The Mayor’s Celebration of the Arts taking place Thursday evening at the Enjoy Centre is St. Albert’s major ceremony showcasing local artistry.
The 10th anniversary festivities lay the groundwork for a slightly more tailored, snappier event leaning toward a party vibe.
In past years guests were treated to light entertainment prior to and during award presentations. This year, organizers have eliminated entertainment during presentations and instead have opted for an after-party starring Mac Daddy – The Fleetwood Mac Experience.
“This is the first year entertainment is after the awards. We wanted to encourage more people to stay and chat with these great artists,” said Ellen Doty, professional programming associate.
Mac Daddy pays homage to the classic lineup of the band. Mick Fleetwood (David Bowden) Stevie Nicks (Laurie Slater), Lindsey Buckingham (Mark Donaghy), Christine McVie (Crystal Goodfellow) and John McVie (David Gaitan Galvez) relive the heyday of the iconic ’60s, ’70s and ’80s British-American pop-rock band.
“They’re all great musicians. They have fun on stage and they’re very high energy,” Doty said.
As part of the pre-award reception, poet Ari Zak takes a quieter approach to the way she presents her art. She has written poetry for five years and bases much of her work on personal experiences in St. Albert. Zak’s words chronicle her self-growth and reflect on dark and poignant matters.
“She’s been involved in Amplify Festival as a spoken word artist and she’ll be performing three poems that speak about difficulties teenagers face.”
In a quick change of pace, DanceCo follows presenting three different styles students learn – jazz, contemporary and ballet.
“It’s recital season and it’s a very busy time so we’re very grateful they’ve taken time to perform for us.”
The third pre-awards ceremony performance will come from singer-songwriter Travis Matthews, following in the footsteps of his father Gordie Matthews.
Matthews delivers an acoustic, easy-listening style that soothes the ears and puts a smile on the face. He’s hosted open stages at The Dirtbag Café and performed solo at Edmonton Folk Music Fest.
“He’s been part of the community for a long time and we’re thrilled to have him.”
Hosting the evening is St. Albert’s Poet Laureate Zak Polis. A filmmaker, photographer and writer, Polis was the 2018 Emerging Artist recipient.
“We’re so excited to present a variety of performances from artists that live, work and play here. We hope people will join us and celebrate with these artists and recognize their work.”
Tickets are $25 plus fees. They are available at the Arden box office at 780-459-1542 or online at www.ticketmaster.ca.
