CONCERT
GiantWalkthrough Brain presented by Jay Ingram and his band The Free Radicals
Saturday, Jan. 30
Kelowna Community Theatre
1435 Water St
Jay Ingram, an award-winning writer and broadcaster, wants to take you on a scientific, yet musical, tour of the brain.
Part science, part art, and part musical, The Giant Walkthrough Brain is a tour of the most complex and fascinating organ in the human body.
The original music by the world’s first science band, The Free Radicals, and cutting-edge computer visualization create an immersive, and unprecedented, voyage.
Ingram is the on-stage tour guide as the audience ventures into the giant virtual brain.
Inspired by neurosurgeon Joseph Bogen’s vision to build a 60-storey science museum of the human brain to educate large numbers of people, The Giant Walkthrough Brain combines Ingram’s story-telling with vivid and anatomically-correct models.
Since its debut in 2014, to a sold-out audience in Calgary’s Telus Spark Planetarium, The Giant Walkthrough Brain has proven popular with audiences, in 2015 winning the Canadian Science Writer’s Award for Science Communication.
UBC Okanagan’s Faculty of Health and Social Development will host this free event.
While there is no admission charge, seating is limited so anyone interested in attending is asked to register online at giantwalkthroughbrain-kelowna.eventbrite.ca
THEATRE
Kelowna Winter Folk Festival Fireside Sessions
Sunday, Jan. 31
1 p.m to 1 a.m.
BNA Brewing Co.
1250 Ellis St.
Kelowna
Warm up with some of the best live music, craft beer and hot tea/cocoa, as BNA Brewing Co. has partnered with various local businesses to take Fireside Sessions to a new level.
The folk festival has showcased some of the finest musical talent in the Okanagan in past years, and the entertainment line-up has been expanded this year with other Canadian acts.
Ticket are $30/person in advance, available at ONE Board Shop , 2330 Highway 97 North in Kelowna, and Moksha Yoga Kelowna, 2900 Pandosy St.
Performers will include Devon Coyote, JP Maurice, Wild Son, Joshua Smith, The Royal Streets, My Kind of Karma, Tiger Moon, HOT KNOX,River Teeth, Kris Falco,Sally Wallick, Sonder and Romo.
CONCERT
Amnesty International Film Night
Friday, Jan. 29
7:30 p.m.
Okanagan College
Theatre
1000 KLO Rd.
Kelowna
Kelowna’s Amnesty International group presents the documentary film “Nobelity,” which seeks to find answers to some of the most pressing issues facing humanity by speaking with nine Nobel Laureates from around the world to get their perspectives on how to improve the world where famine and war are among the problems that must be addressed.
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ART EXHIBIT
What Does It Mean To Be The Problem?
Opens Friday, Jan. 8
7 p.m.
Alternator Centre for Contemporary Art
Rotary Centre for the Arts
421 Cawston Ave.
Kelowna
The Alternator Centre for Contemporary Art expects to stir up a little stirs controversy with this upcoming exhibition.
Copied from her family archive, Fern Helfand presents a life-sized photograph of a group of children at a costume party taken in 1961.
In the picture, a young Caucasian boy’s cheeks are streaked with war paint as he proudly dons a feathered Indigenous war bonnet.
The little girl’s face is coloured black with chocolate Quik powder, and a black-skinned inflatable “Hug-a-Bug” doll dangles from her hand.
This image lies at the axis of the exhibition, which is a collaboration between Helfand and three other UBC Okanagan artists of mixed heritages—Tannis Nielsen, Samuel Roy-Bois, and Neon Kohkom.
The trio respond from their own perspectives on issues of cultural appropriation, stereotyping, racism and privilege aiming to challenge the viewer and to prompt thought about how they too might be implicated no matter how innocent their actions might be.
The Alternator will host be an AlterKnowlege public discussion forum on racism and privilege Jan. 15, 7 p.m.
The Okanagan arts community is also invited to creatively respond to the exhibition with their own artwork.
An exhibition of these submissions will be mounted in the Alternator from Feb.5 to 20.
The Alternator Centre for Contemporary Art is an artist-run centre located inside the Rotary Centre for the Arts.
THEATRE
Balloonacy
Jan. 21-24
Bumbershoot Theatre
125-1295 Cannery Lane Kelowna
A new take on the theme of the classic movie ”The Red Balloon” will lead off the 2016 season at Bumbershoot Theatre.
The tender and uplifting story centers on a lonely old man and his friendship with a balloon.
Adapted for stage by Barry Kornhauser, the production will star Colin DeBourcier.
Bumbershoot artistic director Tracy Ross says the play would be “a great introduction to the theatre for youngsters under six, but will also be entertaining for all ages.”
In Balloonacy, the old man is set in his solitary ways until a red balloon blows through his window and insists on becoming his friend.
The result is a sweet, inventive story that is packed with physical comedy. The play shows how, with a little imagination and acceptance, companionship is everywhere.
Balloonacy’ will be presented Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings at 6.30 p.m. with Saturday and Sunday matinees at 2 p.m.
Tickets are available at the Bumbershoot Box Office, online or by calling 778-478-0142.
Again this year a ‘Pizza Night’ will be featured on the first Saturday evening performance Jan. 23 with free pizza provided in cooperation with Murray’s Pizza in West Kelowna.
The successful ‘PJ Milk and Cookie’ night will also be offered on the opening Thursday night performance, Jan. 21.
This first production leads off an exciting season for Bumbershoot which will feature six plays including a homegrown musical ‘The Flower Ball’ in March which was written by Tracy Ross with music by Neville Bowman.
This eighth season will also include the ongoing C.A.S.T. theatre program for dedicated students wishing to challenge themselves in a concentrated development program.
The second intake of participants will present their own production in February.
Bumbershoot is a non-profit charitable organization which was launched in 2009 and also offers an ongoing series of theatre classes for all ages starting at 3-4 and continuing to ages 11-15 as well as adult classes in improv, Shakespeare, musical theatre, stage and management and other subjects.
Full information on the new Bumbershoot season as well as its other activities can be found online at bumbershoottheatre com.
CONCERT
Okanagan Symphony Orchestra
Saturday, Jan. 23
Kelowna Community Theatre
1375 Water St
This month, the Okanagan Symphony Orchestra welcomes Canadian guest pianist Angela Cheng to perform for the first time with the OSO.
“Inspired by the intense creativity of Paris, we perform music inspired by poetry, love and jazz. Debussy’s symphonic poem Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun captures the sultry poetry of Mallarmé showing off our principal flute, Christine Moore,” said Rosemary Thomson, music director of the Okanagan Symphony Orchestra.
“With its syncopated rhythm Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G incorporates the tremendous influence of jazz on Paris of the 1920’s.
“In his L’Arlesienne Suite, (the girl from Arles) Georges Bizet was inspired by the folk songs and dances of his native France, most famously, the rousing Farandole.
“This evocative music will have us all humming, tapping toes and falling in love with that ‘je ne sais quoi.’”
Consistently praised for her brilliant technique, tonal beauty and superb musicianship, Cheng is one of her country’s national treasures. In addition to regular guest appearances with virtually every orchestra in Canada, she has also performed with many symphonies in the U.S.
In the spring of 2012, Cheng made her highly acclaimed Carnegie Hall debut with the Edmonton Symphony.
She also made her debut at the prestigious Salzburg Festival in a recital with Pinchas Zukerman during the summer of 2012.
Highlights this coming season include the National Arts Centre Orchestra in Ottawa, Sinfonia Toronto, Vancouver Symphony and the Winnipeg Symphony.
Cheng has been gold medalist of the Arthur Rubinstein International Piano Masters Competition, as well as the first Canadian to win the prestigious Montreal International Piano Competition.
Her other awards include the Canada Council’s coveted Career Development Grant and the Medal of Excellence for outstanding interpretations of Mozart from the Mozarteum in Salzburg.
The Okanagan Symphony Orchestra is the third largest professional Symphony Orchestra in British Columbia.To learn more about the OSO, check ou the website okanagansymphony.com
CONCERT
Blue Rodeo
Monday, Jan. 25
8 p.m.
Prospera Place
With every ticket purchased, fans are invited to choose a digital download of any studio album in the Blue Rodeo catalogue including their upcoming release Live at Massey Hall.
In 2014 Blue Rodeo hit the road and showcased their In Our Nature album with a lengthy tour across the country featuring two sets and almost three hours of music.
In addition to the release of Live At Massey Hall, Blue Rodeo will also make available vinyl releases of the classic albums Casino (Oct. 30), Lost Together (Nov. 13) and Five Days In July (Nov. 27).
Tickets on sale at selectyourtickets.com or call 250-762-5050.
Concert
CONCERT
Living With Lions and Youth Decay
Tuesday, Feb. 2
10 p.m.
Doc Willoughbys
353 Bernard Ave.
Kelowna
The two groups are joining musical forces, hopping in a van and taking off with their “Bros of the Snow Tour.”
The pair of West Coast power chord bands will start their concert trek across B.C. and the prairie provinces in Kelowna.
Though Living with Lions haven’t issued any material since their Some of My Friends Appear Dead to Me 7-inch debut in 2013, offshoot project Youth Decay recently delivered their first album, The Party’s Over.
CONCERT
Kate Weekes
Tuesday, Feb. 9
2-3105 Thacker Dr.
7:30 p.m.
West Kelowna
Doc Willoughby’s
353 Bernard Ave.
Kelowna
The Kelowna Folk Club house concert series continues in 2016 presents singer Kate Weekes.
For the past year, Weekes has performed in places stretching from Nanjing, China, to McDonald’s Corners in Ontario, to Haines Junction in the Yukon.
She has a unique voice. often compared to fellow singer Suzanne Vega.
Originally from Ontario, Weekes has spent the last 12 years based out of Whitehorse.
She has fully embraced that lifestyle, from dog sledding to paddling on the nearby rivers, the experiences from which she shares in her music.
Weekes is currently touring with fiddler and viola player Keitha Clark.
Tickets are $20/person, will be available at ABC in Kelowna and Mad Hatter Bookstore in West Kelowna starting Jan. 18 as well as online, kelownafolkclub.ca. CONCERT
All Shook Up
Feb. 10-27
Kelowna Actors Studio
1379 Ellis St
From rock ‘n roll to gospel and romance 25 of Elvis Presley’s hits roar to life in this new Broadway musical comedy.
CONCERT
Matt Anderson
Friday, Feb. 19
Kelowna Community
Theatre
1375 Water St.
Matt Andersen has been enthralling audiences in North America, Europe and Australia for years.
So far in his career, he has managed to net three Maple Blues Awards, a Memphis Blues Challenge win, a CIMA Road Gold Award, a European Blues Award, and a Juno Award nomination.
With a soul-filled voice and commanding stage presence, Andersen has built a formidable following the old fashioned way—touring worldwide.
Earlier this fall the award winning artist once again decamped from his New Brunswick home—this time to record his upcoming eighth full-length album under the helm of producer Commissioner Gordon.
“Gordon has worked with so many different people, like Santana and Quincy Jones, on so many historic albums,” said Andersen. “He has such a great approach and was able to tie-in so many new ideas to what I’ve done in the past without losing touch with my sound.”
Joining Anderson on tour in his band are drummer Geoff Arsenault, bass player Steve Marriner and guitarist/keyboards Chris Kirby
CONCERT
Classified
Monday, Feb. 29
8 p.m.
Kelowna Community
Theatre
1375 Water St.
Classified is a revered and respected rapper-produce touring to promote his new album, “Greatful.”
Classified hails from Enfleld, N.S., features hip-hop pioneer DJ Premier on the new album’s street track “Filthy” and rap icon Snoop Dogg on the lead single “No Pressure.”
Classified, born Luke Boyd, uses witty wordplay over top a simplified, catchy beat and sing-along chorus.
He has found the secret of his success so far in the rap world to be his ability to break down the barrier between the performer and the man.
A dedicated family man, Classified’s charisma and approachability extends to both his on-stage and off-stage personas that engage even the most discerning hip-hop fans and critics alike.
In his career, he has sold more than 500,000 records, earned multiple Juno Award nominations and had two singles reach
top-10 status in Canada.
“I try and write as if you’re sitting in a room with me and we’re having a conversation,” Classified explained. “I never got into this to be famous, but to get my point across, be honest and make real music.”
Tickets are on sale online at selectyourtickets.com.
CONCERT
The Wailers
March 10, 2016
7:30 p.m.
Kelowna Community
Theatre
1375 Water St.
Together with Bob Marley, The Wailers have sold more than 250 million albums and played to an estimated 24 million people across the globe.
The anchor ofthe band is Aston “Family Man” Barrett, who in addition to being Marley’s most trusted lieutenant and co-producer, played on countless other classic reggae hits throughout the 1970s.
The authenticity he brings to the Wailers’ sound is indisputable and yet today’s line-up combines old school know-how with lead vocals from one of Jamaica’s most exciting new singers.
The Wailers are undoubtedly the world’s premier reggae and world music group who bring high energy shows to fans across the globe.
The current lineup includes Barrett’s young son Aston Barrett Jr., a multi-instrumentalist who plays bass, drums and organ.
On drums is Anthony “Benbow” Creary, who recorded and toured with the band in the early years.
The two lead singers are Dwayne Anglin, known as “Danglin,” and Joshua David Barrett.
On lead and rhythm guitar and backing vocals is Audley “Chizzy” Chisholm and Cegee Victory, joined on keyboards by Chaka Taylor.
Now well into their fifth decade, The Wailers truly are living legends who embody the nobility, conviction and progressiveness of Bob Marley and his music.
“Our music is the magic,” said the elder Barrett. “The oxygen of the people. It’s the message of roots, culture and reality, meant to spread peace and love to all.
Tickets are now on sale at selectyourtickets.com.
CONCERT
Marianas Trench
April 5, 2016
1223 Water St.
Prospera Place
Kelowna
Canadian pop-rockers Marianas Trench will make a stop on the group’s Never Say Die tour across Canada at Prospera Place on Tuesday, April 5, 2016.
The tour is supporting Marianas Trench’s fourth studio album, Astoria, which debuted at #2 in the Canadian SoundScan charts and is currently at 33 on the U.S. album top 100.
Of the current tour, Marianas Trench front man Josh Ramsay enthuses: “Mousse up that hair, throw on your best ripped acid wash, and get ready to join the fight to make dancing legal once again. Can you survive Astoria? The only other thing capable of generating that much energy is a bolt of lightning.”
Known for their infectious sound and energetic performances, Marianas Trench have secured a spot as one of Canada’s most successful bands of the past decade, building their name on relentless touring combined with two platinum sales albums, hit songs such as “Fallout,” Stutter” and “Haven’t Had Enough” and a Juno Award for group of the year in 2013.
Ramsay also received a Grammy nomination in 2013 for co-writing and producing Carly Rae Jepsen’s breakthrough smash hit, “Call Me Maybe.”
Tickets on sale at selectyourtickets.com or by calling 250-762-5050 or at the Prospera Place box office.
CONCERT
Gord Bamford & Joe Nichols
Wednesday, April 13, 2016
7:30 p.m.
Prospera Place
Kelowna
Along with calling it a “certified country tour,” both Gord Bamford and Joe Nicholls share the experience of being nominated for awards.
Bamford is a 22-time Canadian Country Music Association award winner while Joe Nicholls is a four-time Grammy Award nominee.
Bamford is number one on the country charts with his new single, “Don’t Let Her Be Gone.”
In his career, Nichols has recorded five number one hits and eight top 10 singles, and he is one of only two artists to spend more than two weeks at #1 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart when ‘Yeah” held the top spot for three weeks.
Also joining Bamford and Nichols on stage will be MacKenzie Porter.
Tickets available at selectyourtickets.com and at the Prospera Place box office.
CONCERT
George Thorogood & The Destroyers
Wednesday, April 20
7:30 p.m.
Prospera Place
George Thorogood’s music career dates back to 1973, when the barely-out-of-his-teens Wilmington guitarist piled his gear into the drummer’s Chevy van to play their very first gig at a University of Delaware dorm.
More than four decades and some 15 million albums sold worldwide later, Thorogood and his band are badder than ever.
Thorogood and his longtime band—Jeff Simon (drums, percussion), Bill Blough (bass guitar), Jim Suhler (rhythm guitar) and Buddy Leach (saxophone) —will share a romp through many classic songs from the group’s music catalogue— “Who Do You Love,” “I Drink Alone,” “One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer,” “Move It On Over”and the infamous “Bad To The Bone.”
“When I was 16, I was going to school and playing Little League but nothing felt comfortable to me,” Thorogood recalls. “The first moment I picked up the guitar, it felt so right that it almost scared me. The fact that I couldn’t sing, play or write a song didn’t matter. I’d learn to do all that soon enough.
“But by having a knack for this thing and feeling relaxed doing it, I knew I was halfway home. I love to perform live, and I’m lucky to be able to do it on a level that our music and reputation have taken us to. To this day, I consider my job description to be ‘live rock performer.’”
show. Most of all, we’re making a living doing what we love and people love what we’re doing.”
Tickets on sale at selectyourtickets.com or call 250-762-5050
CONCERT
John McDermott
April 23, 2016
Kelowna Community
Theatre
1375 Water St.
Scottish-Canadian tenor John McDermott is best known for his rendering of the song “Danny Boy.”
Born in Glasgow, Scotland, McDermott moved with his family to Toronto in 1965.
Growing up in a musical family, his only formal musical training was at St. Michael’s Choir School in Toronto, Ontario in 1971 and 1972.
He performed his first concert at the Rebecca Cohn Theatre on Oct. 5, 1993, in Halifax.
From there he continued to tour the rest of Canada, performing as an opening act for The Chieftains.
Throughout 1994, he went on a tour of Australia and New Zealand, following the great success of “Danny Boy,” which had been ranked Number 1 on the charts there and achieved triple platinum in New Zealand.
Within a year he began to develop his own following, becoming the headliner at concerts after years of beign the opening act for other peformers.
He also began to appear at several special events including the D-Day ceremonies in France in 1995, and the United States Democratic National Convention in 1996.
He has also appeared on television several times, both as a host of CBC Television concert specials in 1997, and in his own television special titled John McDermott: A Time to Remember, which aired on PBS in 2002.
He formed The Irish Tenors, and after performing a large concert in Dublin, Ireland, in 1998, the trio spent some time touring the United States, appearing on television, and releasing an album.
Since leaving the Irish Tenors, McDermott continues to tour extensively, performing with his own group and with the great symphonies of the world.
He continues to work to support the veteran community in the United States and in Canada.
In 2000, McDermott dedicated McDermott House in Washington, D.C., a transitional home for homeless veterans.
His latest album release, Journeys: Bringing Buddy Home, was recorded to help support fundraising for Fisher House Boston and launch the Canadian initiative for an outreach center for Canadian veterans.
For tickets, 250-762-5050; online selectyourtickets.com.
CONCERT
Hedley
Tuesday, May 17, 2016
Prospera Place
1223 Water St.
Kelowna
Hedley returns to the familiar confines of Prospera Place for a stop on the group’s Canadian tour next year.
Hedley, who have included Kelowna in previous tours, will play here Tuesday, May 17, 2016.
The opening acts will be Carly Rae Jepsen, she of the Call Me Maybe international hit song of 2012, and Francesco Yates.
Hedley’s tour will be in support of the band’s sixth studio album, Hello.
Featuring a state-of-the-art stage production, the 2016 tour will be the Juno Award winning Hedley’s most impressive show to date, with staging elements that will bring the band closer to the fans than ever before.
“Playing live is who we are, and going on tour is the ultimate way for us to interact with our fans,” said Hedley frontman and creative force Jacob Hoggard about the upcoming tour.
“We’re about to unveil the most spectacular tour we’ve ever embarked upon.
“We can’t wait to connect with each and every one of our fans, in person…and to pull some pretty amazing tricks out of our sleeves.
“We have amazing fans and we can’t wait to share this with them.”
Having sold close to 500,000 tickets in Canadian arenas since 2010, Hedley have quickly and quietly become one of the most successful touring acts in the country. In 2013 alone, the Wild Life tour sold 150,000 tickets across Canada.
Hedley have produced five consecutive multiplatinum albums— Hedley (2005), Famous Last Words (2007), The Show Must Go (2009), Storms (2011) and Wild Life (2013).
Tickets will be available online at selectyourtickets.com, call 250-762-5050 or at the Prospera Place Box Office.
CONCERT
City and Colour
June 2, 2016,
Prospera Place
1223 Water St.
Kelowna
City and Colour, led by acclaimed Canadian singer, songwriter and performer Dallas Green, will kick off a Canada-wide tour at Prospera Place in Kelowna next year.
The tour is in support of City and Colour’s latest album, If I Should Go Before You, and also features as the opening act Austin’s Shakey Graves.
If I Should Go Before You recently debuted #1 in Canada, City and Colour’s third consecutive national chart-topper, earning both commercial and critical acclaim.
The A.V. Club calls the album “alluring” and “breathtaking,” while AllMusic praises, “…a culmination of the sturdy pop sound he’s built up over the years that weaves through territories of dreamy indie folk, pastoral Americana, and soulful alt-rock.”
The new album is Green’s fifth release as City and Colour and follows 2013’s The Hurry and The Harm. Most recently, in 2014, Green collaborated with Alecia Moore (aka Pink) on a new project, entitled You+Me.