Studies, CBU; Office of the Dean, School of Arts and Social Sciences, CBU; and the Department of History and Culture, CBU.

Angelo Spinazzola picks up ECMA nominations for First Nations and solo albums

WGO staff — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 19:58:33 +0000

(Singer-songwriter Angelo Spinazzola with a Grade 3 class in Eskasoni in 2011)

After four years of teaching and recording in First Nations’ schools across Cape Breton Island, singer/songwriter Angelo Spinazzola’s compilation of Mi’kmaq children’s tunes has garnered him an ECMA nomination.

The First Nations Songwriting Sessions featuring children from Eskasoni, Membertou, Chapel Island and Waycobah is up for the Children’s Recording of the Year, the only Mi’kmaq work to be nominated this year in any awards category.

“To be able to teach and give the children a creative outlet and fun way of empowering themselves and connecting them with their culture and nature is the main goal of the project,” Spinazzola said. “All the other spinoffs are added bonuses.”

For one week starting Thursday February 2, The First Nations Songwriting Sessions will be available for free download at reverbnation.com.

Spinazzola also got a second nod this year with a nomination in Roots/Traditional Solo category for Beautifully Imperfect which continues to get regular national and local airplay.

“Wow! How great it is to be doing exactly what you want to be doing and to be accepted for what it is that you believe in,” Spinazzola said.

After Mi’kmaq artist Dozay Christmas heard Spinazzola’s children’s song “On the Peace Wheel” during a broadcast on CBC radio five years ago featuring students at Harbourview Montessori School, she invited him to work with Mi’kmaq children at First Nations’ schools.

The First Nations Songwriting Sessions – his sixth studio recording since 1992 – involved children from Grades 3 to 5 who learned the creative process of songwriting in a fun way through music, words and voice.

Beautifully Imperfect was inspired by Spinazzola’s travels around the world during the past six years when he wasn’t teaching to Mi’kmaq children in Cape Breton or running his North River Kayak tour company in St. Ann’s Bay and Baddeck. The people he encountered in his travels and the experiences he had has inspired him to write and create new and fresh ideas. He’s hoping to publish his work someday as well as write more music.

“After I return home and get a chance to digest all these new experiences on the road whether on First Nations’ lands, or outside of Canada in remote areas of South America, Asia or Europe, I write in hopes of sharing what I’ve learned from a hands-on prospective. There is a lot going on out there.”

Winners of various categories will be announced by the ECMA in Moncton when the event is held April 11 to 15.

Death of a Salesman on now at CBU’s Boardmore Playhouse

WGO staff — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 14:00:00 +0000

(Betty Lou MacDougall (Linda), Steven Peters (Biff), and Matthew Boyd (Happy) - photo: Cape Breton University )

The Boardmore Theatre is lighting up the stage this month with its rendition of Arthur Miller’s masterpiece, Death of a Salesman. Starting Tuesday, January 24, the playhouse will put on six performances of this western classic as part of the theatre’s 41st Season of Plays.

Directed by Todd Pettigrew, Death of a Salesman will be preformed on the evenings of January 24 – 28 at 7pm, with a Sunday matinee on January 29 at 2pm. The cost of admission is $12 for a general ticket, $8 for students and seniors and $6 for CBU students. January 24 is Pay What You Can Night; bring whatever change you can spare or make a food bank donation at the door. January 27 is Talkback Night, which provides the audience with an opportunity to discuss the play with the director and performers.

Director Todd Pettigrew says, “Death of a Salesman has become such a classic that it is easy to forget what an extraordinary piece of theatre it really is. Not only is it a brilliantly crafted tragedy, it’s a moving family drama, and an insightful social commentary.”

In this Pulitzer Prize winning play, a worn out 1940’s salesman, who has spent a lifetime working on the road and earning barely enough to keep his family afloat, is slowly losing his mind and quickly realizing his dreams of wealth and fortune will never come true. His son Biff, a once promising athlete right out of high school, returns home for a visit having accomplished little of the greatness once expected of him. When Biff and his brother hatch a plan to open a high profile sporting store, their father regains a flicker of hope for his family’s wealth. But, can a lifetime of lies and secrets really be left in the past, or will the truth come out and jeopardize the family’s newly reformed dream of success.

“Like all great plays, it is timeless, but today, as we are increasingly aware of the problems of economic inequality in our societies, the play feels especially relevant. In Willy Loman, a man striving for a dream of success always just beyond his grasp, Death of a Salesman reminds us of the peril of divorcing value from work, of placing image ahead of substance, and of making profit essential while making people dispensable. If you remember the play only vaguely as something you read in high school, you’ll be amazed by how funny, yet heartbreaking it is on stage. For anyone who has children – or parents – this play is simply something you have to see at least once in your life,” says Pettigrew.

For tickets or other inquires contact the Playhouse Box Office at 563-1652. The box office hours of operation are Monday to Friday, 1pm to 5pm and one hour before show time. The box office will open one week prior to performances and remain open until the night of the last show.

For more information on the Boardmore Playhouse as well as a complete list of this seasons line up, visit cbu.ca or CBU Boardmore Playhouse on Facebook.

CAPR Radio presents Cyrus from the Trailer Park Boys at Daniel’s – January 19

Dave Mahalik — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 14:00:00 +0000

(Bernie Robichaud brings his Cyrus: Dug Dealer or Public Speaker to town Thursday night)

The nemesis of Julian, Ricky and Bubbles on Showcase’s hit TV series, The Trailer Park Boys, Cyrus is as greasy as they come. Whether ripping around town in his red 1978 Corvette or firing off a couple of shots to intimidate the residents of Sunnyvale Trailer Park, you know shit is goin’ down when Cyrus is around.

Shit will be goin’ down in Sydney this Thursday night, January 19, when Cyrus rolls into town for Caper Radio’s latest night of comedy at Daniel’s on Charlotte Street.

Caper Radio, Cape Breton University’s campus radio station, has been presenting comedy shows in Sydney for almost a year now.

“We started in March of 2011 with our first show featuring Dylan Rhymer, Jeremy Doucette, Ian Black, James Thompson, Ash Young and myself at the Upstairs,” says Stefan MacNeil, Promotions Coordinator for Caper Radio, who will also be performing Thursday night. “Since then we’ve had three more at the Upstairs with people like Bryan Aylward, Peter White, Nick Beaton and Bryant Thompson. All guys from the Halifax comedy scene. Then we then had a X-Rated comedy show featuring Canadian comedy veterans Darren Frost and Kathleen McGee.”

The shows have been generally been a success says MacNeil.

“This summer was great because we had Nick (Beaton) and his weekly shows, and he’s somewhat known locally so people came out to those. Other than that the Sydney scene is really hit or miss. With our shows we have had some great turn outs, but we have also had some really bad ones. But I have to say the comics always have fun and the crowds are always great regardless of numbers.”

Usually known for presenting live music and showcasing local and visiting musicians on their website, Caper Radio got into presenting comedy shows because they saw a need in the local scene.

“I first started working at Caper Radio about three months after I started doing stand up and have always been a big fan of live comedy, which is something that Sydney’s arts community is lacking,” says MacNeil. “Other than the occasional Membertou or Savoy Theatre show, there is no comedy scene in Sydney and nowhere for people interested in trying comedy to do so. So that was the intention, to give people in Sydney a place to try it. Also, it’s no secret that stand up is just better in small rooms. There is something comforting about a small dark bar that gives people the freedom to laugh at anything without feeling guilty or uncomfortable.”

This will be Caper Radio’s sixth comedy show. Advance tickets are available at Daniel’s, The Bonnie Prince and at Caper Radio (Student’s Union Building, CBU). Tickets are $10 advance, $12 at the door and include a meet and greet after the show. Showtime is 9pm.

Kim Dunn Trio to perform at fundraiser for Northside Community Guest Home – January 28

WGO staff — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 16:22:07 +0000

(Kim Dunn - photo: Murdock Smith)

The Kim Dunn Trio are set to perform at the Northside Community Guest Home’s second annual Dinner Theatre and Silent Auction fundraiser. The event will be happening on Saturday, January 28th, 2012 at the Florence Firehall (41 Kempt Street, Florence, NS) at 6pm.

The evening will consist of a silent auction, three course meal, and entertainment by the Kim Dunn Trio. Dunn, a North Sydney native, has had a successful music career for over 30 years working with the who’s who of East Coast artists and beyond including Rita MacNeil, Bruce Guthro, Matt Minglewood, Jimmy Rankin, Lennie Gallant, David Myles, Jill Barber, Dave Gunning, George Canyon, Alison Krauss, Peter Gzowski, Philip Glass and many more. After producing, musical directing, arranging and playing on countless albums by other artists, Dunn has brought his song-writing and singing to the foreground with his first solo project, Take This Hammer. He will be showcasing this self-produced debut CD for supporters of the Northside Community Guest Home Foundation this January, blending elements of Jazz, Blues, Pop and Folk together for a special evening that shouldn’t be missed.

The event will be hosted by 103.5 the Eagle. It supports the Foundation’s Complete the Dream campaign which aims to raise $300,000 for additional equipment, furnishings and activity items for Cara House. Cara House is the Guest Home’s latest addition, which opened its doors last November to 39 new long term care residents and which allowed for an expansion of programs and services for all 144 residents. The Complete the Dream campaign thermometer is up to approximately $220,000.

Tickets for reserved seating and tables are on sale until January 20, and can be purchased by contacting the Foundation Office at 794-8781, 11 Queen Street, North Sydney.

2011 a banner year for Celtic Colours International Festival

WGO staff — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 20:45:32 +0000

(Finale from the opening concert of the 2011 Celtic Colours International festival - photo: Louis De Carlo)

By all accounts, 2011 was a banner year for the Celtic Colours International Festival. In addition to celebrating its 15th year, the Festival’s ongoing success was evident both in the numbers it generated and in the recognition it received locally and nationally.

The Cape Breton Island-wide event partnered with 130 non-profit organizations and venues to present more than 300 performers in 45 concerts and 298 Community Cultural Experience events. The Celtic Colours in the Schools program was presented to 4,302 students in 22 schools throughout Cape Breton and more than 2,000 volunteers contributed almost 27,000 hours toward making the event a success.

Held in 76 communities throughout all four counties, the Festival attracted visitors from 50 US states, all Canadian provinces and territories, and 19 other countries. A total of 18,323 tickets were sold, and more than 12,000 people attended Community Cultural Experience events. An additional 6,649 people from all over the world tuned in to the Festival as nine concerts were streamed live online—one each day. With the increase in ticket sales and about half of the audience coming from off-island (55%), audience expenditure increased from $6.2 million in 2010 to $8.1 million in 2011 with more than $7 million directly attributable to Celtic Colours.

Celtic Colours’ 15th year was an exciting one from start to finish. In April, Festival founders Joella Foulds and Max MacDonald were inducted into the Cape Breton Tourism Hall of Fame by Cape Breton native Michele McKenzie, president and CEO of the Canadian Tourism Commission during a luncheon hosted by Destination Cape Breton Association. The following month, Foulds received an Honourary Degree from Cape Breton University. Hot on the heels of wrapping up the Festival in October, it was announced that Celtic Colours was named to the Canadian Tourism Commission’s Signature Experiences Collection and then in November the Festival won the Tourism Industry Association of Canada’s National Cultural Tourism Award. Ending the year on a high note, it was announced on December 30 that Artistic Director Joella Foulds has been appointed as a Member of the Order of Canada, in recognition of her contributions to Cape Breton Island’s cultural sector as an arts administrator and volunteer.

The 16th Celtic Colours International Festival will take place October 5-13, 2012. The lineup will be announced in June with tickets going on sale in July.

Minglewood rocks the New Year at Membertou Trade and Convention Centre, December 31

Ken Chisholm — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 14:00:00 +0000

(Popular local supergroup The Privateers, pictured here performing on Sydney's Boardwalk during Canada Day Celebrations, will join Matt Minglewood rocking in the new year at Membertou Trade & Convention Centre Saturday night - photo: John P Donovan)

If it is New Year’s Eve in Sydney, the place to be is wherever Matt Minglewood is rocking in the new year.

This year, Minglewood returns to the Membertou Trade and Convention Centre on December 31 for a show that starts at 8:30 pm and doesn’t finish until 2 am, January 1, 2012.

Also appearing are The Privateers, seven of Cape Breton’s top musicians, fronted by Terence Murphy, performing high energy Celtic-Rock music.

Matt Minglewood has played everywhere and with everyone. He began his music career in the late 1960′s with The Rockin’ Saints before joining Sam Moon and The Universal Power. He became a much in demand solo act in the mid-1980′s and has been going strong ever since.

Throughout the years, Minglewood has been honored with numerous accolades, music awards and nominations including three gold albums, an honorary doctorate from University College of Cape Breton (now Cape Breton University) and entertainer of the year from the Maple Blues Society.

This event features reserved cabaret seating, and the $40 per person ticket price includes free snacks, party favours and champagne at midnight.

Doors open at 8:30 pm for those 19 years and older. Entertainment and dancing fun runs from 9pm to 2am. Tickets are on sale at the Membertou Trade and Convention Centre box office or by calling 539-2300.

The Pub Boys bring Celtic holiday cheer to the Cedars’ Club, December 28

Ken Chisholm — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 14:00:00 +0000

The Pub Boys launched their first CD at Sydney’s Cedars’ Club this summer, and they are returning to that hallowed venue for a holiday show on Wednesday, December 28.

“Well at the risk of seeming ostentatious, it really has been fan driven,” says Shawn Bigley, who plays the bouzaki, bodhran, and mandolin in the band as well a writing some of the original tunes on their CD. “Stemming from (the reaction to our CD release party in June) we’ve had several requests to do the same type of show again. We have lots of friends and family that call this Island home but for various reasons can’t live here year round. A large chunk of them do get home for the holidays and want to see us play so it seemed to us to be the perfect show at the perfect time.”

Along with the Pub Boys, the show features singer/songwriter Wally MacAulay and Will’s Addiction, and starts at 8 pm. The event is for those 19 years and older, tickets are $7 and are available from their Facebook page and at the door.

Bigley says about their guest artists, “We asked Wally MacAulay and Will’s Addiction to give a hand and they were both gracious enough to say yes.”

“For sure there is no shortage of people we could choose from for this show but for us the choices were rather easy,” he adds. “All of us in The Pub Boys have been big fans of Wally’s for years so the opportunity to share the stage with him has us very excited. Will’s Addiction are good friends of ours and any chance we get to play together we jump at. Wally has also agreed to be our MC for the evening. We feel that the musical styles of all the performers will blend and compliment each other to produce a very good show.”

Since the launch of their CD in the summer, Bigley says the feedback has been very positive and sales have continued very strong since its release.

“We’ve have attracted attention from literally all over the world, as far away as Australia and Europe thanks to the power of the internet,” Bigley explains. “Also right across Canada and down through the States. We’ve been lucky enough to have received airplay from most of the local stations including our sponsor The Coast 89.7. It is on iTunes, CD Baby, Amazon and several other digital music retailers. This style of music seems to resonate with people everywhere.”

“Locally the CD is available in Glace Bay at Arlie’s, The Coast Radio Station and the KOC,” he adds. “In Sydney it’s for sale at the Curiosity Sydney and the CB Shoppe, as well as at Charlie’s Music Store in Cheticamp. On the isle of Arichat it’s available at Jeantie’s Minimart and in Halifax at Concepts School of Cosmetology. Of course it’s also available at any of our shows.”

Bigley says the Pub Boys have several shows booked already for 2012 including a big St Patrick’s Day show at the Irish Hall in Rocky Bay. They are also hoping to play a few festivals this year and looking at another CD project, perhaps a live one this time.

“So we are very excited about what is coming up both known and unknown,” Bigley says.

River Hill Players “Last Waltz” at Strathspey Place, December 28 – SOLD OUT

Ken Chisholm — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 14:00:00 +0000

(Left to right: Jesse Ryan, Rory MacEachern, Isabel MacEachern and Christine Campbell during rehearsals for The Last Waltz - photo: John Gillis)

When the iconic roots rock group The Band decided to go their separate ways, their final concert in November 1976, in San Francisco was filmed by Martin Scorsese and immediately became one of the great concert films of all time.

“I attended a performance of ‘The Last Waltz’ a few years ago in Halifax. It was a great show, and I thought that would be something we could do in Inverness County with the talented musicians we have,” recalls Beth Ryan of the River Hill Players. “It turns out Neil MacQuarrie, who is the music teacher in Inverness, was at the same show and had the same thought. About a year ago we talked about it and now it’s happening.”

The River Hill Players production of “The Last Waltz” take splace Wednesday, December 28, 7:30 pm, at Strathespey Place in Mabou and the concert is sold out.

The original concert, along with the Band, featured such musical luminaries as Rompin’ Ronnie Hawkins (their first mentor), plus Bob Dylan (who made them his tour band and musical collaborators), Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, Van Morrison, among many others.

The Mabou show features onstage Neil MacQuarrie, Jesse Fraser, Seth Fraser, Brian Doyle, Mike Murrdock, Isabel MacEachern, Lawrence Cameron, Jeannie Beks, Christine Campbell, Keegan Campbell, Rory MacEachern, Mike Ryan, Jesse Ryan, and Glen MacEachern. Behind the scenes, Cindy O’Neill is the director, Neil MacQuarrie is musical director, Dave McGregor handles the technician duties, and Beth Ryan is in charge of costumes as well as being the show’s producer.

“No one in the group has seen the Band perform,” Ryan says. “We would love to find someone who actually attended the original Last Waltz.”

For this show, all the musicians will be dressed and styled to resemble the original performers, and will recreate the feel of the original concert as closely as possible. Audience members are also encouraged to dress in their best 1970′s togs.

The Players started auditioning for the show in October and have been rehearsing since then, and, along with entertaining music lovers, their chief objective is simply to cover the production’s expenses.

The River Hill Players started out, in spring of 2007, as the Centre Stage Players with the goal to involve Inverness County residents in a number of community theatre performances throughout the year, and promoting the artistic development of both its members and their audience.

Their first production was “The Mumberley Inheritance”, and they continue to perform two or more productions a year. In 2008, they performed “Cobbler Stick to Thy Last” by Kay Hill at the Liverpool International Theatre Festival. They also discovered another group in the province using the same name and that brought about the change to River Hill Players.

In 2010, they performed “Her Wake” by Frank Macdonald at the Liverpool International Theatre Festival, and won the award for Best Canadian Production.

After getting “The Last Waltz” onstage, the River Hill Players will start make plans for their next projects in the new year.

“The only thing I would add is that this is the first musical event we have done,” Ryan says. “Hopefully there will be more.”