Mill Creek Colliery Band salutes the season with Celebrate Christmas, a blend of musical influences from around the world.
The 28-piece British brass band performs concerts today at 7:30 at the Dow Centennial Centre in Fort Saskatchewan and tomorrow at 3 p.m. in Convocation Hall at the University of Alberta.
Three musicians performing from our area are St. Albert’s Gordon Russell and the Royal Canadian Artillery Band’s Capt. David Shaw and Cpl. Cam Martin.
One tune geared to thaw the area deep freeze is a medley of Caribbean pieces that includes The Virgin Mary Had a Baby Boy, performed in Harry Belafonte-esque laid-back island flavour.
“Christmas Bolero is The Little Drummer Boy set to the rhythms of Ravel’s Bolero and that is set to a snare drum, and it builds and builds,” says David Langor, band spokesperson.
Offering a different take on Peter Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker, the band will perform The Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy and the Russian flavoured Trepak.
“The excitement of a brass band is very tangible. There’s nothing like a brass band to get the blood going and your toes tapping.
Tickets for the Saturday concert are available by calling 780-922-6400 or by emailing [email protected]. Tickets from the Sunday concert can be obtained by calling 780-420-1757 or online at www.tixonthesquare.ca.
Ammars’ Moosehead Open Stage is reintroducing a couple of familiar faces at LB’s Pub this coming Tuesday starting at 9 p.m.
Andrew White and Ralph Pretz have enough experience between them to last a couple of lifetimes. White, a face around the music scene for more than 30 years, is known as “the Sound Guy,” mixing every big name that hits town, says host Mark Ammar.
Although White has spent most of his career behind the scenes, Ammar is eager to show off his “powerful, soulful voice.” As a Sunday jam host at Orlandos, White showed off his vocals with “everything from B.B. King to Robert Plant, and Andrew’s dynamics and voice control put him at the top of my list when it comes to local vocalists.”
Partnering with White is Pretz, a well-respected local musician and music teacher that dabbles in assorted styles from pop to fusion to progressive. He currently works with such notable acts as Gordie Matthews Trio and Shakin’, Not Stirred.
LB’s is located at 23 Akins Dr. There is no cover charge.
The senior high drama class at Ă©cole Secondaire St. Marguerite d’Youville (ESSMY) is staging The Jingle Bell Mystery, a tale of suspense, intrigue and the Christmas spirit.
Directed by Danielle Karaki, it will be held at ESSMY’s cafeteria stage on Monday, Dec. 14 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $3 at the general office or by calling 780-459-5702. All proceeds will go to charity, and patrons are requested to bring donations for the local food bank.
