Christmas Market and The Christmas Tree Blues: Saturday, December 7th!

One ought, every day at least, to hear a little song, read a good poem, see a fine picture and, if it were possible, speak a few reasonable words. -Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, poet, dramatist, novelist, and philosopher (1749-1832)

Really enjoyed The Tuneagers today. It was a more than delightful concert and a terrific way to start off the Christmas season. Had a great catch-up with Mary Lee although we were quite dismayed to learn of her two "dog initiated" leg injuries. She had popped by our place to  return a salad bowl but we were out cutting a Christmas tree for Chloë and Rowan James. 

That evening we enjoyed a fabulous show at the Dream, listening to Big Hank Leonhardt pay tribute to the Christmas Blues. [I was scheduled to sell 50/50 tickets so I bought a ticket for Lady Dar. She had a 48 hour "furlough" from care and feeding of Rowan James, as two of Chloë's close friends, (Maya, from The Sunshine Coast, and Katie, from Vernon), were staying for the weekend.] His band are all magnificently talented: the key board player on the Hammond Organ, the lead guitarist and the saxophonist, in particular, were simply remarkable, while the bass guitarist and the drummer were certainly no slouches, either. We couldn't believe our great good luck to have been privileged to attend such musical marvels in one day! Back home we fell into bed as it had been a busy, busy day plus the fact that Lady Dar has been running on empty since leaving the hospital over a week ago, staying with Chloë and helping with all the late night/early, early morning feedings, etc.

 

Hi all, Here is the information for the next 3 outings.  It reads pretty muck the same as the email last week.

Monday, December 9^th:

Interested folks will gather to collect firewood for the upcoming picnic.  They will:

-gather at 0900 ay IGA parking lot in Summerland (0840 at Cherry Lane north parking lot in Penticton)

-carpool and make their way to the parking area at Faulder junction -hike along the KVR to the picnic site -gather wood for the Old Farts Picnic and perhaps do a bit of exploring. -return to S’land, feeling a great deal of satisfaction for a job well done -debrief and satisfy their thirst.

Thursday, December 12^th

The annual Christmas Picnic.  We will

-gather at 1000 (yes, have a sleep in!) at IGA parking lot in Summerland (0940 at Cherry Lane north parking lot in Penticton)

-carpool and drive to the Faulder junction

-hike up the KVR to the picnic site (less than half an hour)

-enjoy a time of good will, chit chat, Christmas spirit, singing and, of course, food and drink around the fire.

-return to civilization, full of Christmas spirit, Christmas goodies, and perhaps a bit of liquid Christmas cheer. You are most welcome, and encouraged, to bring your significant other, spouse, or a friend or two Food will “sort of potluck” style.  Each person is asked to bring -sausage and bun or something of that nature -refreshment.  It could be hot or cold, alcoholic or not, home brewed or purchased. -something for the meal.  It could be appie, dessert, Christmas baking, condiments for the burnt offerings.  
 

Don’t overdo it…We always end up with lots left over (I think it’s a loaves-and-fishes kind of thing at work -if you have them, please bring some roasting sticks, a small fold-up table, a small axe or saw -your very best Christmas spirit.  We will have some song sheets for the Pavarottis and Jenny Linds and even the tin ears among us. I would ask that you give me a nod to me if you are planning to attend, with number in your entourage.

Saturday, December 21^st……the Winter Solstice Snowshoe.  Rick will be our fearless leader.  We will climb Green Mountain by moonlight and/or headlamp, celebrate the Solstice with a toast (hot or cold) and possibly some baking, snowshoe back down, and return home to a well-earned winter nap. 

We will -meet at 1900 (7pm to some) at Cherry Lane north parking lot in Penticton (1840 at IGA parking lot in Summerland) -carpool and make our way to the trailhead at the cattleguard near km 9 on the Apex Road -snowshoe up to the Green Mountain summit, celebrate the Solstice, perhaps do a short ramble around the top of the mountain, and then down again to the cars -return to Penticton and a well-earned slumber.

Please make sure you have proper snowshoes in good working order, a charged headlamp, and appropriate clothing for a cold winter evening.  This outing challenges many of us, and we must be prepared.

We might want to do a dance to the snow gods.  Hopefully there will be a bit more snow by the 21^st. Are you interested?  If so, please let Rick know. Also, please read any further notices about this outing.  There may be a change or two. Cheers, Jim  
 

Big Hank Leonhardt paid tribute to the Christmas Blues this evening. Hank joined The Sons of Adam in 1967 and then formed his own band Sweet Salt in 1969 and became a mainstay in the top 40 and Cabaret scene of the day. This band eventually became Coloured Rain and then became Kicking Horse and toured Western Canada for years , even opening for BB King at Oil Can Harry’s in Vancouver.

In 1974 he was fortunate to get offered the lead vocalist spot with Legendary Hot Cottage, Edmonton’s premier blues band at the time. Hank found his new love singing the blues and sang with Hot Cottage until 1978. He really developed his blues.voice. Hank immersed himself in the blues and R&B which have became the focus of his career. Hank moved to Victoria BC and formed Uncle Wiggly’s Hot Shoes Blues Band who were signed to RCA Records. The band opened shows for Muddy Waters, Joe Cocker, James Cotton, George Thorogood, Koko Taylor, The Neville Brothers, and John Mayall to name a few. 

The band disbanded in 1982 Hank then moved to Vancouver and formed the R&B Toasters, followed by the Kingpins with Jack Lavin of the Powder Blues and they recorded two CD’s and were on the A Blues circuit on the West Coast for 6 years. Today he has reformed Ungly Wiggly and keeps a busy touring schedule.

Next week, on Tuesday, I'm selling 50/50 tickets again when Elliott BROOD, a three-piece, folk-rock/alt-country band based in Hamilton will be preforming. I heard them at the Vancouver Folk Fest a number of years ago. Chloë is a fan of the band and is more than jealous that I'm going! Their brand of fuzzed-up roots music makes for a captivating and frenetic live performance. That energy has always translates to the band’s five acclaimed records. Their style has been called everything from ‘blackgrass’ to ‘death country,’ but those descriptions don’t capture the transcendent heights of their unique approach to roots music.
 

Fall 2017 will see the band release their sixth full-length studio album Ghost Gardens via Paper Bag Records. The road to Ghost Gardens began with the rediscovery of lost demo songs from early in the band’s career, nearly a decade and a half ago. The misplaced hard drive had long been forgotten in a garage sitting dormant in an old suitcase.

In 2013, Elliott BROOD won a Juno Award for their World War One inspired album Days Into Years. Over the course of their career they have been nominated for a total of five Juno awards. In 2009 they were shortlisted for the prestigious Polaris Music Prize and in 2012 the band found themselves nominated for a Genie Award for their original song “West End Sky” that was featured in the film Grown Up Movie Star. Elliott BROOD are Mark Sasso, Casey Laforet and Stephen Pitkin

Next Saturday, weekend Ms Tinsel Town is in town, Brent Tyler brings his Big Love Christmas Show to The Dream Cafe stage with Special Guests Aidan Mayes and D’Arcy Stamp. Brent has an intricate and skillful guitar style combined with a disarming and soulful voice befit of his literal seven-foot stature. He balances the soft subtlety of honest and introspective folk music with catchy and powerful soul-roots hooks and melodies born of his childhood influences and contemporary crushes.

Tyler’s giant delivery has evolved from imitative influence into his very own versatile, powerful, and dynamic style, drawing people in with his physical stage presence, story-telling ability, and surprisingly elastic vocal range. Looking to connect the dots with reciprocal energy in his performance, Tyler’s music is lyrically textured with real life. Honesty and love, hope and healing, authenticity and forgiveness

The following Thursday, it is Andrew Allen's Christmas Show. He has a DIY ability and upbeat attitude that have served him well. He’s scored five Top 10 hits in Canada; I Wanna Be Your Christmas (2009), Loving You Tonight (2010) which was lodged in the upper reaches of the charts for more than 22 weeks, I Want You (2011), What You Wanted (2015) and Favourite Christmas Song (2016)!

Allen’s benchmark single Loving You Tonight is a lilting, sunny tune about an ideal romance. Loving You Tonight helped put Andrew on tour with acts like Bruno Mars, One Republic, Andy Grammer, The Script, Train, Joshua Radin and The Barenaked Ladies… with the official music video garnering more than 4 million views and over 100,000 copies sold worldwide.
 

Finally,  just before Christmas, Van Django Cool Yule is the perfect answer to winter chill, so come and enjoy some hot and swinging family-friendly Christmas cheer! Van Django, Vancouver’s hottest swing string quartet, bring their sizzling hot Gypsy Jazz Christmas show to the Dream Cafe this December! Joining Van Django’s violinist Cameron Wilson, guitarist Budge Schachte, guitarist/cellist Finn Manniche and bassist Brent Gubbels is stellar vocalist L.J. Mounteney.

Van Django’s music is punchy, driving and rhythmically inventive, combining a wealth of musical influences while maintaining strong roots in the gypsy jazz made famous by Django Reinhardt and the 1930’s Quintet of the Hot Club of France. On stage, “they effortlessly whip the audience into a joyful frenzy”.

Renowned both for the quality of their musicianship and as great entertainers, Van Django’s Cool Yule is a merry Christmas mix of nostalgic favourites, jazz standards, sing- alongs,pop tunes, some classical touches, and a few surprises – all delivered in their swinging gypsy jazz style. You’ll hear everything from the evocative I’ll Be Home for Christmas to Let it Snow, Silent Night and Silver Bells to Christmas Time is Here, a bit of Beethoven, and of course all with a touch of Django Reinhardt’s style – something every ear, heart, and tapping foot will enjoy.

“Van Django tosses off jaw-dropping technical licks with effortless ease, but above all, they entertain hugely, with every bar of every tune – tried and true or keenly original.” -Jurgen Goethe, Host, CBC Disc Drive Canada

Hello Tuneager, MS Chester, et al! We really, really enjoyed The Tuneagers yesterday so thanks to everyone in both the choir and the orchestra for all their hard work and effort. Congratulations, again, to you Pamela, for the wonderful concert. Fondestos and Cheers, Patrizzio! Hello Dame Judith! Thanks for the simply fabulous concert. Sorry we didn't really have the opportunity to chat. Congratulations, again, to you Dame Judith, for the wonderful concert. Stay well. Fondestos and Cheers, Patrizzio!


Hi Patrick, We hope you had a great Birthday celebration last night! I'm sure that being a grandfather for the 3rd time is making it an extra special one!
Cheers to another year of good health and happiness! Love, Rick and Ruth And Joy to the New Year! Hello Our Dearest, Dearest Squamish Folk!Trust you are both well! Thanks you so much for the warm birthday wishes! I was treated to a wonderful, wonderful dinner so was pleased as punch! Flamin', [Who flew up from Vancouver for grand-parenting duty herself.], came over so we enjoyed ourselves while she took care of Rowan James! Evening before, she came to Winnipeg Street and as soon as she arrived she immediately commandeered RJ. He took to her like she was his mother so Chloë hired her on the spot as a live-in nanny!

This evening we were at the Dream. During the Intermission we chatted with the two women at the next table and it turned out that one of them, Helene Lenzing, is a project manager for a number of businesses in Kelowna, in particular, Simplex Sportszone. Apparently, one can rent a "studio" for around $50 an hour, individually or with a group, cost is the same, and then golf, (or engage in any other of numerous sports activities), virtually, at your choice of courses from St Andrews, in Scotland to Pebble Beach, in California, to St Andrews on the Lake, near Penticton, world class links indeed! The state-of-the-art technology records all your swings and shots and then you can replay the game to analyze your stroke, etc. Not sure if you were aware of such places but I found it fascinating, how the technology is really opening up all sorts of possibilities. Helene said that many of the people who use the facilities are those who are keen to keep up their game all year long and may not have the opportunity to play in warmer climes, per esempio. At any rate, I thought I'd make mention of it since you are such devotees of the game and Kelowna is not all that far from on the way to nowhere! Stay well. Fondestos and Cheers to you both, Patrizzio! before my birthday dinner!