Since my last column we have seen and heard some really great stuff.
Avery Ascher, a NorVA artist from The Pas, opened her new show at the gallery. It is lovely and will remain in NorVA until the end of November.
Leaf Rapids (Keri and Devin Latimer) and Slow Leaves (Grant Harrison) brought a leafy evening of excellent music to Johnny’s Social Club in support of the newly formed Flin Flon-Cranberry Portage Folk Music Society.
Look out for their next outing on Dec. 19 (Red Moon Road, a trio from Winnipeg).
The Flin Flon Arts Council hosted its annual Arts and Crafts Sale at the RH Channing Auditorium and the “Johnny’s Anti-Social Club” band played at the Rotary Club’s Dream Draw party.
On the calendar, we have Scott Cook from Edmonton. He is a roots balladeer who has been compared in music publications and reviews to the great John Prine and contemporary Canadian songwriter Old Man Luedecke, both of whom are personal favourites, so guess who’s looking forward to this event?
Cook is performing on the Home Routes tour on Thursday, Nov. 19 at 183 Murton Boulevard (contact Ann and Doug at
rossann53@hotmail.com) and Friday, Nov. 20 at 19 Hemlock Drive (contact Tim at timelly@mts.net) for seats.
The cost is $20 and all proceeds go to the musician. Snacks and treats are welcome but not required.
If you haven’t been to a Home Routes show yet, it is the kind of evening that should not be missed. Flin Flonners (and Creightonites and Denare Beach – what do we call them, anyway? Denare Beachers?) get together in a friend’s home to see a fantastic, professional concert.
The audience is up close and personal with the performer and has the opportunity to share laughs and a drink at the intermission, usually in the kitchen. You should try it!
Also on Nov. 19, the Films Up North series (FUN) presents Learning to Drive starring Academy Award nominee Patricia Clarkson (Pieces of April, 2003) and Academy Award winner Ben Kingsley (Gandhi, 1982). Kingsley was also nominated for Best Supporting Actor for Bugsy (1991), Sexy Beast (2000) and House of Sand and Fog (2003).
Learning to Drive is a touching, funny story about Wendy, a fiery, middle-aged New York writer whose husband leaves her for a younger woman. She discovers that in order to be truly independent, she needs to learn to drive.
Enter Darwan, a quiet Indian taxi driver who is on the verge of an arranged marriage, as her instructor. She is unraveling, he is calm and restrained, but they form an unlikely and unusual friendship.
The North Central Canada Film Group is to be commended for forging our ongoing partnership with the Toronto International Film Festival, which brings us these wonderful films.
We are treated to six films over the winter months, usually on the third Thursday of the month. The films are screened at the Dorothy Ash Theatre in Hapnot Collegiate for $10 each. You can usually buy popcorn and a drink, to help defray costs.
The Flin Flon Arts Council proudly presents Jesse Peters Vintage Christmas with special guests, the Flin Flon Community Choir, on Saturday, Nov. 21 at RH Channing Auditorium.
Jesse Peters is a jazz / soul / piano pop-rock singer with influences from Ray Charles and Billy Joel in his repertoire. He and his trio will light up the auditorium to get our town all set for Christmas.
The Community Choir will join Jesse on stage in some original pieces and some traditional Christmas songs. Tickets are $30 ($15 for children) and are available at Northern Rainbow’s End. They can be purchased with the Flin Flon Arts Council’s “5 for $75” season pass.
Finally, there is another evening of music coming to Johnny’s Social Club on Friday, Nov. 27. It’s Broadway, Encore!, planned and organized by favourite soprano Katrina Windjack and professeur français par excellence Natalie Milligan (who will be seen in The Pas community production of Anne of Green Gables in the spring).
The Johnny’s Anti-Social Club band will accompany a wide variety of local performers singing recent hits and older standards from the Broadway songbook. Cost for this event is $15 and you may bring your own treats. Tickets are available at The Orange Toad.
