This Week In Art/Culture/Entertainment
By John Swartz
Friday, October 2, the Orillia Public Library is the venue for this year’s Culture Days event. There are a number of things happening during the course of the evening.
Here’s the rundown of what is happening:
- Creative Youth Lab: Explore animation, 3D modelling and digital collage with Arts Orillia from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
- Something From Home: Explore an exhibition featuring visual representations of what home means to Lakehead University’s international students from 6 to 8:30 p.m.
- Bookmarks & Buttons: Create a custom bookmark or button using materials from the Orillia Public Library’s Makerspace from 6 to 8:30 p.m.
- Mosaic Mural: View a community mosaic mural created by North Simcoe Arts and community members from 6 to 8:30 p.m.
- Opening remarks will take place at 6:30 p.m.
- The Threads That Bind Us: Enjoy a mini fashion walk featuring Afro-Caribbean styles and stories, presented by the Orillia & Area Black Community Association, from 6:50 to 7:05 p.m.
- Season Sneak Peek: Enjoy a monologue from Macbeth and a song from Hedwig and the Angry Inch, presented by Mariposa Arts Theatre, from 7:10 to 7:25 p.m.
- Stories and Open Mic: Experience personal stories, spoken word, music, dance, art and more from 7:40 to 8:30 p.m.
It’s free to attend.
Oh No, It’s Falling
One of the bright spots of October when the world is changing is the annual Images Studio Tour. That also means Thanksgiving is just ahead. In this 43rd year of the tour, there are 17 artists participating at the same number of studios. The closest venue to town is Paul and Pam Allen’s place on Marchmount Road. Several of the studios are clustered around Horseshoe Valley Road and Oro-Medonte line 3. There will be a range of types of art from wood turning, to photography, jewellery and paintings.
Studios will be opening from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. October 9 to 12. You can find a map of venues and which artists will be at them online.
All That Jazz
October also has the annual Jazz Festival happening October 16 and 17. Arts Orillia took over stewardship of the festival a few years ago and put all of its effort into having two shows, and focus the attention on one venue, rather than being spread out all over town. The Opera House is ground zero.
The Friday night program in the Studio Theatre features new music created by students mentored by Alondra Vega, Jacob Thompson and Cole Mendez. Students performing their own work are Cassia Stoodley, Alida Tomasini, and Nico Christie.
Guitarist James Brown and his trio, The Art of Anthems, with bassist Clark Johnston, and Hannah Barstow on keyboards will perform next.. James will be in town all week as an Artist In Residence and will have the use of the Studio Theatre to develop new work, which he will then perform at the concert. The residency is in partnership with the Canadian Music Centre. Nate Robertson will then be the entertainment at the after concert party. You can get tickets online.
Saturday night’s show is also at the Opera House, but in Gord’s Room, and it’s with Jane Bunnett and Maqueque, Jane has been to the Jazz Fest before. It seemed like not so long ago, but I was shocked, just a bit, to find out it was ten years ago. Jane’s band is all Cuban and all female playing contemporary jazz with Afro-Cuban rhythms. The program also features Cuban dancer Melissa Noventa. You can also get tickets online.
Ho No
I know it early to be talking about Christmas stuff, you won’t find any other olde phart more uppity about seeing anything related to Christmas before December 1. But, this one kind of needs telling now, if you want tickets to the event.
Green Haven Shelter for Women’s annual fundraiser, A Christmas Carol, is happening December 16 at the Opera House. The lineup of people reading the story is just this side of stupendous.
The last two readers are Patrick McKenna and Colin Mochrie. That should do it for prompting ticket orders, but there’s more.
Bruce Pirrie (Red Green) is directing and the rest of the cast is: Aurora Browne (CBC’s Baroness von Sketch Show); Neil Crone (Little Mosque on the Prairie); Linda Kash (Kraft’s Philadelphia Cream Cheese Angel); and Debra McGrath (Colin Mochrie’s wife, Women Fully Clothed, Little Mosque on the Prairie, Sunshine Sketches of a Small Town)
Music is by jazz musician Jim Clayton. You can get tickets online.
Lightfoot Festival
The annual celebration of Orillia’s favourite son is at the other end of the month. The main attraction is a performance by Gord’s band Oct. 29 at the Opera House. There are no longer tickets available on the main floor, and only a few in the balcony.
Friday night at Creative Nomad, Choir Revolution will be in to lead a sing-a-long of Gord’s music. There will be video shot and posted online, so comb your hair, put on a clean shirt and brush your teeth. There will also be performances by selected artists.
Saturday afternoon things shift to Qualye’s Brewery where things start with a showing of, a documentary by John Corcoran. This was shown last year and it follows a group touring the U.K. alongside Gord and company during his first performance tour in the U.K. in 30 years. It also has interviews with band members and Gord.
Then it’s time for more music by Don James and Jack Nicolle, The High Steppin’ Strutters, Samantha Windover, and Mauck (as in Andy) and Martin (his guitar), plus the winners of the student competition and some cake. You can get tickets for each event online.
Review
Last Saturday’s concert at the legion with Nate Mills, Dylan Court, Ellie and Wm. Matt Miller was a low key affair. Each performed as a soloist and on a screen ran video clips by Tyler Grace.
The PA was not the best and despite some of the tunes being pretty good, it was difficult to get a clear picture of what each performer was doing. So I won’t get into specifics on each performer, except to say that Nate Mills is pretty capable of commanding everyone’s attention with his set ups and music. I also thought his guitar playing and composition were better.
What I found very interesting was seeing the video. Tyler does what I would call absurdist videos. You will laugh and sometimes scratch your head about what you just saw. It’s a shame we don’t get to see more of his work more often.
The Shorts
- The Opera House has a number of concerts happening; a fundraiser for A Fundraiser for Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital and The Sharing Place Food Centre with Bad Dog Theatre Company doing improv comedy is Oct. 23; The Stampeders play Oct. 28; the Jim Cuddy Band is in Nov. 19; Susan Aglukark plays Nov. 20; the Great Canadian Road Trip with Doc Walker, Jason McCoy, and Michelle Wright happens Nov. 22; Derek Edwards performs Nov. 27 – you can get tickets for any of those online.
- Won’t Be Denied is celebrating a year of existence with a concert at St. Paul’s Centre Oct. 4. The all ages show is at 6 p.m. and admission is $20, or pay what you can. Others performing are Domicile, Hoperfilly, the ravens Haven, Schematic, Absolutely You and Charm. Half the proceeds will be donated to the Orillia Youth Centre and the Racoon Skate Club.
- The Orillia Concert Band has a fundraising concert for the North Simcoe Victim Services Oct. 17 at St. Paul’s Centre. The Orillia Big Band will be along to play as well. You can get tickets online.
- Mariposa has a couple concerts in the fall with tickets on sale now. Oct. 20 Joel Plaskett will be at St. Paul’s Centre and close to selling out. Nov. 21 a different sort of thing happens at the Opera House. The Organ Summit features Lance Anderson, Matt Weidinger and Cole Mendez, along with two members of Matt’s band, The Tonewheels, Chris Latta (guitar) and Mike Rajna (drums). They will answer the question, what is better than having a Hammond B3 organ on stage? Two B3s. Lance, Matt and Cole will rotate on the keyboards all night long. Get tickets for Joel here, and for Lance and company here.
- The Orillia Concert Association has their season lined up. The Toronto Brass Quintet performs Oct. 25 at the Opera House; the Toronto Concert Orchestra is in Jan. 17 at St. Paul’s Centre; Payadora plays March 14 at the Opera House; and Spirit 20 performs Apr. 18 at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian. All show times are 2:30 p.m. You can get tickets ($90, best deal in town) online, and there’s a lower price ($30) for students of all types up to grad school. It says nothing about reform school.
- Mariposa House Hospice has a fundraiser happening at Braestone Farm with Kelly Davies and the Devin Cuddy Band playing Oct. 25. Email autumnconcert@mariposahousehospice.com for tickets.
- The 7th annual Trunk or Treat is happening Oct. 24 at ODAS Park. Registration for those bringing their trunks is open now online. Tickets are available at the same URL starting Oct. 5. This is a fundraiser for the Orillia Youth Centre.
- Nominations for the annual Art and Culture Awards (November 25 at Creative Nomad Studios) are now open and you can find nomination forms now online.
- The Orillia Museum of Art and History has the annual Franklin Carmichael landscape show, Tradition Transformed opening Sept. 26 at 1 p.m.; they will also open a collection of art from the museum’s holding called Chasing the Light and Homegrown; The Story of Orillia at the same time; don’t forget to see the permanent exhibit of Gordon Lightfoot’s personal effects.
- Quayles has Corey Taylor playing Oct. 2; Jakob Pearce Oct. 3 and Kat Chabot Oct. 4… The Hog ‘N Penny has Scott Olgard playing Oct. 2; Like Crans Oct. 3; and a jam Sunday afternoons… the ANAF club has the Boathouse Blues Project playing Oct. 3; Isaiah Madroga is in Oct. 4… Studabakers has live music Thursday nights… Kensingtons has an open mic every Tuesday evening.
(Photos by Swartz – SUNonline/Orillia and Images Supplied)
