Local Entertainment
Brandt’s own brand of country music
Sure, there’s a division between church and state, and prayers are no longer said in schools — but Paul Brandt wants to know who took the gospel out of country?
There was a time when virtually all country artists — Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Hank Williams — would regularly put out inspirational albums of religious music. Now a division seems to be appearing between the two genres. READ
Right to the (funny) bone
For five thrilling, nail-biting seasons now, Bull Skit co-founder Jenna Goldade has been trying to locate Red Deer’s funny bone. It hasn’t always been easy, as some of the improvs and comedy sketches from her troupe’s fly-by-your-seat early seasons can attest. But lately, Bull Skit has been scoring many more hits than misses with a colourful lineup of monthly humour that’s been drawing bigger and more diverse audiences by poking fun at the political, the local and the just plain loco (i.e. fibbing Alberta leaders, tardy City of Red Deer road workers, and a drunken Batman). READ
Spring gala at Lacombe gallery
Lacombe’s Gallery on Main — recently called “one of four must-see galleries across Canada” — is holdings its Spring Gala anniversary art show May 24-26. READ
Ferguson to speak at artist awards gala
Best-selling author and humorist Will Ferguson will entertain next month, along with the Red Deer Symphony Orchestra and award-winning grass dancer Taylor Crane, at the Lieutenant Governor of Alberta Distinguished Artist Awards Gala. READ
Dying for a good part
It’s a good day to die, according to Red Deer actor Larry Reese, whenever you’re “shot” by Tim Roth. Reese plays a Yukon dress shop owner in the new TV miniseries Klondike. His character was killed this week by Roth’s ruthless character, The Count. READ
Local author rides Devil’s Pass to bestseller list
A tale of a Toronto street kid who’s dropped off to fend for himself in the Northern Canadian wilderness has become Red Deer-area author Sigmund Brouwer’s biggest success story to date. His book Devil’s Pass has consistently been on the Canadian Bestseller’s List for young readers since its release last October and is now going into its third printing. READ
CAT seeks new board members
Central Alberta Theatre is seeking business-minded “movers and shakers” as new board members. Positions becoming vacant are: recording secretary, advertising and media (PR), training and vice-president. READ
Nurture your soul at East Coulee Spring Festival
With the slogan of HooDoo You Love? the East Coulee Spring Festival will offer a “soul-nurturing” lineup of music to rock the Canadian Badlands this weekend. READ
Popoviches offer Mom’s Day show
Richard and Deborah Popovich are kicking off their patio dinner theatre season with a Mother’s Day buffet and show at Red Deer’s Westerner Park. On Sunday, May 12, the Popoviches will offer a 1 p.m. buffet in the Harvest Centre, followed by entertainment with their Old West Tribute Show of country crooning and comedy. READ
Power of imagination put to work on improv stage
What do a predilection for kissing lizards, a magic IT-working stool named Francis, a great-great grandfather turned starfish, and dancing cacti have in common? Nothing — nothing at all. Well, not literally, perhaps, but the decidedly non-literal fantastical creations of the young mind represent just a few of the laughter-inducing utterances fostered in Red Deer’s two high school improvisational theatre (improv) clubs. READ
From a chance encounter
He was singing at a sleepy Toronto tavern one Sunday evening, nine years ago. She walked in with her guitar case, thinking it was open mic night because of a misleading poster. Instead of playing duelling guitars, the two singer/songwriters made the best of an awkward situation by singing duets together — and the rest, as they say, is history. READ
Giving voice to the art of choirs
There comes a time when singing by yourself — whether in the shower, bedroom or basement — just doesn’t cut it anymore. That’s the time to consider joining your voice with others in a community chorus, say young members of Red Deer’s ihana choir, under artistic director Lisa Ward. READ
The new, the known acts to perform at Central Music Festival
Bill Bourne, Dick Damron, Amos Garrett, Captain Tractor and Randi Boulton will be in the lineup at the seventh annual Central Music Festival on Aug. 16 to 18. Producer Mike Bradford said he’s excited about this summer’s “eclectic musical mix,” which will also include traditional African music by The Mighty Popo from Ottawa, alt-country from Lethbridge’s Leeroy Stagger, and Franco-Latin fusion music from Bombolesse from Quebec. READ
Royals perform at Centrium
The gold-medal-winning Red Deer Royals will be among six Western Canadian marching showbands performing on Saturday, May 5, in Red Deer. The 18th annual Marching Showband Classic (formerly Festival of Champions) will be held from 1 to 3:30 p.m. at the Centrium. READ
About 170 bands to perform at festival
About 170 bands from across Alberta — as well as a few from British Columbia and Saskatchewan — will perform at a Provincial Festival of Bands in Red Deer this month. The festival sponsored by the Alberta Bands Association runs May 13 to 16 and 21 to 24 at the Red Deer College Arts Centre. READ
Prairie songwriter on stage here
Country music will be performed in the tradition of Merle Travis, Johnny Cash and Woody Guthrie in downtown Red Deer on Friday. Prairie songwriter Stephen Palmer returns to play acoustic roots music at a coffeehouse concert at The Hub on Ross. Palmer has been performing a unique mix of original and traditional tunes, including ragtime, gospel, blues and folk since the 1960s. READ
Distinguished artists at Red Deer gala
Past recipients John Murrell and Denise Clarke will co-host the Lieutenant Governor of Alberta Distinguished Artist Awards Gala in Red Deer on June 15. The provincial awards, presented by the Honourable Donald S. Ethell, Alberta’s Lieutenant Governor, will honour two artists who have made impressive contributions to Alberta’s arts and culture scene. The winners will be named in the coming weeks. READ
Pianist gets thumbs-up for performance
Even with just nine fully functional fingers, pianist Mayron Tsong was a marvel to watch and listen to at Saturday’s Eroica concert with the Red Deer Symphony Orchestra. READ
Rock and Roll Reunion
Oh, to be a long-haired rocker touring Alberta in the early 1970s — for Red Deer musician Lorne Hallet it meant “living a little bit of the dream.” READ
Bremnes to perform inspirational songs at Living Stones Church
Christian singer David Bremnes will perform inspirational songs and also plug the children’s charity Compassion Canada when he stops this month in Red Deer. READ
